The government is busy modifying rattan raw material policy and it’s all in vain. Export volumes are much decreased than before Minister of Trade Regulation No.36 was implemented. Before the implementation of raw rattan material export policy, employers could export finished rattan products up to 3,000 containers per month and actually the government clearly knows this is still going on, but they just seem to close their eyes and be a loyal listener … No Action.

Interview of WoodMag with M. Hatta Sinatra, President of Sinatra Global Corp:

The condition of rattan industry is very heartbreaking where rattan furniture products do not only fight with itself, but also with various furniture products such as upholstry. When compared only the selling price between the two, there’s surely no big different. But when the comfort is compared, many people tend to choose to buy upholstry furniture products rather than rattan furniture. Very little concern and lack of understanding of consumers on environment-friendly products and sustainability of environment also kill the chances of rattan furniture to survive. Government should have instructed all government offices and embassies abroad to use domestic furniture products, especially rattan. In addition, we also have to compete with furniture products from China which price is really very low. These things are cannibalizing our national products.

We have typical Indonesian products that are cannnibalized by furniture products from china. This happens in many markets abroad.Unfortunately when we are invaded by China’s products, Indonesia’s products can not enter the China’s market which is so big because China has become self-sufficient. The design is very typical of China, so our products really can not attract the consumers. Our designs are very difficult to get in there, because it should look very Chinese. We have ever seen a restaurant in China which all of its furniture are made of rattan. The design is customly developed to meet the taste of consumers there. Now there is no problem because raw materials of natural rattan have already owned by them. While the ability to develop is clearly more creative than ours. They can develop products that have similar characteristics to the product of Indonesia to enter the European and American markets.

Besides, they are also supported to organize exhibitions in various countries in a large scale. In the country international-class exhibition buildings are built in many cities. When compared to our exhibition building’s area, it’s like the giant and the little man.  Our government should have given similar support because if the private industries are asked to build exhibition buildings with mega capacity as in China, they certainly can not afford. The effort of Government of China is very great, no wonder they also become absolutely incredible.

What about Indonesia, which is always modifying rattan raw material policy and it’s all in vain, one thing demanded from the government is doing something for rattan that can not be done by private industry.

This time the government should do something. This could be in the form of organizing exhibitions in the United States, Europe and Asia. Exhibitions could be carried out for five consecutive years, with a floor area which is sufficient to accommodate a national company. Not like now. We sent one company in a nine square metres or less, the furniture products are exhibit together with batik, slippers jepitlah, salted fish, and coffee. If this kind of pattern is maintained, we’ll never get optimal results. So there will be no national commodity that can be well developed, especially the furniture.

Source: woodmagmagazine.com