VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian batik industry has dominated the world market, and has become  a driver for the national economy. This can be seen from the achievement of batik exports and batik products in 2017 which amounted to 58.46 million US dollars with the main destinations include Japan, the United States and Europe. Director General of Small and Medium Industries (IKM) Gati Wibawaningsih in Jakarta, Thursday (17/5) said, National batik industry has a comparative  competitiveness in the international market. Indonesia also  controls the world batik market. Gati explained, world apparel trade products currently reach 442 billion US dollars. This could be a great opportunity for the national batik industry to increase its market share, considering batik as a raw material for apparel products.According to Gati, Indonesian batik industry is dominated by Small and Medium Industries,  spread across 101 centers throughout Indonesia. Of these, the total absorption of workforce reaches 15 thousand people. This potential continues to grow, as government efforts encourage export-oriented labor intensive industries. The Ministry of Industry has implemented several strategic programs such as improving human resource competence and product quality development. In addition, standardization has been applied in  facilitation of machinery and production equipment, as well as promotions and exhibitions both at home and abroad. According to Gati, one of the activities she undertook is a cooperation with Yayasan Batik Indonesia (Indonesian Batik Foundation)  to organize the Twelfth Batik Cultural Exhibition in Jakarta. This exhibition aims to promote superior works of batik craftsmen in the country, as well as to expand their market which is dominated by Small and Medium Industries. This year's Batik Exhibition,  themed “Cheerful Enchantment of  Madura Batik”, held for four days, from 15 to 18 May 2018, was followed by 48 batik crafters of  Yayasan Batik Indonesia. Gati asserted, the current batik industry is required to become  environmentally friendly by using natural dyes on its products. This is a solution in reducing the impact of pollution and  can even make batik as  an eco-product of high economic value. Development of natural dyes also reduces the importation of synthetic dyes. According to Gati, in the midst of increasingly competitive and dynamic global competition, consumer preferences for environmentally friendly products. The Ministry of Industry continues to develop national batik industry.