Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. President Joko Widodo has urged government agencies to prioritize domestically-produced furniture in procurement processes. Speaking at the IFFINA 2023 Indonesia Furniture and Design Expo in Tangerang, Banten, he emphasized the importance of swiftly listing domestic furniture products in the government's e-catalog. "Government spending (on furniture products) is huge, mostly filled with imported furniture. Therefore, immediately enter all our furniture production into the e-catalog to make it easier," the President stated. President Jokowi underscored the substantial allocation for furniture in the 2023 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), amounting to Rp 1.236 trillion. He expressed his aspiration for the domestic furniture industry to secure a larger share of the national market, given its vast potential. "The government's ongoing aim is to prevent the domestic market from being overrun by foreign furniture products," he said. While Indonesia currently holds 17th position in the global furniture market, generating $2,8 billion in revenue, he acknowledged that there is untapped potential in the sector, with a global market value of $766 billion. He stressed the importance of Indonesian industry players engaging in international collaborations to fully harness this potential, stating, "In my view, while we are reluctant to partner with external entities, other countries are keen on such collaborations." President Jokowi recalled Indonesia's past success in dominating international furniture exhibitions in the 1990s, showcasing products in countries such as Italy, Germany, and France. Despite having abundant resources, raw materials, and skilled labor, Indonesia lags behind Vietnam (2nd rank) and Malaysia (12th rank) in the global furniture industry rankings. "Even though we possess the resources, raw materials, and human resources," he concluded. (ar/inp/pr/nm)