Even though we have a large market of US$11 billion, we only export US$500 million (worth of products)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government needs to help Indonesia's Islamic fashion industry, which currently has an extensive market, to become a global leader in the sector, Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi has said.

"So, like this, the Islamic fashion industry has a very large market. Even though we have a large market of US$11 billion, we only export US$500 million (worth of products)," the minister noted during the 2021 Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week here on Thursday.

This shows there is room to develop the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia, he said.

"Therefore, support from business associations, support from academics, and also the government is very important. So, the task of the Trade Ministry here is to become an aggregator to create Indonesia as the leader of world Islamic fashion," Lutfi elaborated.

The ministry has taken some measures to promote Muslim fashion in Indonesia, such as conducting the 2021 Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week. This event aims to introduce Indonesia as the world's fashion center, he added.

Lutfi also affirmed that the Muslim fashion industry is not only focusing on Muslim consumers. The diversity in Indonesia would actually contribute to the progress and development of the fashion industry, he said.

Therefore, the 2021 Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week is also being attended by non-Muslim universities such as the Surabaya PETRA Christian University and the Maranatha Christian University, he added.

"This is what we must embrace. This is what we must advance. That the Islamic fashion industry does not only belong to Muslims. That the Islamic fashion industry will be able to advance because of Indonesia's diversity," the minister remarked.

Lutfi said he expects the existing tolerance and unity of Indonesia to better push the nation towards its goal of emerging as the world's leader in Muslim fashion.

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Translator: Lifia M P, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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