Jakarta, 23 May 2017 - Batik is the pride of Indonesia nation that reflects the ancestral cultural heritage. As we all aware, UNESCO has recognized batik as an Indonesian intangible cultural heritage. In support of promoting Batik as one of the rich cultural heritages of Indonesia, PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA), through the BCA Cafe VI forum, will more closely examine the cultural values buried in the sheen of Indonesian cloth batik as a comparative advantage that can be highlighted to improve batik makers’ competitiveness at both the domestic and global markets.
Present as speakers for the event were the Director of Education & Economy Creative of Economy Creative Agency (BEKRAF) Poppy Savitri, Rector of Pekalongan University Suryani, the Founder of Galeri Batik Jawa Indigo Nita Kenzo, and President Director of BCA Jahja Setiaatmadja at Menara BCA, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/05). Under the theme of “Cultural Impressions of Batik Treasure”, the BCA Cafe VI forum discusses the rich sense, meaning, spirit, love, and harmony ‘engraved’ on hand-dyed batiks as original art forms and is a portrait of history and journey of the Indonesian nation through the ages. As the fabric of civilization, batik is considered to carry in it philosophical meanings buried deep within each motif, design, and its coloring technique that symbolizes the local wisdom of the Indonesian nation.
“As the proverb says, tak kenal maka tak sayang (you can’t love what you don’t know). We are holding the BCA Cafe VI forum to motivate the younger generations to learn more about the philosophy of Batik as one of Indonesia’s cultural heritages that needs to be preserved,” said Jahja.
The socio-cultural aspect carried in a Batik fabric offers high value added at both the domestic and global markets. In 2015, the value of Indonesian Batik textiles and products exports reached US$178 million or increased by 25.7% compared with the previous year. Indonesia’s main Batik export markets are Japan, USA, and Europe. Focusing on the role of the creative economy as the backbone of the national economy, Batik textiles and products serving as commodities need to be taken into consideration not just as valuable assets but as a reflection of Indonesia's national identity. Various initiatives such as the establishments of Ecosystems for Creative Villages developed by BEKRAF and Foster Tourist Villages formed by BCA, seeking to provide a platform for batik makers to advance a local wisdom-based culture and economy.
“The philosophical values buried in a Batik fabric, that made it a work of art, are highly esteemed. These aspects that we should together highlight in building the creative economy in Indonesia so that not only that we sell high quality batik textiles and products, but they also represent the spirit and identity of the Indonesian people,” added Jahja.
One of the cities inseparable from the existence of Batik is Pekalongan. Known as the Batik City, Pekalongan is home to 12,475 units of Small and Medium Industries (IKM) of Batik that absorb approximately 88,670 labor force. Therefore, in the BCA Cafe VI forum, BCA launched the book “Batik Pekalongan Through the Ages”, which was meticulously written by Budi Mulyawan and endorsed by BCA. The book is expected to raise public awareness about Batik and serve as an inspiration for the advancement of batik-making techniques in Indonesia.
“As one of the largest and most developed companies in Indonesia, BCA has done various ways to support Pekalongan to maintain its existence as the Batik City. To improve the quality of Pekalongan batik makers, we have recently inaugurated Kampung Batik Gemah Sumilir, Wiradesa, Pekalongan, as one of the BCA’s foster tourist villages. We have also worked with batik makers in Pekalongan to produce Batik Hoko BCA, worn as a uniform by more than 23,000 BCA employees, from Sabang to Merauke. Certainly, with the support of BCA, we wish that the publication of “Batik Pekalongan Through the Ages” can help the public to learn more deeply about the opulent creations of Batik Pekalongan,” Jahja concluded.
BCA Cafe Talkshow - President Director of PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) Jahja Setiaatmadja (center) accompanied by, (from left to right) Rector of Pekalongan University Suryani, the Founder of Galeri Batik Jawa Indigo Nita Kenzo, and Director of Education & Creative Economy of Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF) explain the importance of learning more deeply about the history of Indonesian Batik in a talkshow, BCA Cafe VI forum, at Menara BCA, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/05). Under the theme of “Cultural Impressions of Batik Treasures”, BCA Cafe VI reveals the cultural values buried in Batik cloth as a comparative advantage that can be highlighted to improve batik makers’ competitiveness at both the domestic and global markets.
The launching of “Batik Pekalongan Through the Ages” - President Director of BCA Jahja Setiaatmadja (second right) accompanied by Executive Deputy President of Corporate Social Responsibility of BCA Inge Setiawati (second left) presented the book “Batik Pekalongan Through the Ages” to Director of Education & Creative Economy of Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF) Poppy Savitri (left), witnessed by the author Budi Mulyawan (right) at Menara BCA, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/04).
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About PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (as of 31 March 2017)
PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) is one of the leading private banks in Indonesia focusing on business banking transactions, credit loan facilities, and financial solutions for the corporate, commercial and SME, as well as individual customers. At the end of March 2017, BCA facilitated banking transactions for more than 16 million customers, through 1,213 branches, 17,207 ATMs, and over 400,000 EDC, supported by 24-hour internet and mobile banking.
For more information, please contact :
PT BANK CENTRAL ASIA TBK
Corporate Secretariat Division – Corporate Communication Sub Division
Public Relations Bureau
Address : Jl. MH Thamrin No. 1
Menara BCA Grand Indonesia 20th Floor
Jakarta Pusat
Phone : (021) 2358-8000
Fax : (021) 2358-8300
E-mail : humas@bca.co.id
