Sultan Encourages Yogyakarta's Crafts to Go International

Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, is encouraging the region’s handicraft quality to move up a class in order to penetrate international markets. He made the remarks while attending the Inacraft Festival 2026 at the Jogja Expo Center (JEC) in Bantul. The Sultan noted that Inacraft is similar to SiBakul Jogja, a digital platform for cooperative and SME development owned by the DIY Cooperatives and SMEs Agency. ‘Inacraft’s members are also SiBakul members. So, how we facilitate product standardisation and shipping costs, the mobility that occurs is like SiBakul, so they can move up a class,’ Sultan said in Banguntapan, Bantul, on Wednesday (15/7/2026). ‘But if it is not based on increasingly better quality, it will be difficult to go international,’ he added. Furthermore, the monarch stated that the presence of foreign delegations at Inacraft is proof that crafts are not merely economic products, but a universal language capable of transcending national and cultural boundaries. The theme of this year’s Inacraft is ‘Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana: Cultural Crafts for World Harmony’. According to the Sultan, the choice of theme was no coincidence. ‘The philosophy of Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana contains the teaching to constantly beautify and maintain world harmony. This value is relevant to the spirit of craftsmanship itself,’ he said. The Sultan explained that every craft product is born from meticulous hands, patient processes, and respect for materials and tradition. On a broader scale, these values become the foundation for creating harmony between nations through trade and cultural pathways based on mutual respect. ‘Therefore, Jogja is proud to be part of this long journey, and is committed to continuously strengthening its position as a leading global destination for crafts, culture, and tourism,’ he stated. The Inacraft Festival 2026 also aligns with government policy, particularly in promoting creative economic growth based on local wisdom. Moreover, Yogyakarta’s crafts, with their wealth of batik motifs, carvings, pottery, and silverwork, possess a uniqueness not found in other regions. ‘International festivals like this serve as a strategic bridge to introduce this wealth to the global market, while simultaneously opening sustainable trade partnership opportunities for artisans and small and medium enterprises,’ he concluded.