KUCHING – A contingent from Sarawak attended the opening of Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (INACRAFT) 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Centre (JICC) from Feb 4 to Feb 8. The show was opened by Indonesia’s Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsyal, and is one of the largest craft fairs across the Southeast Asia.
The Sarawak team was headed by YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Art Sarawak. Accompanying him were Seri Suriya Charles, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak Craft Council; Awang Ikman bin Awang Sepian, Acting CEO for the Sarawak Arts Council and Rudzaimer Malek, Deputy Director of Kuching North City Hall (DBKU).
Prominent among those present were seniors from Kraftangan Malaysia (Sarawak) and board members of the Sarawak Craft Council. Indonesia’s Consul General in Kuching, Dr. Abdullah Zulkifli and his wife Ibu Irma were also there accompanied by several senior Indonesian officials.
The INACRAFT 2026 will focus on the theme “From Smart Village to Global Market: Exploring and Celebrating Women enpreneurs in Craft”, which highlighted an importance of women enterprise as the key to sustain traditional knowledge, drive community development and increase entrepreneurship’s productivity.
Historically, a venue for the exhibition of artisans, this year’s edition is a reflection of the increased contribution women are making to develop the creative economy.
Sarawak’s booth was inside the Asia Pacific Craft Alliance Pavilion, with various unique handmade goods on display. The booth was also launched by Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who had commended the exhibition’s theme for being in line with Sarawak’s own drive towards developing heritage-based creative industries.
“Sarawak recognises creativity and heritage craft as a vital stimulus for inclusive economic growth, heritage conservation and sustainable tourism,” said Datuk Snowdan Lawan at the launch.
He noted that the theme resonates with Sarawak’s aim to uplift creative communities and women artisans and local producers in a way that will provide better access to markets, but at the same time, champions cultural identity and traditional knowledge.
He also emphasized the importance of international cooperation, which he believes could encourage ASEAN creative hubs, artisans, government institutions and partners in private sector to collaborate an event like INACRAFT is very valuable for that.
Such collaboration is essential, he believes, to the success of digital transformation, productivity growth and improving global competitiveness, all a priority in Sarawak’s tourism and creative industry strategies.
In addition to the official programme, The Sarawak delegation interacted with industry players and visited a curated exhibition featuring traditional and modern craft. Showcases featured things like digital ideas and sustainability in design, as well as contemporary versions of ancestral crafts, clearly depicting the dynamic creative sector.
INACRAFT has grown into an important international event, attended by visitors from various regions in Asia and other continents. For Sarawak, taking part enables not only cultural diplomacy to advance, but makers also have the opportunity to speak directly with international buyers and partners.
The fair, meanwhile, remains a sustainable link between local creative work and global markets, affirming the importance of crafts in economic development as well as cultural heritage.
