REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- YOGYAKARTA -- Eco-friendly craft products have a huge export potential, especially to the markets in European countries, Director of Indonesian Craft Development Association (APIKRI) Amin Panzuri stated here on Thursday.
He explained that this is because the European countries and the United States are now implementing regulations regarding the trade of legally certified and environmentally friendly products.
"Products made of imitative plastic are no longer in demand among the consumers in Europe," Amin remarked.
Amin is of the viewpoint that export-oriented handicraft businesses in Yogyakarta should give priority to the use of natural raw materials and legally certified timbers in the near future.
Moreover, in 2015, the government will implement a new regulation that makes it mandatory for all wood-based product exporters to adhere to the timber legality verification system.
"Inevitably, every craft or export-oriented furniture businessperson should use legally certified wood," Amin claimed.
Some of the eco-friendly products that are in high demand among buyers in export destination countries such as the US and Europe are the various handicrafts made of water hyacinth and banana waste.
"The demand for green products is increasing and will continue to rise in line with consumer awareness about the importance of using environmentally friendly products over the non-renewable ones," Amin pointed out.
He stated that as of now, the APIKRI, as a craft business association that consistently exports environmentally friendly products, was able to generate 90 percent higher profits as compared to 2013.
The average turnover reached Rp300 million to Rp350 million, or US$25 thousand to US$30 thousand per month.
According to Head of the Central Statistics Agency of Yogyakarta Bambang Kristianto, the value of goods exported from the province through multiple ports in Indonesia in March 2014 amounted to US$29 million.
This figure increased by 18.57 percent as compared to US$24 million recorded in the previous month.
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