Minister of Industry targets furniture exports of Rp 67 Trillion

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The furniture industries were producers of high value-added and foreign exchange. In the next five years, furniture and rattan industries were expected to reach 5 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp 67.5 trillion, with the exchange rate of Rp 13,500 per US dollar.

The export performance in the previous years showed improvement. In 2013 the export value of wooden and rattan furniture nationwide reached 1.8 billion US dollars and increased in 2014 to 2.2 billion US dollars.

"Indonesian furniture industry has bright prospects. We are optimistic to reach 5 billion US dollars in five years. This is because we have the advantage in abundant natural raw materials," said Minister of Industry, Saleh Husin, Wednesday (18/11).

The minister also stated, the implementation of Asean Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 might be an opportunity for the domestic industry, especially furniture industry and handicraft. The government boosted the competitiveness of industries through several programs, as mandated in Law No. 3 of 2014 regarding Industry.

The government also firmly secured the supply of raw materials, with a policy of the ban on export of raw material stipulated in Regulation No. 44 of 2012 on Prohibited Export of Goods. While the ban on export of raw rattan was set in Regulation No. 35 of 2011 on the Export of Rattan and Rattan Products.