Malaysian batik industry needs due attention: Minister

22 Mar '13

1 min read

There is an urgent need for paying proper attention to the country’s batik industry and formulating a strategic growth plan for it till 2020, Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed has said.

Mr. Mohamed said he would soon convene a meeting with Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim to discuss the issues afflicting the batik industry at home as well as issues impeding its growth abroad.

He said due attention would be paid to issues like pricing of raw inputs like colours, chemicals and plain white cloth and also to environmental and marketing issues.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with batik producers in Kelantan, Mr. Mohamed said he understands that with an annual turnover of just around RM 160 million, Malaysia’s batik exports are quite negligible, mainly due to fierce competition from other batik manufacturing nations.

Mr. Mohamed said hardly 150 of more than 400 batik producers in Kelantan are actively engaged in the business at present, and if the issues concerning the industry are left unattended, it may lead to a downfall of the country’s batik industry with several producers winding up their businesses.

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