The Island of the Gods Takes Center Stage at Inacraft 2015

Jakarta Globe, Tunggul Wirajuda,  Apr 09, 2015

The annual Inacraft trade fair will feature products from nearly 1,500
artisans and manufacturers. (JG Photo/Safir Makki)

A vast array of Indonesian handicrafts range as far as the eye can see, as vendors from all over the country jostle to catch passing customers’ attention.

Spread across stands at the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta, the merchants are on hand for the Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair or Inacraft, one of the mainstays in Jakarta’s expo calendar and a haven for sellers and aficionados of batik, woven craft, ethnic jewelry and other traditional items.

President Joko Widodo kicked off Inacraft’s 17th edition on Wednesday.

Its theme “Through Enchanting Bali Towards Global Market,” [sic, not a translation] showcases the so-called Island of the Gods and its culture, starting from the main gate, the opening ceremony, as well as the Balinese pavilion dominating its main lobby. Bali’s iconic standing among foreigners and Indonesians alike makes the choice of the island momentous, as organizers placed high hopes on this year’s fair.

“We hope that revenue from foreign buyers will be much higher than in previous years — due to the strengthening of the US dollar. We also expect more than 200,000 visitors for this year’s Inacraft, including thousands of major buyers from both Indonesia and overseas,” said Association for the Export and Production of Indonesian Handicrafts (Asephi) chairman Thamrin Bustami, who has with the help of exhibition organizer Bina Media Tama Kreasi been the driving force of the fair since its inception in 1998.

“We will have buyers from 56 different countries, a majority of which are Asian, including Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. However, we will also see [sales] representatives from the United States, Australia and Germany,” said Thamrin, adding that Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s majors manufacturer of handicraft.

“In recent years, we have also seen increasing interest among buyers from African countries and those of the Middle East,” he said.

This year, a larger portion of the products on display are locally made, but the fair will also offer an international stand of Chinese-made items that represent the cultures of ten different countries, including Iran and Vietnam.

Asephi secretary general Sugiarto attributed part of Inacraft’s growing success to the constantly changing demographic within the industry.

“Sixty percent of the handicraft manufacturers in this year’s Inacraft are privately owned, independent business. That’s a significant change from previous years when the majority of our participants were small-to-medium enterprises sponsored by state-owned companies and other government agencies,” Sugiarto explained. “Many of [this year’s] featured manufacturers are able to promote themselves and lay out their own marketing strategies. Their strides reflect their state-owned predecessors’ success in fostering entrepreneurship and encouraging businesses to stand on their own.”

Nearly 1,500 handicraft artisans and manufacturers at more than 1,300 stands will fill the Jakarta Convention Center’s 25,000-square-meter space through Sunday. Shoppers will be spoiled for choice, as the goods range from batik, woven cloth and other textiles, woodwork, as well as precious stones and jewelry. Other featured items include ceramics and pottery, as well as home decorations.

 For the Rp 20,000 ($1.54) entrance fee, visitors can expect to figuratively “travel around Indonesia,” Thamrin said.

Residents from the Greater Jakarta area can breathe a sigh of relief as organizers are providing shuttle buses to the venue from the following malls: Plaza Senayan, Senayan City and Pacific Place, South Jakarta; Taman Anggrek Mall, West Jakarta; Grand Indonesia, Central Jakarta; and Margo City, in the southern outskirts of the capital.