The South Kalimantan Provincial Trade Office (Disdag Kalsel) recorded the export value of local craft products reaching USD 679 million in 2024. "The main export destination countries include the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, China, and Taiwan," said Head of Domestic Trade Development of the South Kalimantan Provincial Trade Office, Sutikno, when confirmed in Banjarmasin, Tuesday. Sutikno said the achievement of the export value of local crafts from South Kalimantan indicated that crafts and textiles had high competitiveness to attract the global market. According to Sutikno, the South Kalimantan Provincial Trade Office emphasized design strategies and product innovation so that the results of crafts and textiles could maintain the competitiveness of local craftsmen in the world market.
Furthermore, Sutikno said that South Kalimantan craft and textile products have high cultural characteristics and aesthetic value, but support is needed to improve craftsmen's understanding of global trends and the right design strategies to be worthy of export. Sutikno gave an example of craft and textile products from South Kalimantan that have penetrated the global market, such as Sasirangan Cloth from Tanah Laut Regency exported to the Philippines and Thailand, and purun crafts are in demand by the world market. In order to increase competitiveness and understanding of world trends, the South Kalimantan Provincial Trade Office provides training on opportunities and development of regional craft and textile designs for the export market for a number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). "The purpose of this activity is to increase the insight and knowledge of business actors regarding export strategies through the development of craft and textile designs," said Sutikno. Sutikno emphasized that the South Kalimantan Provincial Government is committed to advancing the regional creative economy and expanding local business actors' access to the world market as a long-term strategy.
