"This is one thing that has been waited for because we do not want this batik cultural heritage to be lost because of no regeneration," Chairperson of the West Java Regional Handicraft Council Atalia Praratya Kamil said here on Monday.
After the inauguration of the Tasikmalaya Batik Learning Center, Kamil explained that the center’s establishment is aimed at improving the local economy apart from preserving batik culture.
Three thousand of the 3,200 participating MSMEs have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have witnessed a decline in their incomes, she informed.
Therefore, during the one-year training, they will get to enhance their entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digitalization skills.
“So, the cultural heritage of batik will be maintained, the welfare of the people will also increase," Kamil, who is West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil's wife, said.
The incomes of at least 6,900 handicraft and fashion MSMEs in Tasikmalaya city fell sharply amid the pandemic, she noted.
Hence, she said she expects the presence of the Tasikmalaya Batik Learning Center to help boost their income.
“We will increase their knowledge, skills in making batik, and how to market well through the digital (platform) to improve welfare, to finally achieve economic independence," she added.
The Tasikmalaya Batik Learning Center is located on Perintis Kemerdekaan Street near a handicraft industry complex.
The learning center is offering classes on making batik patterns, mencanting (drawing batik patterns), sewing, and entrepreneurship study rooms.
"There are study rooms that meet the needs, (such as) for making patterns, mencanting, sewing, and even learning entrepreneurship, and how to market (the products), both directly and digitally," she informed.
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Translator: Ajat S, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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