REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CIREBON – Every cloud has a silver lining, old wise saying. In rattan industry, the wise words match perfectly with the government ban on exporting raw material. 

Through Ministry of Home Affairs Regulation number 35, the government bans the export of raw rattan. Not long after that, the policy makes rattan furniture industry in Cirebon, West Java, revives.

Before the export is not banned, the rattan industry in Cirebon almost dead for seven years. The long dead industry then see “a silver lining” as the demand of processed rattan products increases especially from Europe.

Hatta Sinatra, the Chairman of Indonesian Rattan Furniture and Craft Association (AMKRI) said, the orders of rattan furniture come from many countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. “Cirebon rattan industry was in heyday before 2005. Even, it was number one in international furniture,” he said recently. 

However, the trade was down when the government allowed the export. Yet, he added that it was the perfect opportunity to fulfill the order of rattan furniture from several countries. 

Badri, a rattan entrepreneur from Cirebon, said, the order came after the government banned the export of raw rattan. He predicts Cirebon rattan furniture industry will revive. 

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