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THE ASSOCIATION of Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Entrepreneurs (ASEPHI) presents the Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (INACRAFT) 2023 which highlights superior handicraft products as well as the rich traditions, arts and culture of South Sulawesi with the tagline “The Authentic South Sulawesi”.
According to ASEPHI Central Executive Board (BPP) Secretary and INACRAFT 2023 Project Officer Baby Jurmawati, said the exhibition, which runs from March 1 to March 5, 2023 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), aims to promote local handicraft products to seize market opportunities both domestically and internationally.
“This year, the INACRAFT exhibition is followed by 1,118 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) participants, filling 1,200 booths consisting of 904 ASEPHI members, 214 non-members, and 61 participants assisted by the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and Ministry of Law and Human Rights, 35 BUMN, 255 participants assisted by the agency (Region National Craft Council) or dekranasda,” Baby said during a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday (02/29).
She added that the South Sulawesi Provincial Government filled the Icon Pavilion by bringing a miniature Pinisi Ship in the main exhibition area as well as representatives of three tribes namely Bugis, Makassar and Toraja at each INACRAFT gate.
The products on display come from seven categories of raw materials, namely ceramics, natural fibers, metals, rocks, wood textiles, and other materials for batik, traditional Muslim clothing, weaving, songket, embroidery, home decoration, jewelry and accessories, household appliances, decorative items, bags and travel equipment, gifts, and other crafts.
“The target to be achieved is retail transactions of IDR145 billion with trade contacts expected to reach US$12 million or around IDR182 billion,” she said.
Meanwhile, Head of the South Sulawesi Provincial Industry Office Ahmad Akil added that the exhibition will also feature dance, music and culinary specialties that are famous and have received intangible cultural heritage recognition from UNESCO.
“In addition to the exhibition, we also display cultural arts, traditional dances, traditional music, and fashion shows. Each district will bring the characteristics of their respective woven fabrics,” Ahmad said.
“Then the culinary that is displayed is really the mainstay of South Sulawesi. There is Coto Makassar, sop konro, pallubasa, sop saudara, and so on. And that’s the original concoction,” he continued.
Various other activities were also presented to enliven INACRAFT 2023, including the selection of the best handicraft products, the selection of booths with the best designs, photography competitions, workshops and talk shows with live streaming, the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Chambre d’Artisanat Casablanca Settat and Division Cooperation from Maison de l’Artisan Ministere du Tourisme de l’Artisanat et de l’Economie Sociele et Solidaire Kingdom of Morocco, to the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (AHPADA) meeting.
In collaboration with Mediatama Event and supported by BNI, the INACRAFT 2023 exhibition is open to the public from 10.00-21.00 WIB with an entrance ticket of IDR25,000 which can be purchased through Loket.com and on the spot at the exhibition location. [antaranews]
