Jakarta (WNAM MONITORING): Indonesia’s footwear and leather goods industry expanded 8.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025, outpacing national economic growth of 5.12 percent, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said Tuesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the National Footwear Industry Empowerment Center (BPIPI) in Sidoarjo, East Java, Kartasasmita said the sector’s growth has been driven by strong export performance.
Exports of footwear and leather products reached US$5.16 billion between January and August 2025, up from US$4.61 billion in the same period last year, he said.
Citing data from the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, the minister noted that 23,010 local footwear brands have been registered, reflecting the sector’s growing creativity and competitiveness.
Kartasasmita said expanding domestic support for local brands would further strengthen the industry’s resilience and help it sustain its upward momentum.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show 53,333 small-scale leather and footwear businesses currently employ about 159,000 workers, while 737 medium and large-scale firms provide jobs for around 571,000 workers.
The industry’s strong performance has helped Indonesia maintain its position as the world’s sixth-largest footwear exporter, with the United States as its main destination market, followed by several European and developing countries.
Kartasasmita called for continued optimism about the sector’s future and urged greater domestic consumption of local products to strengthen the national industry.
“I hope all regional officials, ministries, and institutions consistently uphold the commitment to use domestic products,” he said, adding that the government will continue to foster a conducive business ecosystem through effective industrial policies.
