Furniture Exports Still Grow 8%

Growth of exports Indonesian furniture and handicraft for 2008 is predicted to only 8 per cent following the increase in production costs which reached 65 percent. "The increase in fuel prices (fuel oil), the effect is large, production costs changed up to 65 percent. Meanwhile, the purchasing power of people everywhere are experiencing change. Exports are still growing 8 percent is already good," said Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Furniture and Handicraft (Asmindo), Ambar Tjahjono as quoted by Antara, Jakarta, this weekend.

Last year exports of furniture and handicrafts recorded growing 13 percent from a year earlier to 2.75 billion U.S. dollars. Ambar said exports of furniture and handicraft products to the United States (U.S.) could decrease up to 15 percent. Exports of these products to Japan was very strong earlier this year predicted only grew by 3 percent. "But we have a new country markets including the Middle East region countries," he said.

    

Therefore, Ambar expect the government to do more creative promotional strategies in order to expand the export market leading products. "Do not make a single exhibition that no visitors, better join it with a large exhibition that's obvious," he asserted.