Introducing Indonesian Coffee and Batik to Northern Europe
Jakarta. The Indonesian embassy in Sweden and Latvia held a coffee and batik workshop last week as part of an ongoing effort to introduce treasures from the archipelago to Northern Europe.
"Indonesia and batik are inextricably linked. The latter is an integral part of the Indonesian culture. Although just a name, batik evokes deep emotions," Indonesian Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia Bagas Hapsoro said, according to a statement issued on Saturday (26/05).
The Indonesian embassy sought to introduce participants to Indonesia’s diverse culture and the stories behind them, including through an interactive workshop conducted by Yogyakarta-based Galeri Batik Jawa, which taught participants some of the basics in batik art.
The event, which was attended by Swedish designers, the Association for Swedish Fashion Brands, the Swedish Fashion Council and the Sustainable Fashion Academy, also included a fashion show featuring a number of traditional batik designs.
Indonesian coffee companies also took part in the event, according to a statement issued by the embassy, showcasing their coffee products for attendees in both Stockholm and Riga, as they seek to tap the potential from a growing interest on Indonesian coffee beans in the international market.
Indonesia is the world's fourth largest coffee producer, which produced 10,800 tons of coffee beans last year.
"The European market for specialty coffee is growing significantly and offering opportunities for suppliers offering high-quality coffee," said Iqbal Febriano from Sembilan Gunung, one of the participating companies.
According to Bagas, there has been a growing interest from Swedish and Latvian consumers toward Indonesian coffee and batik. The ambassador said he plans to hold similar events in the future, especially after a positive turnout from the workshop last week.
"In general, we saw that there is great enthusiasm and interest toward Indonesian coffee and batik ... There's also been a consistent growth for these products every year," Bagas said.
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