As the reports claim that Indonesian batik textile imports touched US $ 34 million mark in the first four months of the year, compared to US $ 28 million imports during the corresponding period of last year, the Government of Indonesia has asked batik fabric importers to register for the ‘Import Apparoval’. The rule will be effective from October, this year.
Rachmat Gobel, Trade Minister of Indonesia has said, “If imports continue, our domestic industry will not be able to compete. Our grandchildren will never know if batik is Indonesia’s cultural heritage – this is the reason for the issuance of the policy.”
