VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto opened the 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival (MUFFEST) at the Jakarta Convention Center, South Jakarta on Wednesday (1/5). The event that takes place on May 1 until 4 exhibits local designer works, cosmetic and jewelry products. In his remarks, Minister Airlangga Hartanto conveyed his appreciation to the designers and supporters of the event. He pointed out that the government pushes Indonesia to become the world's Muslim fashion center. He also stated that after building infrastructure this year, human resources are the next priority, including the creative sector. Therefore, it also has to push vocational school education to be able to create young designers to appear and reach overseas markets.He further said that his side continues to enhance the development of the Muslim fashion industry in Indonesia in bid to be more competitive in the global arena and to show Indonesia's readiness to become one of the world's Muslim fashion centers by 2020. The opportunities for the global and domestic Muslim fashion markets are still very huge. Thus, the domestic Muslim fashion industry must play a major role.Minister Airlangga Hartarto also emphasized that the high number of Muslims in the world is one of the driving engines to develop the Muslim fashion industry. In 2018, Indonesia’s total population of Muslims reached 24 percent of the total Muslim population in the world. The 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival is attended by more than 100 designers who exhibit various kinds of fashion, beauty and jewelry products.National Chairman of Indonesian Fashion Chamber, who is also the Chairperson of the 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival (MUFFEST), Ali Charisma said that Indonesian Muslim clothing has distinctive characteristics that are very clear, very varied; their creations are open and their appearance is extraordinary. This can bring Indonesia to compete with international brands.Meanwhile, Director General of Small, Medium and Various Industries at the Ministry of Industry, Gati Wibawaningsih said that the Ministry of Industry involved 656 Small and Medium Industries (IKM) and 60 designers in the development of the Muslim fashion industry during 2018-2019. She also explained that the development program is integrated from upstream to downstream. Examples of programs are the link and match of the Muslim fashion industry with the textile industry, technical guidance and certification of the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards, capacity building for Muslim fashion of Small and Medium Industries, and the development of new entrepreneurs for Muslim clothing.