Indonesia’s Furniture Industry Needs Innovation to Maintain Pace with Competitors

The President also claimed to have become more satisfied with the changes that occur in the furniture and handicraft industry in Indonesia to move the industry forward. However, he added that this time, the toughest competitors in the international furniture industry for Indonesia are Vietnam and Malaysia.

“If we do not follow, then we will be left behind. The furniture and handicraft products’ design are good enough. What needs to be done now is on how to market the products so we can compete internationally,” he said at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) in Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Saturday (3/11).

He stressed that if the domestic furniture industry is not able to adjust to global challenges that exist today, then Indonesia’s furniture industry will be undermined by other countries’ furniture products.

“The designs of existing products from rattan, wood, bamboo, and metal have been changed. These are the changes that need to be done, because the world changes rapidly,” President Joko Widodo added.

“Our toughest competitors are now Vietnam and Malaysia. I think with good designs like these we can improve,” he continued.