Industry Ministry Encourages Young People To Learn Batik

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- The Industry Ministry has encouraged young people to learn how to make batik, to assist in preserving the national culture and boost the batik industry.

"For example, we are now coordinating with the Education and Culture Ministry to include a lesson on batik making in extra-curricula activities in vocational high schools," Director General for Small and Medium Scale Industry of the Industry Ministry, Gati Wibawaningsih, said here on Monday during the opening of the "Batik as National Cultural Heritage" expo, organized to celebrate National Batik Day that falls every Oct. 2.

The event was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Culture and Human Development Puan Maharani, Chairperson of the Indonesian Batik Foundation Yultin Ginanjar Kartasasmita, and Chairperson of the National Batik Day Commemoration Organizing Committee Nita Kenzo.

The intensified batik promotion has boosted the batik industry in the country and overseas, she said.

"The batik market opportunities have opened widely, both inside and outside the country," she remarked.

To encourage the younger generation, the Indonesian Batik Foundation has launched a program entitled "Batik of My Creations", said Nita Kenzo.

The program provides a free training course in making batik to 50 students from Jakarta Vocational High School 27, which has a class focusing on fashion.

"Their creativity has developed well," she said.

Minister Puan Maharani said the government has supported a movement to promote batik, because it is part of the concrete activities of the mental revolution program for the younger generation.

She suggested a synergy in batik making training, involving the batik industry to help meet the industry's batik market demands and provide jobs to graduates.

The minister also called for more intensified batik promotion among the younger generation, to help them know national batik and avoid buying or using imported batik clothing. (WDY)