HIMKI targets development of West Java handicraft export strength

The Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (HIMKI) is targeting the Priangan region of West Java as a production centre and a new export force for the handicraft industry through strengthening competitiveness, improving product quality, and expanding global market access. HIMKI Chairman Abdul Sobur stated the region has significant potential to be developed as an export-oriented handicraft industry base. According to a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday, this potential is supported by material wealth, production talent, and handmade skills that have developed over generations. He noted that developing this area as a handicraft export hub cannot rely solely on production capability. The region needs strengthening through building product identity, meeting quality standards, ensuring supply certainty, and enhancing professionalism to meet international market needs. He explained that handicraft products from this area have the opportunity to be developed more broadly, not only based on bamboo and mendong, but also encompassing wood products. Abdul Sobur emphasised that material diversity provides an opportunity for the regional handicraft industry to enter the global market. However, product quality remains the main factor in competing in the world-class market. To strengthen the region’s position in the national handicraft export chain, HIMKI is encouraging local business players to increase their business capacity from mere subcontractors to companies with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) capabilities, and to build their own brands. As an initial step, HIMKI is pushing for the mapping of 30 to 50 potential companies in the area, which will then be curated to around 20 prospective exporters with the best readiness. Selected companies are encouraged to strengthen several aspects, from design, finishing, quality control (QC), costing, packaging, and on-time delivery (OTD), to digital catalogues. Once production readiness is established, HIMKI will match industry players with buyers specifically based on product categories. HIMKI is targeting the emergence of first orders or export reactivation within six to 12 months, and within 12 to 36 months, it expects growth with repeat orders and diversification of export destination countries. The Ministry of Industry is targeting Indonesia to become a global furniture manufacturing production hub through strengthening sustainable wood downstreaming and increasing national industrial competitiveness. The furniture and handicraft sector is also considered to have an important role in labour absorption and connectivity with the global market, which is valued at more than 736.21 billion US dollars.