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