VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Industry Ministry continues to encourage the Muslim fashion industry to become globally more competitive in order to showcase Indonesia's willingness to become one of the world's Muslim fashion centers by 2020.

"The market for Muslim wear is big, both outside and inside the country, and needs to be dominated by our Muslim fashion industry," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said at the opening of the 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival (Muffest), as quoted in his statement on Wednesday.

According to Hartarto, the increasing number of Muslims in the world has become one of the main triggers that have driven the growth of the Muslim fashion industry.  In 2018, the total population of Muslims reached 24 percent of the total global population.

Meanwhile, the State Global Islamic Economy reports that the fashion consumption among Muslims across the world is currently US$270 billion, which is projected to continue to increase at a growth rate of 5 percent. By 2023, the consumption will be US$361 billion.

The sale of Muslim clothing in Indonesia is at US$20 billion with a growth rate of 18.2 percent per year.

"One thing that makes us proud is that the Indonesian achievement in the international world has been very significant. According to data from the State of Global Islamic Economy Report of 2018/2019, Indonesia is the runner up among countries that produce the best Muslim fashion in the world after the United Arab Emirates," Hartarto noted.

Such an achievement proves that Indonesia can soon be in the first place and become one of the world's Muslim fashion centers.

"Looking forward to 2020, which is only a few months away, we must immediately declare that Indonesia is ready to become the world's Muslim fashion center in 2020," Hartarto concluded. (ant)