We are ranked 13th out of the world's (biggest) Muslim clothing exporters. (However), we (only) have a share of 1.86 percent. It is still small. Hence, we will improve it.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan believes that the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week (JMFW) could be a momentum for Indonesian Muslim fashion products to expand their global market and become the world’s reference on the sector.

"We, from the Trade Ministry, have prepared a road map to facilitate (export activities of the products) to the global market," he stated while attending the Road to JMFW event titled "From Local Wisdom for Global Inspiration" here on Tuesday.

His side strives to open access to the global market by making various trade agreements and forging cooperation with several countries that will make the price of Indonesian products more competitive since import duties are not imposed.


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"With ASEAN, South Korea, Japan, we do not impose import duties anymore,” he noted.

Furthermore, he affirmed that later, the same policy will also be implemented with the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Meanwhile, cooperation on free trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is being processed for ratification by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), he remarked.

The minister stated that Indonesia will utilize the opportunity through its cooperation with UAE to enter the African market.

"Africa has a (potential) market of one billion people,” he noted.

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He assessed that the world's growing Muslim population has become a potential market for the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia.

"I do not think the looks of (our products) are inferior to the products of other countries. It is very good. I think it is time for Indonesia to go global and dominate the global market of Muslim clothing," he stated.

The export value of Indonesian Muslim clothing in the first semester of 2022 had reached US$2.8 billion, an increase of 39.86 percent year-on-year (yoy), which was US$2.04 billion.

"We are ranked 13th out of the world's (biggest) Muslim clothing exporters. (However), we (only) have a share of 1.86 percent. It is still small. Hence, we will improve it," Hasan remarked.

The JMFW will be held concurrently with the 37th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) on October 20-22, 2022.


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Translator: Sella Gareta, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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