Minister: Expanding Furniture Industry Outside Java is Important

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto has asked furniture and handicraft industry players to expand their business outside Java as one of an efforts to encourage production efficiency, including equalization of industry in growing the regional economy. 

The competitiveness of Indonesian furniture and handicraft industry in the global market lies on its plentiful natural raw materials, according to Airlangga. “So far, raw materials are derived from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Sumatra,” the minister said in a written statement on Friday, July 29, 2016.

He has asked the furniture and handicraft industry players to build their business in border areas so that it is close enough to the export markets while simultaneously reducing economic discrepancy. “So it’s important to also have the business located outside Java Island within the next five years,” he said.

Airlangga sees besides supported by the availability of raw material sources like wood, rattan, bamboo, and other natural materials, the potential of competitiveness development of the furniture and handicraft industry is also backed by the various pattern and design with local accents, as well as the human resource competency.

Airlangga added that the furniture and handicraft industry is one of the priority industries as it is considered to be able to manufacture high-added value products with global competitiveness. “The industry also helps to absorb significant workforce.”

ANGELINA ANJAR SAWITRI