The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is committed to supporting the growth of new entrepreneurs, particularly in the small and medium industry (IKM) sector. This commitment stems from the vital role of IKMs in bolstering the national economy, including job creation, income enhancement, and reducing economic and social disparities. Kemenperin emphasizes the importance of leveraging local natural resources and markets by IKMs to enhance the value of local raw materials into high-value products. For example, Kemenperin recently held Technical Guidance on Production and Entrepreneurship for IKM Furniture in Banjar City, West Java. According to Reni, Indonesia's furniture industry has significant potential and is already a key player in the global market. Reni also emphasized the importance of innovation and creativity in creating quality products that meet market demands. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of developing product designs that follow global furniture industry trends while retaining Indonesia’s unique identity. “We need to encourage the development of furniture designs that maintain Indonesia's distinctive features,” she added.
Furthermore, Reni urged IKM furniture players to support other economic sectors, including tourism. Kemenperin noted that the furniture industry significantly contributes to the national economy. In the first quarter of 2024, this industry contributed 1.16% to the non-oil and gas processing industry GDP, with around 291,600 IKM furniture units employing 819,800 people. To support this growth, understanding raw materials and product design is crucial for IKMs. According to Reni, this understanding helps IKMs develop quality products that can compete in an increasingly complex market. Adding to this, Director of Food, Furniture, and Building Materials IKMs, Yedi Sabaryadi, emphasized the importance of strengthening the competitiveness of IKM furniture in production and product quality, particularly in developing knock-down furniture. “This feature will add value by making packing and shipping easier, and having easy-to-assemble construction,” Yedi explained. West Java Province, known for its many tourist areas, is expected to utilize the potential of the local furniture industry to support the tourism sector. “The furniture industry in Banjar City has the potential to support tourist areas in West Java, especially the needs of hotels, restaurants, and cafes,” Yedi concluded.
