Handicraft makers wait for promised funds

The Jakarta Post Kuta, Bali

Chairman of the Indonesian Handicraft Makers and Exporters Association Rudy Lengkong has urged the government to immediately disburse the funds it promised earlier to help the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He said that the funds, via a subsidized loan facility, could be used to help the SME sector promote their products overseas.

"We appeal to the government to quickly disburse the funds," he told reporters on Saturday at the opening ceremony of a five- day ASEAN Handicraft Exhibition in Istana Kuta Gelleria, Kuta, Bali. The event is part of the first ASEAN Business and Investment Summit here, which will be officially opened on Sunday.

According to Rudy, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti had promised to push local banks to provide some Rp 41 trillion (US$4.8 billion) worth of low- interest, or subisidized loans to help the SME sector.

Rudy said that the country's handicraft makers needed to step up promotional activities overseas to boost export performance, which had been dwindling since the late 1990s economic crisis.

He pointed out that the value of all handicraft exports had recently declined to around $350 million per year from nearly $2 billion in 1998.

"We need to boost our promotional activities overseas and establish trade centers in strategic areas," he said, adding that the current handicraft exhibition in Bali was aimed at promoting local products as well as those from other ASEAN member countries.

Some 150 artisans and marketing personnel from various parts of Indonesia and Malaysia are participating in the event. "Hopefully, there will be some useful business linkages created during the event," Rudy said.