REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Jakarta -- Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister AAG Ngurah Puspayoga urged national fashion industry to meet 40 percent of Indonesian market's needs as part of efforts to control trade in the ASEAN Economic Community.

"In the era of global competition, designers are required to meet 40 percent of the market share of fashion in Indonesia. We should dominate the domestic market," Anak said here on Thursday.

The domination of the domestic market is the key to mastering the Southeast Asian market.

Therefore, the government encouraged the industry to dominate the domestic market.

"We should have the spirit to make Indonesia the center of international fashion," the minister stated.

The industry should create creative products and elevate the values of Indonesian culture from Sabang to Merauke.

"The reflection of local culture is a challenge four our designers," the minister remarked.

The ministry has started a number of empowerment programs for the development of the fashion industry.

"We provide a people?s business loan (KUR) program to small and medium enterprises," Anak said.

The reduction in the KUR interest rate from the previous 21 percent to 9 percent is expected to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"The low interest rates are very important for the distribution of welfare," the minister remarked.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Saleh Husin said the fashion industry in the country contributes Rp181 trillion to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 3.8 million workers.

"We continue to cooperate with SMEs in a bid to develop the national fashion industry," the minister noted.

Earlier, the ?Reflection of Culture? had been announced as the theme of the Indonesian Fashion Week (IFW) 2016, which will take place from March 10 to 13 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

The event will feature 32 fashion shows, an exhibition of 480 brands, talk shows, workshops and a design competition.

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