"The government is expected to help promote batik products by holding exhibitions routinely. Thus, batik will become more popular," Farisi , 56, a batik maker from Pekalongan, Central Java, said here on Thursday.
Farisi said that so far batik producers had been facing constraints in marketing their products due to lack of customers. More exhibitions were only held in Pekalongan.
"We admit that we are still weak in marketing. Most of our buyers are tourists who happen to visit Pekalongan," he added.
He said that small batik producers could actually organize exhibitions of their own but they hoped they would not be charged for accommodation and transportation costs.
"The greater number of small and medium scale batik producers that could survive the bigger number of workers that could be employed," he said.
He said that the production of a peace of cloth alone could involve more than ten workers for the work of dyeing, pattern making to staining.
He said that exhibitions would bring batik close to the people, so that hopefully it would boost batik sales.
Other producer, Eko (34), also expressed the same views, saying marketing is the main problem.
"Regarding production, no matter how large the number is, batik makers can produce them. But the problem is how to market them," Eko said.
Eko hoped that the world batik expo would help popularize the various types of Indonesian batik to the people.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
