VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian non-timber forest products (NTFPs), processed wood products, and products made by communities living around forests will be promoted by the Environment and Forestry Ministry at the 2020 Dubai Expo, an official has said.

"The ministry’s participation at the expo aims to show Indonesia's achievements and progress in industry, technology, environment and forestry sectors," Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong said in a statement received here on Tuesday.

Indonesia has a comparative advantage of raw material productivity compared to other countries, which can create a huge export potential, he said.

Furthermore, Indonesia owns at least 565 potential NTFPs to be developed and utilized, he said. Moreover, utilization of the products will reduce the number of trees cut, he said.

Some of the NTFPs -- rattan, benzoin resin, and honey -- will be displayed at the Indonesia Pavilion at the expo, he informed.

Currently, the fashion industry has a great interest in woven rattan, especially the one from Kalimantan Island, Dohong noted.

Likewise, benzoin resin -- which has been used to add scent in incense for centuries -- is currently used to make world-class perfumes with a fragrant and soft aroma, he said.

Although they do not contain alcohol, such perfumes can last up to 16-24 hours, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, one of the processed wood products that will feature at the expo is a wooden radio made from pine, mahogany, and rosewood -- as trees can produce good sound resonance, the official said.

Thanks to their antique design, the radios, which have been manufactured in Temanggung district, Central Java province, have managed to enter the international market and win various international awards, he noted.

Another product—Lepironia articulata straw—can serve as an alternative to the utilization of plastic that has become a global problem, Dohong said.

The products have been made by a micro, small, and medium enterprise in Bangka Belitung Islands province, he informed.

However, the straws are disposable and cannot be washed like bamboo straws, he said adding, still, they are environmentally friendly as they decompose in just one week.

Meanwhile, walnuts from communities living around the forests on Makian Island, North Maluku, which have made a huge contribution to the Indonesian economy in the forestry sector, will also be featured at the expo, he said.

In addition, there will be several kinds of coffees, including the Liberika coffee grown on peatland which has a unique sour taste and the scent of jackfruit, at the expo, too, he added.  (Antaranews)