One of the furniture companies in Sidoarjo has successfully exported dozens of containers of its products to various countries, achieving a value of over USD 500 million this year. Despite the weakening IDR against the USD and declining export figures causing global economic turbulence, this industry has managed to thrive. Zulkifli Hasan, the Minister of Trade, praised the Sidoarjo furniture export achievement, noting it as a role model for other companies. "Today, we are dispatching 11 containers to America. Amid trade restrictions, this company is exporting to America, Europe, and other parts of the world," he stated on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Zulhas, as he is familiarly known, further highlighted that the increase in furniture export capacity indirectly creates job opportunities for the local community, thereby reducing unemployment rates in East Java. "Besides generating employment, it also provides foreign exchange for the country. They have even recorded a 10-20% increase in exports. This is remarkable, especially since the raw materials are sourced locally," he added.
Separately, Widjaja, Marketing Director of PT Integra Indocabinet, explained that most of the company’s products are made from domestic raw materials. "We use mahogany wood, rubberwood, and woven materials sourced locally, while the designs are from the United States," he explained. For information, Indonesia has experienced an export surplus for the past 48 months. This year, the export value reached USD 14 billion. This figure is predicted to continue rising, considering last year’s figure was USD 37 billion and USD 55 billion in 2022.
