Indonesia is the largest exporter of rattan products in the world, contributing 42.2 percent to the total value of the world's rattan exports, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Industry.
"The value of Indonesia's exports of rattan products hit USD158.5 million, thereby accounting for 42.2 percent of the world's total value of rattan exports, which stood at USD375.6 million," the ministry's Agro-Industry Director General, Putu Juli Ardika, remarked here on Friday.
He underlined that Indonesia accounts for 80 percent of rattan on the global market, noting that a total of 306 rattan species can be found in the country. However, only 28 species have been utilized commercially.
The director general remarked that the Ministry of Industry had distributed 12 rattan processing machines to a local technical implementation unit (UPTD) for the rattan industry in Katingan District, Central Kalimantan, in a bid to boost the industry's contribution to the national economy.
Ardika noted that assistance machines were also provided to strengthen the rattan furniture industry's supply chain and address raw material shortages.
He expressed hope that the UPTD would make the most of the machines provided to yield benefits from Central Kalimantan's potential, with the end goal of boosting the contribution of the rattan industry to Indonesia's foreign exchange.
The official highlighted that Central Kalimantan is home to 137 species of rattan, the highest in the country.
According to data released by the Industry Ministry last year, the average monthly production volume of the national rattan furniture industry was recorded at 284,800 tons while that of the national rattan processing industry stood at 17,600 tons.
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Translator: Ahmad M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Editor : Mahdani
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