The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is facilitating interactions between raw and semi-finished rattan producers and advanced processing industries to enhance the management of the national rattan sector. Ristianto Pribadi, Director of Forest Product Processing and Marketing at KLHK, highlighted that Indonesia's rattan industry is a significant non-timber forest product with substantial domestic raw material availability. "Approximately 80% of the world's rattan raw materials come from Indonesia annually," he stated in Jakarta on Saturday. Rattan, sourced from and around forest areas, is a biodegradable material, making rattan products environmentally friendly. The rattan processing industry is crucial for Indonesia, with production primarily from West Sumatra (48.19%), Central Sulawesi (22.92%), Aceh (15.81%), and Central Kalimantan (1.63%). However, rattan product exports have declined by 54.92% over the past two years, from 64,980 tons in 2021 to 35,690 tons in 2023. This drop impacts both raw and semi-finished rattan markets, reliant on further processing industries.
Meanwhile, competitor countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines have developed their rattan processing industries, and synthetic rattan products further challenge Indonesia's market. To address these issues, KLHK organized the Rattan Forest Product Processing Business Meeting in Cirebon, West Java, on Friday (6/9). The meeting aims to connect raw and semi-finished rattan producers with advanced processing industries and address strategic issues affecting both upstream and downstream rattan sectors. The goal is to formulate concrete steps for market creation and improve rattan management sustainability. The event, attended by representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the West Java Provincial Government, the Indonesian Rattan Entrepreneurs Association (APRI), the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (Asmindo), the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (HIMKI), and the Kalimantan Rattan Farmers, Traders, and Industry Association (PEPPIRKA), seeks to build synergies and collaborations to enhance the rattan industry’s performance and governance.
