Bank Indonesia (BI) Surakarta Representative Office encourages the development of batik as a leverage for the regional economy which is currently starting to rise after the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, the fashion sector, including batik, is in second place after culinary in its contribution to the economy.
"Bank Indonesia is concerned about cultural heritage, and the role of batik itself in the economy is quite large, including in the creative economy," said the Head of the BI Representative Office in Surakarta, Nugroho Joko Prastowo, during a batik production training held in Kauman Batik Village, Solo, Wednesday (14/4) .
Fashion does have the second largest contribution to the economy. He noted that the culinary sector contributed 41 percent, fashion 17 percent, and crafts 15 percent.
"Meanwhile, the number of workers in this sector is over 200,000 people, so it is hoped that this can be a lever for economic recovery. Now the production, in the future, is more to marketing, including what we hold at KKI (Indonesian Creative Work), "he said.
He hopes that through this training the batik makers do not feel competitive but can form communities to support each other. "So it is not a competitor but equally developing. We want to form a mutually supportive community, here we are. Moreover, batik is indeed a unique commodity, it is one of the cultural heritages so that it should not be extinct, "he said.
Therefore, the development of batik must be considered, including by BI, which has batik partners. "As a commodity, batik has to keep up with developments. If not, later it won't sell, it can't be sold and eventually the batik will die. What is certain is that the batik has to keep up with the times, including in terms of coloring, the model that is preferred by millennials because batik itself has entered into fashion, "he said.
He said at the initial stage of the production themed training was expected to be able to encourage batik makers to carry out the batik process in an environmentally friendly manner. For example, what will the waste treatment be like if you use artificial materials.
"Actually, using organic materials will be more friendly but usually more expensive," he said.
The training is a large part of the 2021 Developing and Innovating Event to Become Cool MSMEs (Kenduren UMKM) which is a continuation of the same event last year. The training was attended by 24 batik makers from Central Java and Yogyakarta.
One of the participants from the UKM Giriarum, Girilayu Village, Matesih District, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, Nyoto Mulyono said that the training was important because batik makers had to adjust market demand. "Incidentally, this material is up to date so that it can adapt to current batik, including coloring to contemporary batik designs. Even though this material is very much needed, nowadays it is still standard, traditional batik, "he said.
