Indonesia Furniture Export Reaches US$ 1.69 Billion

Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto visits Kendal Industrial Zones in Central Java last month, photo by: PR of Ministry of Industry

Indonesian furniture industry has shown its competitiveness in a global market with its unique and competitive products, according to Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto. He added that the export-oriented and labor-intensive sector is supported by the availability of raw materials, human capital and good product design.

“The furniture industry is one of the strategic sectors that support national economy. It also plays an important role in supporting the downstream industry policy because it is based on local natural resources and is driven by added value,” the Minister said in Jakarta, Sunday (10/3).

Data from Ministry of Industry states that export performance of Indonesian furniture industry in the last three years shows a positive trend: US$ 1.60 billion in 2016, US$ 1.63 billion in 2017 and US$ 1.69 billion in 2018.

“We are committed to boosting furniture exports using raw materials available,” Airlangga said.

Indonesia produces 80% of global raw rattan materials and has several potential areas of rattan in various islands, especially Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Sumatra. In addition, the country has a very large source of wood raw materials in 120.6 million hectares of forest, including 12.8 million hectares of production forest.

The Minister went on to say that the Government seeks to optimize the potential of national furniture industry through several policies, including by providing technical guidance programs on production, promotion and market access development, as well as preparation of human capital for furniture industry.

“We strive to create skilled and innovative workforce who are able to increase the competitiveness of domestic furniture industry,” Airlangga said, adding that Ministry of Industry has facilitated the construction of the Polytechnic of Furniture and Wood Processing Industry in Kendal Industrial Zones in Central Java.

The Minister added that creativity and innovation on product design are needed to boost the competitiveness of the national furniture in global market. “It means that the furniture industry must be able to create the needs and deliver the needs, ” he explained.

He also praised dual system curriculum (70% practical implementation and 30% theory) in the learning process at the Polytechnic of Furniture and Wood Processing Industry. “The dual system concept developed by Switzerland is able to produce graduates who fit the needs of the future, especially in the era of industry 4.0,” he added.

The Minister further said that developing polytechnics in industrial areas is one of Ministry of Industry’s priority programs in developing industrial vocational education, in line with the direction of President Joko Widodo in developing the quality of Indonesian human capital. (Humas Kemenperin/ES)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Edited by: Mia Medyana