Traditional batik producers in Cirebon, West Java, have demanded that the government protect the batik industry from competition from textile imports from China.
Batik industry lobbyist Katura warned the government of the influx of Chinese textiles with batik motifs.
He said people would rather buy Chinese textiles because they were cheaper and had a wider range of designs. "Without concrete measures, Chinese-made batik could displace traditional batik, including Trusmi batik, which hails from Cirebon's coastal area."
Quality-wise, Katura said, traditional batik was superior, but its higher pricing and weak marketing pushed many people to buy China-made batik.
He said the government should take seriously the threat to traditional batik, which he said was an integral part of the nation's cultural heritage.
"We urge the government not to procrastinate and downplay effects from the influx of Chinese-made batik.
"I have received reports Chinese-made batik is being sold in markets in Semarang and Surakarta at cheaper prices. This is a cause for concern," Katura said.
He also expressed concern that higher volumes of Chinese-made batik would push aside traditional batik. "It would certainly put traditional batik producers, as well as Indonesians in general, at a disadvantage," he said.
With 700 batik producers, Trusmi village in Plered district, Cirebon regency, is the biggest batik production center in West Java. "Apart from preserving our cultural heritage, batik is also the main source of income for people in Trusmi. If the government doesn't protect this tradition, the villagers could lose their livelihoods," Katura said.
The West Java provincial administration has promised to support and protect traditional batik from Chinese competition.
"We will help protect traditional batik and its artisans from foreign competitors, such as batik motif textiles from China. We are committed to preserving batik as a national heritage," Ano Sutrisno, head of the West Java Administrative and Development Coordinating Agency (BKPP) regional III, said.
The BKPP regional III assists the West Java governor in coordinating the administration and development of Majalengka, Indramayu, Kuningan and Cirebon regencies, and Cirebon city.
Ano said protecting traditional batik would begin by exposing batik producers to a wider market. "We will help market batik domestically and internationally. Hopefully this will help counteract impacts from the influx of foreign products," he said.
