TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan targeted Indonesia to become the qibla or the benchmark of the world's Muslim fashion by 2024. The government, Zulkifli said, supports the growth of the sector through exports.

"We have a clear goal: make Indonesia the qibla of the world's Muslim fashion in 2024. The Trade Ministry can support the export of Indonesian Muslim fashion products through various trade cooperation schemes with partner countries," said Zulkifli in a written statement as quoted on Friday, July 22, 2022.

Citing data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Indonesia is the world's 13th exporter of Muslim clothing in 2021 with the value amounting to USD 4.68 billion, up by 12.49 percent compared to 2020 at USD 4.16. billion.

The export value in January–May 2022, meanwhile, reached USD 2.35 billion, up 41.42 percent compared to the same period in 2020 of USD1.66 billion. The main export destinations include the United States, Japan, Germany, Korea, and Canada.

"Domestic Muslim fashion products are of very good quality. These products have the potential and are able to compete with Muslim fashion products and modest fashion from other countries," the minister added.

Zulkifli assessed that public awareness of fashion is increasingly visible, which is evident from the recent phenomenon of Citayam Fashion Week in Dukuh Atas, South Jakarta. According to him, this is a signal that fashion in the country is increasingly inclusive and attracts various groups of people.

Thus, he hoped that the inclusiveness of Muslim fashion is reflected in the 2022 Indonesia Modest Fashion Week (IMFW) and as a way to strengthen the country's Muslim fashion industry.

The Trade Ministry also planned to encourage 46 trade representative offices abroad to promote the annual fashion show in order to popularize Indonesian Muslim fashion products.

EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA

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