In spite of the prediction that export of Indonesian ceramic was contracting by 20 percent against 1st year, Indonesia was fortunately among the nation’s whose ceramic sales was, in addition to export, supported by domestic demand. According to the secretary General of Association of Indonesian Ceramics Producers {ASAKI] Elisa Sinaga, as Chairman of ASAKI Achmad Widjaya in a press conference on Business and Marketing Competition for Ceramics Industry 2009 in Jakarta, Tuesday [30/6] the contraction was due to the outpot slump of other commodities like coal and CPO, as well as the financial crisis which hampered the whole world.
They were of opinion that the ceramic industry was still dependent on domestic market, due to the low-cost touwnhouse development which was now underway and targeted at building 300 thousand units this year. The development of housing projects from the most simple to the most luxurious needed ceramics for roofing, floor, and sanitaries. In the past 3 year, the ceramics production of all types were projected to reach 330 milion sq M.
Among the problems faced by ASAKI was that the ceramic industry was the kind of industry which used gas as warming fuel; while ceramics was sold in the market in Rupiah, ASAKI had to pay for gas as production cost in US Dollars. IN addition to that this industry still relied on imported content like gaze for processing, and the stove for burning ceramics which needed to be imported, not to mention other components which were not produced domestically. It was note worthy that Indonesia treasured gas resources of clay as raw material for ceramics.
The ceramic industry was classified as labour-intensive-industry, but also needed strong capital investment. In the adverse condition of global crisis, some ceramic producers had to reduce their export capacity and rely on domestic consumption. On the other hand there were producers of house building materials like Royal Doulton who has a foothold in the domestic market, the demand had contraxted by 20% due to global crisis. Today, 8 domestic companies produced ceramics at the total volume of 12 million units.
Ceramics as a Commodity
Surya Wirawan, Executive Chairman of Business and Marketing Competition for Ceramics Industry 2009 hoped, workpieces of the university students in ceramix creation would contribute to add value to the ceramix industry aesthetically or creatively, whereby to foster collaboration between the ceramic designers and architects and engineers in chemical technology and marketing experts whereby the ceramics industry might become premium industry of the future.
This prestigious forum, which was attended by 45 participants, finally choosed 20 work pieces of which 5 masterpieces of the finalists were selected. They came from various universities like Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Gajah Mada, Universitas Parahiyangan, Universitas Brawijaya, and Universitas Pelita Harapan. In addition to cash asprizes, the winners would also be participating as Indonesian delegates at the world Tile Manufacturing Forum year 2010.
In the event to be staged on July 2, 2009 in Jakarta , ASAKI would symbolically present the profile book of ceramics industry to the Minister of Industry Fahmi Idris. Being part of the activities of the Indonesia Creative Year 2009, ceramics were no longer perceived as a commodity if art but also a commodity which fulfill all house building material needs like floor, tiles, etc. Ceramics would be needed in any building projects like hotels, building etc non of which were not in need of ceramics.
“Students are expected to be one of the communicator of creative ideas which would produce designs with a touch of artistry, which could bring added value to ceramics for building materials which leads to the development of a structured business line in Indonesia” remarked Achmad Wijaya.
No comments:
Post a Comment