Soeharto opens handicraft expo
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on small businesses and home industries yesterday to improve the quality of their products to take advantage of the fast growing tourist industry.
"The demand for handicrafts is now increasing in line with the growth of tourism. But at the same time, we have to compete with other countries which offer similar products," Soeharto said when inaugurating the Seventh Indonesian Handicraft Exhibition here yesterday.
Soeharto suggested a more extensive partnership program between small businesses and home industries on the one side and large-scale businesses on the other.
He said this kind of partnership would help promote the products of small businesses and transfer technology in efforts to improve production efficiency and to modernize product designs.
"Moreover, the partnership program should boost the creation of a better management system and more professional cooperatives," Soeharto added. "Small businesses will benefit from such partnerships."
Small-scale industries, according to Soeharto, can afford to absorb a large workforce with very limited capital. They also have the capability to manufacture export-oriented products.
"By the turn of the century, we will see a lot of global cooperation despite tighter competition," Soeharto said.
He promised that the government would pave the way small industries to improve their competitive edge. He added, however, that it is the businesses themselves that would play the most important role in the competition.
Soeharto said that the exhibition, which will display different handicrafts from the country's 27 provinces, is a very positive event because it will allow visitors access to a variety of products.
He urged the participants of the exhibition to make use of the event to up-grade their skills through seminars and discussions.
The opening ceremony at the State Palace was also attended by Vice President Try Sutrisno and chairwoman of the National Handicraft Board Tuti Try Sutrisno.
The exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center will last until Sept. 12. (alo)