Precious Stones Hold Economic, Symbolic, and Aesthetic Value, Says Energy Minister

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 039.Pers/04/SJI/2021

Date: 27 January 2021

Precious Stones Hold Economic, Symbolic, and Aesthetic Value, Says Energy Minister

The Indonesian National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) holds a webinar about precious stones entrepreneurship as a creative business opportunity to empower people's economy. The event has received positive support from Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) Arifin Tasrif because Indonesia holds quite high potential for precious and decorative stones.

"The potential must be developed to the optimum level to provide benefit to the public," Arifin said in his opening remarks of New Entrepreneurial Talkshow: The Potential of Precious Stone and the Opportunities to Empower People's Economy, which was held virtually in Jakarta on Wednesday (27/1).

According to Arifin, precious stones hold important roles in human life because they hold not only economic value but also aesthetic and symbolic significance. "During the period of indigenious kingdoms in the archipelago, precious stones were one of the symbols of greatness and a traded commodity," he said.

Arifin thinks that Indonesian stones are as beautiful as those of foreign origin, and because of their distinctive characteristics, these stones have strategic value that can be useful to accelerate the improvement of national economy.

"The challenges are that the strategic value has not been optimally informed to the public as well as lack of information on precious stones and on transfer of management technology," Arifin explained.

The development of precious and decorative stones utilization, continued Arifin, must be in line with the existing policies, such as exploration, business, processing, and marketing. In addition, precious and decorative stones business is closely related to creative economy.

"I hope the webinar can arouse enthusiasm, interest, and motivation of people who wish to become new entrepreneurs, including those who already run Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) but have been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

Arifin also hopes that precious stone utilization can drive the local economy. "I hope the webinar can become a place to promote and develop the domestic business of precious and decorative stones to the maximum," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Deputy II of Dekranas, Nanny Hadi Tjahjanto, said the webinar is expected to help explain precious stone potential in Indonesia. "The webinar can be an opportunity for precious stones promotion, thus, increasing craftmen productivity," said Nanny. (IY)

Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation

Agung Pribadi (08112213555)

Share This!