Bantul Expands Handicrafts To Asia

Bantul, Yogyakarta, Oct 2 (Antara) - The Industry Trading and Cooperative Office of Bantul District, Yogyakarta, is targeting a number of Asian countries with the country's handicrafts, the Head of the Office, Sahadi, said here Thursday. "This year we actively exported our handicrafts to some Asian countries. This had been pursued after an economic crisis hit the United States (US) and Europe some years ago," he added. The US and European crisis had hit handicraft exports, according to him. In 2013, the export volume of Bantul`s handicrafts was 5.9 tons at a value at US$53,350,443, while the amount in 2014 has not been calculated yet by the office. "The largest export markets for Bantul`s handicraft products were the US and European countries. However, after the economic crisis hit these countries, the export markets have been targeting China and other Asian countries," Sahadi said. Bantul`s dominant export products are readymade clothes, wooden furniture, potteries, ceramics and other wooden ornaments, he explained. In order to expand the export markets and target a number of Asian countries, the office has been participating in international handicraft exhibitions overseas, and also organizing the same events to invite foreign buyers. "The exports to the US and European countries are still on, while we are expanding to Asian countries, such as China, which on several occasions has been offered the opportunity of trade cooperation with Bantul," Sahadi said.