Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) targets Indonesian Muslim fashion to reach international markets, from Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, to South Asia. He believes that Indonesia, with one of the largest Muslim populations, has this potential. "So the directions are new markets. So Africa has a population of one billion people, South Asia is almost 1.5 billion, South Asia is Bangladesh, India, Pakistan. Then Central Asia is Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan. Of course there are many Middle East too. where the population is. The countries I mentioned earlier are not so fussy," he said at the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week 2023 press conference, Wednesday (12/10/2022). "Because this has great potential, we have talented people, great designers, I have come many times, I am confident that we can do this, and we can penetrate the international market, believe I can do that," he added.
According to him, to reach the international market is not easy. Zulhas said that it was not enough to have only one exhibition, for example, only one entry into the New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week events. "You can't come once. Or friends just come to New York Fashion Week, then it's over, no. Or to London Fashion Week, it's over, no. It has to be many times, every year Dubai has an exhibition we have to attend, Qatar There are exhibitions we must participate in, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia," he explained. Zulhas also said he would help Muslim fashion entrepreneurs. He said that until the end of the year he would travel to several countries to establish cooperation with Indonesian products. "We will try to develop this, of course, we have a traditional goods market, yes. But we will try again. I will ask for a schedule until the end of the year, I will follow if I can, my friends here are one or two from here. I will go to India before the end of November, then Later we will go to Egypt, of course Saudi Arabia again, we will go to Morocco before going to Nigeria until the end of the year," he explained. In connection with the Jakarta Muslim Fashion Week 2023 agenda, the event will be opened for the first time in conjunction with the 37th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD City Tangerang, Banten. The schedule will be held October 19-23 2022. Previously, Zulhas said that the JMFW was very supportive of the Indonesian Muslim fashion industry. The activity is part of realizing Indonesia's ideals as a mecca for Muslim fashion in the world. "During the implementation of JMFW 2023, there will be various fashion shows and speeches featuring the works of top quality designers from Indonesia. In addition, there are various accessories and supporting cosmetic products," said Zulhas, Monday (19/9).
