To preserve the archipelago's cultural heritage, the Ministry of Industry continues to promote the development of the craft industry and traditional wastra, including woven fabric. One step taken by Kemenperin through the Directorate General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industries (IKMA) is synergy with the National Crafts Council (Dekranas), in cooperation with the Maluku Provincial Government, the Ambon City Government, and the Maluku Province and Ambon City Dekranasda, to provide assistance and facilitate special weaving machines.
The First Deputy Executive Chair of Dekranas, Loemongga Agus Gumiwang, stressed the importance of safeguarding the potential of the woven fabric industry, including in Ambon City. According to records, the Ikat Woven Fabric Industry (KBLI 13122) is spread across 23 provinces, mostly in Bali, NTT, Maluku, NTB and North Sumatra. Maluku Province alone has 3,016 artisans in 233 groups across the Tanimbar Islands Regency and Ambon City.
“We need to harness the potential of this wastra for the welfare of the people, which will boost the national economy,” Loemongga said in Jakarta on Friday (19/4).
Loemongga emphasized the need for SMIs to develop products to face today's business competition. “We understand that SMIs often face limited resources for product development, which is quite costly. Dekranas and the Ministry of Industry are working together to help businesses increase their competitiveness through product development assistance and machinery/equipment facilitation,” she added.
Therefore, besides technical assistance on production and product development, machinery and equipment assistance is also needed to support businesses' production processes, so they can make higher-quality products with more efficient and effective production.
Representing the First Deputy Executive Chair of Dekranas, the Director General of Small, Medium and Miscellaneous Industries, Reni Yanita, opened the Weaving SMI Center Development Assistance and Machinery/Equipment Facilitation in Ambon City on Wednesday (17/4), saying the activity is part of the 44th National Crafts Council Anniversary series, with the main event to be held on 15 May 2024 in Surakarta.
Reni explained that the assistance and machinery facilitation were carried out in two stages: the first covering natural dye dipping and motif and design development on 17–20 April 2024, and the second covering monitoring and evaluation on 2–3 May 2024.
Ditjen IKMA and Dekranas had earlier carried out a similar activity in early March 2024 in another region, Padangsidimpuan City, North Sumatra, on 7–8 March 2024 (first stage).
The Director General of IKMA hopes these activities will drive progress and influence the growth of the nation's economic competitiveness. “The capacity of weavers can keep increasing so they can meet market needs, raise the selling value of woven products, and of course boost the economy of artisans and the region,” she concluded.
Source: Press Release of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia