Ministry of Industry Strengthens Literacy for SMEs in Crafts and Fashion to Boost Global Competitiveness
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is strengthening literacy for small and medium-sized industry (IKM) players in the crafts and fashion sectors to enhance competitiveness in the global market.
Industry Minister (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, said this effort is being carried out through the reinforcement of business strategy literacy, market understanding, and product value enhancement to compete in an increasingly competitive industrial landscape.
His side assessed that rapid market changes not only affect consumption patterns but also require industry players to present products relevant to societal needs and lifestyles.
Therefore, according to him, improving business literacy is key for IKM to optimally capture global opportunities.
“Product innovations created by designers, artisans, or producers must align with current market needs,” said the Minister.
The Minister believes that Indonesian fashion and crafts designers and artisans possess the ability, ideas, innovation, and skills to produce high-quality products.
However, these abilities need to be supported by proper business strategy understanding and market research.
“Domestic fashion and crafts products are already worthy of standing alongside, even surpassing, foreign products. However, the right strategies are needed to elevate the business,” stated the Minister.
Kemenperin records that the fashion and crafts sector has significant export potential that continues to show growth.
In 2025, the export value of this sector reached 806.63 million US dollars, or an increase of 15.46 percent compared to the previous year.
Director General of Small, Medium, and Various Industries (IKMA) of Kemenperin, Reni Yanita, stated that literacy enhancement for IKM players is conducted routinely, one of which is through the Creative Talk event organised by the Fashion and Crafts Industry Empowerment Centre (BPIFK) in Bali.
In the Creative Talk 1 session titled Designing Product Value According to Market Needs, held on 16 April 2026 in Bali, participants consisting of academics, practitioners, communities, and IKM players discussed strategies for product design to achieve higher added value.
“This is a government strategy to increase the capacity of IKM human resources, particularly to understand market needs and design value-added products. Strengthening business literacy and design strategies is essential so that IKM fashion and crafts products are not only superior aesthetically but also strong commercially,” said Reni.
According to her, the Indonesian fashion and crafts industry has great economic potential, but consistency in presenting relevant products remains a challenge for some IKM players.
“This series of activities is designed as a strategic step to strengthen the competitiveness of the Indonesian fashion and crafts industry through various coaching programmes, such as workshops and ongoing technical guidance,” she said.