Solo, C Java (ANTARA) - As many as 500 batik craftsmen, with professional and educational backgrounds, participated in the National Batik Day celebrated at the Mangkunegaran Palace in Solo, on Wednesday. The event, which consisted of various activities including batik exhibitions, batik installations, talk shows, and fashion shows, was organized by the Indonesian Batik Foundation supported by the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation.

Under the theme "Making Batik for the Country (Membatik untuk Negeri)", the event is expected to raise the enthusiasm of batik craftsmen to be creative towards the development of Indonesian batik.

"This activity aims to preserve and increase the added value of Indonesian batik which has a potential of national wealth," Chairperson of the 2019 National Batik Day Committee Diana Santosa said.

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The event, which was attended by President Joko Widodo, also aimed to increase public appreciation of Indonesian traditional batik.

"This activity is also conducted as a symbol of support and love of the government and the community for batik which is an intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia that has been recognized by UNESCO," she said.

Loving Indonesian batik is the responsibility of every civilized Indonesian citizen, Program Director of Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation Renitasari Adrian said.

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"We have been supporting the activities of the Indonesian Batik Foundation which is concerned about batik as a cultural icon. It can be preserved, developed, and become part of a contemporary lifestyle, especially for the young generation of Indonesia," Adrian said.

As the backbone of the MSME in Indonesia, the Industry Ministry has recorded that Indonesia's batik exports reached US$52.4 million in 2018.

To maintain the recognition of batik as intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia, Adrian said that real action was needed to fulfill the assessment component of UNESCO, namely preservation, education and inspiration to the community toward batik as one of the nation's valuable assets.

"Therefore, the Indonesian Batik Foundation as a government agency and partner in developing, preserving, and fostering national batik entrepreneurs or craftsmen seeks to echo the spirit of batik through various events and a series of activities to increase public awareness and knowledge about batik," Adrian said.

EDITED BY INE

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Translator: Aris Wasita, Yashinta Difa Pra
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2019