Industry Ministry seeks to preserve authentic batik to protect artisans and SMEs

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is pursuing the preservation of authentic batik as a measure to sustain small and medium-sized industries (IKM) and batik artisans amidst the widespread circulation of batik-motif textile products in the market. In a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita revealed that the batik industry’s development continues to show a positive trend, in line with growing public interest, particularly among the younger generation, in fashion based on the Nusantara’s traditional fabrics. “Currently, the batik industry continues to show a positive trend, both in domestic and international markets. Its exports have increased, and the younger generation is increasingly proud to wear batik, which reflects the nation’s cultural identity,” he said. However, Minister Agus noted that this development is also accompanied by the challenge of increasing circulation of mass-produced printed fabrics with batik motifs sold at cheaper prices. “These products are generally marketed at much lower prices and can be mass-produced in a short time, thus potentially displacing genuine batik, both in terms of market share and public appreciation for the cultural values it embodies,” he stated. According to him, this situation must be balanced with increased public understanding of the difference between genuine batik and batik-motif fabrics. He also conveyed that this is important so that consumers can choose authentic batik products while appreciating the creative process and skills of the artisans. “Genuine batik typically has a distinctive wax aroma, motif lines that are not always precise because they are done manually, and a price that reflects the time and skill involved in its production,” he added. The efforts undertaken include various coaching, mentoring, and strengthening programmes for the batik IKM ecosystem, including support for the Puspa Nuswantara Indonesian Batik Art Exhibition 2026 organised by the Indonesian Batik Artisans and Entrepreneurs Association (APPBI) together with the Indonesian Batik Foundation on 8-12 July 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center, Senayan, Jakarta. The objective of the Puspa Nuswantara Batik Exhibition aligns with the ministry’s task, through the Directorate General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industries (Ditjen IKMA), to protect the authenticity of batik while encouraging batik IKM players to upgrade. Director General of IKMA at Kemenperin, Reni Yanita, said her directorate consistently runs various coaching and mentoring programmes to strengthen the competitiveness of batik IKMs while maintaining the authenticity of batik products. One of the programmes implemented is the facilitation of Batikmark, which involves mentoring IKMs in meeting certification requirements as an official identification mark for Indonesian-made batik. Besides Batikmark, Kemenperin also provides technical guidance on improving the production efficiency of batik IKMs to enhance productivity and product quality, from the design, colouring, to finishing stages. Kemenperin is also strengthening the protection of regional specialty batik through the Geographical Indication programme as a legal instrument for batik possessing characteristics and qualities related to its area of origin. Through this programme, regional batik is expected to gain stronger recognition and protection, both nationally and internationally. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the export value of batik products in 2025 reached 30.62 million US dollars, an increase of 13.03 percent compared to the previous year’s figure of 26.63 million US dollars.