"IFEX has proven to have a huge, positive effect on the Indonesian furniture industry, so that the Indonesian furniture market can continue to develop," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita noted in a statement issued in Jakarta on Friday.
Over the past five years, Indonesia has recorded an increase of 77.9 percent in its furniture industry export performance, he said.
"The value of furniture exports in 2021 reached US$2.8 billion, an increase of 33 percent compared to 2020. This increasing trend seems to still be occurring in the 2022 period," he pointed out.
He said he is confident because the export value of the furniture industry in the first quarter of 2022 stood at US$855 million, an increase of 22.8 percent compared to the year-ago period. Meanwhile, the growth of the national furniture industry in the first quarter was 4.36 percent year on year (yoy).
Director General of Small, Medium, and Multifarious Industries at the ministry, Reni Yanita, informed that her administration's efforts to bring SMEs to the IFEX exhibition were part of the “I'm Ready to Export Program,” which is aimed at increasing exports of home decoration and furniture products made by industries so that they can have a global market.
"Of the 50 furniture SMEs that were curated, there were 28 that were able to pass to participate in the IFEX exhibition and actually have export (potential). These SMEs deserve to participate in international exhibitions to establish partnerships with exporters so that their market access will be more extended," Yanita said.
The “I'm Ready to Export Program” included a year-long series of activities to improve the ability of home decor and furniture SMEs to produce competitive products, she added.
"The activities included workshops, mentoring, discussions, and facilitation of domestic and foreign exhibitions," she said.
The SMEs participating in IFEX 2022 include Mebelle, CV Toju Furniture Internasional, CV Pratama Rotan Interior, CV Yuka, CV Ride One Gallery, CV Grandis Home, CV Alam Cipta Karya, PT Mega Cipta Quanza, CV Kirana Cipta Lestari, CV Amarta Furniture, CV Vinoce, CV Andatu Jati Arjuna, CV EFM Indonesia, and CV Mitra Agri Supplies.
They further include CV Radiant Suryatama, CV Surya Rotan Furniture, CV Kiwari Bamboe, CV Aksa Living, and CV Sahabat Furniture Indonesia.
"On average, these SMEs already have export experience to Japan, Europe, America, New Zealand, Australia, China, and several Middle Eastern countries," she added.
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Translator: Sella P G, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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