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Jakarta, 6 October 2023 – The name of Wedani Village, Gresik Regency, is now widely known to the public as a manufacturing center for quality woven fabrics. Even though it originates from the small village of Wedani in the city of santri, this typical Indonesian woven fabric product has penetrated international markets such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. Behind this success, there is the active involvement of housewives who are skilled at weaving, and are ultimately able to provide foreign exchange for Indonesia.
Currently there are around 550 weavers in Wedani Village. All of them are under the Wedani Giri Nata Cooperative. These craftsmen create woven cloth with various motifs typical of Wedani villages, such as Gunung Timbul songket, Goyor, and Corak Liris.
Mas Ariyatin, Trustee of the Wedani Giri Nata Cooperative (WGN) said that the majority of weavers in Wedani Village are housewives who help their husbands who work as farmers and fish farmers. When the harvest period is over or after completing household work, they use their free time to weave. As a result of this weaving activity, housewives are able to earn an income of up to IDR 500,000 per week.
“More than 90% of the workforce producing woven cloth are housewives. "They take advantage of their free time after completing household chores and taking their children to school by weaving," said Ariyatin.
Ariyatin explained that the strong role of housewives in creating work using woven fabric products is closely related to the cultural and historical roots of Wedani village and Gresik's role as a city of Islamic students. The birth of woven cloth from this village cannot be separated from the history of the spread of Islam during the life of Sheikh Maulana Ibrahim or Sunan Gresik.
According to Ariyatin, at that time the craft of woven cloth began to be introduced and produced in the form of sarongs which were used as cloth to cover the private parts for worship purposes. To this day, Wedani Village woven sarongs are known for their strong thread quality and colors that do not fade even though they have been used for decades.
As the Special Mission Vehicle (SMV) of the Indonesian Ministry of Finance to encourage Indonesian exports, the Indonesian Export Financing Institution / Indonesia Eximbank has provided support to weavers and cooperatives since 2021. LPEI facilitates weavers by providing non-machine looms (ATBM) to improve the quality of the woven cloth produced.
Sofyan Irianto Naibaho, Head of LPEI's Consulting Services Division, explained that the passion and enthusiasm of housewives in Wedani Village has encouraged LPEI to continue providing assistance and training, including training on design, product quality, financial and managerial records, as well as expanding export access.
“The assistance provided by LPEI continues to produce results. "The production capacity of woven fabrics increased by 14%, sales of woven fabrics increased by 29%, as well as the addition of new buyers coming from Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Somalia," said Sofyan.
According to Sofyan, authentic Gresik woven cloth has become a tool for Indonesia's economic diplomacy. For this reason, LPEI will continue to encourage increased business and export capacity in international markets. In collaboration with #KemenkeuSatu, LPEI together with the Directorate General of Customs & Excise, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, provides the support needed by weavers to produce products that compete in the export market.
The Gresik Tenun Foreign Exchange Village is the 24th Foreign Exchange Village involving 22 members of the Wedani Giri Nata Cooperative who have backgrounds in SME weaving producers and involve 550 weavers.
"The Foreign Exchange Village Program is a real form of LPEI's support in supporting MSMEs to move up in class and build an export ecosystem to strengthen Indonesian exports in the global market," said Sofyan.
Contact Person
Chesna F Anwar Corporate Secretary – Lembaga Pembiayaan Ekspor Indonesia
Ph. : (021) 39503600
Email : corpsec@indonesiaeximbank.go.id
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