The Ministry of Industry presented a range of sustainable furniture industry products to delegates in the first series of meetings of the G20 Trade, Investment, and Industry Working Group (TIIWG) in Solo, Central Java. The furniture products on display show that the industry in the country uses raw materials that meet the aspects of legality and are environmentally friendly.

"We want to convey a message to the world that the furniture industry in Indonesia is sustainable. There is no more furniture industry whose raw materials are illegal, have high traceability, and can be accounted for," said Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in Solo, Thursday (31/3).

The Minister of Industry stated that the G20 TIIWG meeting in Solo discussed several priority issues, one of which was an inclusive and sustainable industry. "The Indonesian furniture industry is one of the inclusive industries because it involves local communities, craftsmen, large industries to the government. The series of production processes of the furniture industry in the country also pay attention to environmental aspects," he said.

This sustainable aspect is fulfilled by the furniture industry which is committed to using wood certified by the Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) which already meets the legal and environmental sustainability aspects.

Director General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika said, the government is committed to continuing to encourage SVLK certification for the entire furniture industry. "Sustainable wood sourcing has become a major concern for Indonesian wood furniture producers. The increasing awareness of international buyers on environmental issues encourages Indonesian producers to only use legal wood harvested from sustainable sources," he explained.

Putu explained that SVLK is a mandatory legality and sustainability certification system built on a national multistakeholder consensus. "This scheme is relatively the same as other international timber legality certifications such as FSC and PEFC which have been widely used by producers," he said.

To participate in the success of the TIIWG G20 event in Solo, the Ministry of Industry through the Directorate General of Agro Industry in collaboration with the Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft Industry Association (HIMKI) of Central Java exhibited superior furniture industry products that have met SVLK certification.

In addition to fulfilling the SVLK aspects, products from members of HIMKI Solo Raya, HIMKI Semarang Raya, HIMKI Jepara Raya and HIMKI DIY display design and technological innovations that have their own peculiarities," said Putu.

"Moreover, 45% of Indonesia's furniture industry is located in Central Java, which is represented by Solo Raya, Jepara Raya, Semarang and Yogyakarta which have their own characteristics. Their products have been able to be competitive to penetrate the export market," he added.

The Ministry of Industry noted that Indonesia is the top 20 furniture exporter countries in the world. The top three export destination countries of Indonesia are the United States, Japan and the Netherlands. The export value of Indonesian furniture to the United States in 2021 was USD1.36 billion, a percentage of which reached 54% of Indonesia's total furniture exports. Meanwhile, the export performance of the national furniture industry reached USD2.5 billion in 2021.

 Enthusiastic and amazed

The TIIWG G20 delegation showed their enthusiasm when visiting the furniture exhibition which carried the theme "Sustainable Furniture: the Industry is becoming Greener". Secretary of the Directorate General of Agro Industry/Acting Director of Forest Products and Plantation Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Mohammad Ari Kurnia Taufik described the enthusiasm of the TIIWG G20 delegation.

"Members of the G20 delegation enthusiastically watched a videorama explaining the development of the Indonesian furniture industry which has used raw materials derived from sustainable and sustainable sources and its role in encouraging the use of legal wood raw materials," he explained.

In addition, they showed their admiration for the Indonesian furniture products on display. "We also showed a rattan weaving demo and the G20 delegation was very interested in seeing it and even some of the delegates tried it themselves," he said.

According to Ari, this exhibition is the first activity participated by HIMKI members after the Covid-19 pandemic. "We hope that this exhibition can open the awareness of G20 members about the progress and quality of the Indonesian furniture industry that uses raw materials that can be traced to the source," concluded Ari.

 Thus this Press Release is to be disseminated.