Blueprint of Batik Promotion

The trade ministry is currently developing a blueprint of Indonesian batik promotion, according to a minister. Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here Monday that her ministry was preparing the blueprint with the cooperation of a number of stakeholders such as batik experts and businessmen.

The batik promotion blueprint is expected to be launched during the World Batik Summit (WBS) which will be held at Jakarta Convention Center, on September 28-October 2, 2011. Minister Mari said the WBS event would be participated in by 1,000 delegates from Indonesia and abroad.

The delegates are coming from various background namely practitioner, academician, marketing and fashion critic. She said the WBS would become a forum for batik makers to promote their products.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to officially kick off the World Batik Summit which will be highlighted with an exhibition and conference on batik.

"Batik which has been recognized a world heritage, must be managed and preserved sustainably to make sure that the tradition and meaning of batik survive," Minister Pangestu said.

She said batik is also found in other countries such as India, Sri lanka, and several ASEAN member countries including Malaysia. The batik of Indonesia must be preserved by applying the sustainable principles economically and socially.

Different styles of batik are also found in various regions throughout Indonesia. "Batik now is not only produced in regions such as Pekalongan and Yogyakarta. Recently, I found out that Papua has also batik," she said.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, who is also a founder of Batik Indonesia foundation, said the World Batik Summit was aimed to establish a strong networking between batik makers and lovers around the world.

"The event is expected to attract international’s interest towards batik," Dipo said here on Monday.