Dekranas turns 46th anniversary celebration into a stage for local textiles and crafts

The National Crafts Council (Dekranas) is turning the peak celebration of its 46th anniversary into a stage for textiles and crafts made by local micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs. A total of 300 stands have been prepared to exhibit products from regional MSMEs fostered by Dekranas at the event themed ‘Sustainable Creative Works, Artisans Going Global’, held from 9 to 12 July 2026 at Trans Studio Mall Makassar, South Sulawesi. Dekranas Daily Chairperson Tri Tito Karnavian said during a press conference at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs office in Jakarta on Thursday that the event is intended to promote domestic products. ‘We know that foreign products are now abundant and can even imitate Indonesian products at cheaper prices,’ she said. ‘With this exhibition, we hope the public will love domestic products, which are not inferior in terms of quality and creativity,’ she added. She expressed hope that the exhibition would serve as a platform for MSME players from 38 provinces to exchange experiences and motivate each other to produce more creative, innovative, and high-quality works. Chairperson of the South Sulawesi Provincial Regional National Crafts Council (Dekranasda), Naoemi Octarina Sudirman, estimated that the event held at a shopping centre in Makassar would be attended by thousands of people. According to her, the peak celebration of Dekranas’ anniversary in Makassar will include various activities, including exhibitions, cultural attractions, and the presentation of various culinary products. First Deputy Daily Chairperson of Dekranas, Loemongga Kartasasmita, stated that the peak celebration of Dekranas’ 46th anniversary aligns with the government’s efforts to develop local MSMEs. The series of events includes exhibitions, workshops, and talk shows with topics relevant to MSME players in the digitalisation era. ‘There will be highly relevant materials for the advancement of the handicraft industry,’ Loemongga said. ‘Not only will we discuss how to maintain product quality, but also how to improve knowledge of raw materials and how to market products digitally,’ she explained. According to her, the talk shows during the Dekranas anniversary celebration will address various business issues from upstream to downstream.