"We from the ministry of industry and the ministry of trade in a two hour meeting just now agreed to increase national rattan production in the fourth quarter of this year," Hidayat said here on Tuesday.
He said that the national rattan production in the previous quarter was recorded at 98 thousand tons, of which 33 thousand tons for exports and 66 thousand tons for distribution to the local market.
"In the meeting we calculate the capacity of the national consumers to absorb rattan, including those in South Sulawesi, and the volumes of their exports. We also discuss how to increase the capacity of rattan industry so that the need for raw rattan could be met for domestic market," he said.
Hidayat said that he and Gita would conduct a direct observation of the rattan industrial center in Cirebon on Friday October 28, 2011.
"I and the trade minister will visit Cirebon on Friday. I also ask the governors of West Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi to visit the rattan production center," he added. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
