Indonesia’s Silver Crafts from Bantul Lure G20 Delegates

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Silver crafts made by artisans of Desa Devisa Bantul, a community development program for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bantul near the historic cultural city Yogyakarta, have attracted delegates attending the G20 meeting in Jakarta.

Desa Devisa is a sustainable assistance program provided by the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) for entrepreneurs and the development of leading products for export. The silver crafts from Bantul have entered international markets in the Netherlands, the US, and the UK.

LPEI Executive Director Rijani Tirtoso said the program was a form of financial inclusion provided by the LPEI as the government’s representative to micro, small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) producing export products amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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“The program of Desa Devisa Bantul is expected to become a reference for other regions and commodities in Indonesia to support the acceleration of the economic recovery,” said Rijani on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

The G-20 meeting in Jakarta will discuss various global financial issues and challenges, including Financial Inclusion: Digital and SMEs.

Secretary of the G20 Finance Track Logistics Working Group, Rudy Rahmaddi, said Indonesia’s G20 presidency can be one of the avenues to showcase the country’s cultural richness to the world. This includes the ongoing events during the Finance Track program this month.

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“Through the meetings, we want to bring benefits and impacts on the local economy, including MSMEs and local culture,” said Rudy.

Rudy explained that the organizing committee has prepared MSME outlets to showcase various Indonesian handicrafts that are environmentally friendly, such as batik, silver jewelry, and handicrafts made of wood and plant waste.

Traditional puppet show Wayang Blenchong will also be performed. Other sideline events also include running and cycling under the theme of Betawi Village, introducing Indonesian folk music such as keroncong, and providing souvenirs such as woven fabrics and coffees.

(Editor: Bambang P. Jatmiko)

Source: https://umkm.kompas.com/read/2022/02/16/152111583/kerajinan-perak-buatan-bantul-diminati-para-delegasi-g20.