TETEN MASDUKI

Minister of Cooperatives and SME

“Batik is not only a part of fashion but also an indigenous textile representing the long history of our people and their identity as a country,” said Teten Masduki. “Talking about its diverse motifs, each batik portrays the rich heritage of Indonesia through its iconic motifs representing different tribes.” Decked out in an exquisite Garuda Kencana batik, the Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises also emphasized the cultural and historical elements behind the aesthetics in each batik motif. Masduki then explained why the young generation should be proud of it. “Batik is one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage awarded by UNESCO, which reflects its supreme quality, intricate process and quality of the fabric itself,” he said. “Indonesia is one of the countries with a wide range of particular batik varieties with distinctive features. As such, it came as no surprise that our batik would attract many tourists to come and learn about batik-making. Moreover, as a diplomatic tool, it can also strengthen our bilateral relations with other countries through programmes such as this one, Batik for the World campaign.”