Finished products instead of rattan

Finished products instead of rattan

From Republika

According to the Asia-Pacific Industrial Property Center
(APIC), Indonesia supplies 85 percent of the rattan for the
global furniture industry. In my view, Indonesia should export
finished furniture rather than rattan.

Though the APIC data shows that Indonesia is the largest
rattan exporter, that record should be broken in the coming years
because the government has again allowed the export of rattan.

The question is whether the increase in foreign exchange
revenue from rattan exports can offset the lost furniture export
revenue.

The government should emphasize the promotion of furniture
exports in rattan producing areas instead of permitting raw
material exports. Rattan craftsmen from Cirebon, Surakarta and
Surabaya should be placed in such regions to produce furniture
and create new jobs.

It is my hope that this suggestion will encourage decision
makers to give more consideration to Indonesia's long-term
development for the sake of future generations, while resisting
the pressure of short-term gains.

TONTON TAUFIK
Jakarta