BRI Supports the Celebration of Istana Berbatik

Jakarta, Tangerangtalk.online – In celebration of National Batik Day, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises presented Istana Berbatik (Batik Palace). As a testament to preserving the cultural identity of the archipelago, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, also known as BRI, actively participated in the event held on Sunday, October 1st, in the Merdeka Palace area, Jakarta.

The event was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, who in his speech consistently encouraged the entire nation to actively preserve and take pride in Indonesian Batik. "Indonesia should be proud to have Batik, not just as ordinary artwork but as intangible cultural heritage of the world," he stated.

In line with President Jokowi, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, called upon the Indonesian people to actively preserve and nurture pride and love for Indonesian heritage, including Batik. Erick emphasized that the sense of pride in Batik must always be instilled in the hearts of all employees within the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and state-owned enterprises.

"Batik often accompanies various activities, not just as attire, but it holds history and values of our nation's rich traditions and philosophies. It is laden with the richness of our culture; that's why we must continue to be proud and actively participate in preserving Batik in our daily lives," said Erick.

Meanwhile, BRI's Vice President Director, Catur Budi Harto, who was present at the event, expressed full support for this celebration as a concrete manifestation of the company's concern in preserving Indonesian cultural heritage. "Batik is an intangible heritage of Indonesia and has been recognized by UNESCO as world heritage. Therefore, we must protect, care for, and preserve it together," he said.

BRI entrusted six MSME customers to participate and support during the Istana Berbatik event. They were Apip Batik showcasing Jogja Batik, Perada Batik displaying Pekalongan Batik, Batik Soga represented by Batik Soga, Irma Batik presenting Sasirangan Batik from Banjarmasin, Purnomo Batik showcasing Lasem Batik, and Arji Batik displaying Madura Batik.

In developing MSMEs, BRI has various empowerment programs, one of which is the 'Klasterku Hidupku' (My Cluster My Life) program. Currently, BRI has empowered 17,418 business clusters throughout Indonesia, and these clusters have received at least 1,155 training sessions and literacy programs along with 372 productive infrastructure aids. Additionally, there's the 'Rumah BUMN' (State-Owned Enterprises House) program. BRI currently operates 54 'Rumah BUMN', providing support for more than 400,000 MSME players and conducting over 10,000 training sessions. These empowerment programs include Batik artisan clusters spread across several regions in Indonesia.

As of the end of the second quarter of 2023, BRI has disbursed credits and financing totaling Rp1,202.13 trillion, with micro-segment being the main contributor, growing at 11.41% YoY. The double-digit growth in micro-credits has steadily increased the proportion of BRI's MSME credits. This marks the first time BRI's MSME credits have crossed the Rp1,000 trillion mark, and BRI is committed to further increasing the proportion of MSME credits to 85% by 2024.

It's worth noting that the Istana Berbatik event involved various layers of society, starting from representatives of the Nusantara kingdoms, officials alongside representatives of State-Owned Enterprises, representatives from the 38 provinces of Indonesia, ambassadors, public figures, and the general public.

The Istana Berbatik exhibition was supported by various State-Owned Enterprises and their subsidiaries. This initiative represents a step towards instilling a sense of pride in Indonesian Batik, making it an integral part of daily life and lifestyle for Indonesian society. (Siaran Pers)