"In the past, handicrafts merely served as accessories or had simple functions. Today, however, we want to transform them into products offering high economic benefits and generating income," Kalla stated in his opening remarks at the Indonesian Handicraft Expo, Inacraft 2016, at the Jakarta Convention Center, here, Wednesday.
In English, handicrafts means careful, diligent, and beautiful, so creativity, innovation, and accuracy are needed to create good products, he explained, adding that in Indonesian, the word meant diligent.
Kalla also reminded the handicraft producers to create products that were in line with the consumers taste and in high demand in the markets.
"It means that do not think about what we like, but instead focus on what others want. Only such producers will be able to penetrate the global markets," he added.
This years Inacraft is themed "From Smart Village to Global Market."
In order to succeed in the global market, products must be competitive in terms of their quality, price, and on-time delivery, according to the vice president.
"Handicraft products with high business or economic value must also be functional and should not be merely accessories," he pointed out.
Inacraft is vital to promote Indonesian handicrafts as products with high economic value, he affirmed.
Indonesia is rich in natural and human resources, as well as culture, that can make Inacraft a source of inspiration for all, he stated.
Kalla, however, emphasized that handicraft producers must use technology to upgrade the quality standards of their products.
A total of 1.4 thousand handicraft industries from 34 provinces are participating in the five-day event.
As many as 1,333 kiosks have been set up of which 849 are for individual participants, 359 for regional administrations, 117 for state-owned companies, and eight for foreign participants from Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, and Syria.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
