REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Jakarta -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla inaugurated the Indonesia International Furniture Expo (IFEX) at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran on Friday.
"I highly laud the efforts to increase the exports of furniture through such an international furniture expo," Kalla noted in his opening remarks at the JIEXPO Kemayoran's Semeru Room.
The vice president noted that furniture and crafts are part of the production sectors that provide jobs and contribute significantly to foreign exchange earnings.
"However, the production capacity of the furniture and craft sector should continue to be improved through good technology, design, and innovation," Kalla affirmed.
Further, he added that technology, design, and innovation will improve the competitiveness of the furniture and crafts industry in Indonesia.
In the meantime, Industry Minister Saleh Husin has stated that the furniture design competition will be able to spur innovation to create more products having a competitive edge.
While opening the International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia 2016 at the Jakarta Convention Center here on Thursday, the trade minister stated that the Ministry of Trade annually facilitated the national furniture design competition.
Husin remarked that the winners of the competition were given an opportunity to visit furniture fairs abroad in order to broaden their horizons to the developments in global furniture designs.
He affirmed that the furniture design competition also aimed to encourage innovation and creativity as well as motivate the people about the local culture to improve the competitiveness of the national furniture and craft sector.
He emphasized that the government will continue to increase the number of furniture designers to develop national furniture design centers.
The minister noted that the Trade Ministry will continue to promote and popularize local furniture at the national and international level by facilitating the furniture designers to regularly participate in the international furniture fair.
The International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia 2016 is being organized by the Indonesian Craft and Furniture Association (Asmindo).
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