The Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI)/or Indonesia Eximbank continues to expand cooperation in the development of export-oriented industries by strengthening commitments with relevant stakeholders. To that end, the company held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the theme "Batik Fashion Industry Towards a World Market" in collaboration with the Dekranasda Surakarta, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) Central Java II Ministry of Finance and Export Business actors. Batik Solo and surrounding areas. LPEI Corporate Secretary Chesna F. Anwar in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday, said the FGD was held at the Solo Export House, which is an initiative by LPEI to collaborate with many institutions in the Solo area. "This FGD aims to increase the capacity and competence of SMEs to become export adept, especially in Central Java Province, orchestrate all stakeholders in the batik export ecosystem, and improve the quality of highly competitive human resources," said Chesna. As the Ministry of Finance's Special Mission Vehicle (SMV) in increasing national exports, LPEI has an Export House program which is expected to become a meeting center for all parties in the export ecosystem in an area, including the industry. The batik industry as a high labor absorber in Indonesia has great potential to continue to be developed. It is recorded that 47 batik business units from 101 regional centers in Indonesia can absorb up to 200 thousand workers.
UNESCO has even named Indonesian Batik as one of the cultural heritages in the field of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The FGD, which involved all Batik SMEs in Central Java and its surroundings, contained many materials, such as the potential for batik fashion exports, batik export experience, the development of batik fashion in the world and sharing sessions for batik export SMEs in the Central Java region. Participants consisting of SMEs, Alumni Coaching Program for New Exporters (CPNE), and associations seemed quite enthusiastic about participating in the FGD until it ended. The chairman of the Surakarta Dekranasda, represented by the Head of the Solo City Economics Division, Yanti, also appreciated and welcomed the initiative of this meeting. "We support the Batik industry in Solo City with the carnival and batik village. We also appreciate this activity which is a tangible manifestation of the development of national exports, especially the batik industry and inspires SMEs amid the current economic conditions," said Yanti. According to Yanti, synergy and collaboration are needed to bring the batik industry into the international arena.
