Twice Himki Jepara Donates Chairs to Beautify Jepara City Streets

The Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (HIMKI) of Jepara Raya provided 60 European-style chairs to the Jepara Regency Government to beautify the city and promote superior products of the local furniture industry.

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Chairperson of HIMKI Jepara Raya, Hidayat Hendra Sasmita, handed over dozens of chairs directly to the Regent of Jepara Witiarso Utomo, or Mas Wiwit, in front of the Jepara Regional Secretariat office.

Later, these chairs will be installed in pedestrian areas such as Jalan Pemuda and Jalan Kartini. The chairs were immediately installed in several locations after being handed over.

According to Hidayat Hendra Sasmita, the chairman of HIMKI Jepara Raya, the grant is proof of good cooperation between HIMKI Jepara Raya and the Jepara Regency Government in building the face of the city.

"Today we can realize the synergy of HIMKI Jepara Raya and the Regency Government to beautify Jepara by donating chairs that will be installed on Jalan Pemuda and Kartini," he said.

Hendra said that the donation of chairs to the Jepara Regency Government was not only to beautify public spaces, but also to become a sustainable promotional media for furniture industry players in Jepara.

"These chairs can not only be enjoyed aesthetically, but also become a permanent exhibition with a very long duration, even more than 10 years," he said.

Each chair installed is equipped with the HIMKI logo, the name of the manufacturing company, and the Jepara Regency Government logo. Not only that, there is a barcode that can be scanned by the public to connect directly to the company's website and social media, opening wider access to information for potential customers.

Hidayat added that in the future there will be a product curation process to make it look more attractive and change periodically every year. Through this step, other HIMKI members have the same opportunity to display their products. He hopes that this initiative can improve Jepara's image as a city of furniture and carvings, as well as boost demand from both local and international sources.

Jalan Kartini and Pemuda will later be like a showroom for Jepara furniture and carvings. It could be the longest display case; he said.

Meanwhile, Mas Wiwit expressed his appreciation for the extraordinary initiative of HIMKI Jepara Raya

“The enthusiasm of the Jepara community to develop the region is currently extraordinary. Usually grants are given by the government, but today community organizations are providing grants to the government. This is something that should be emulated by other organizations,” said Mas Wiwit.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration like this to revive the local economic sector, especially furniture and carvings.

“Today it’s just furniture, hopefully in the future carvings will also be present in public spaces. This is the first batch, around 20 chairs, out of a total of 60 chairs that will be installed in various points in the city of Jepara,” said Mas Wiwit.

His party is also committed to fully supporting the needs and initiatives of HIMKI Jepara Raya in developing the furniture and carving industry in the region. "Jepara people can now sit on chairs that are usually only enjoyed on European pedestrians. This is an export product that is now available to the local public. So there is no need to go abroad, this chair is like the one installed in the UK (United Kingdom/England). Let's take care of it together so that it remains durable and can be enjoyed for a long time," he concluded.

The second time, at the RA Kartini Pendopo, Friday (4/7/2025), the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry Association (HIMKI) provided a grant of export-quality teak wood chairs to the Jepara Regency government. HIMKI Chair Hendra Sasmita symbolically handed them over to the Regent of Jepara Witiarso Utomo. On that occasion, Hendra said that this grant was the second wave, so there would be 65 export benches installed on Jepara's main roads. These dozens of benches are made from selected teak wood and designed with a distinctive Jepara carving touch.

This is not just a park bench; it is an open display case that shows the strength and beauty of Jepara furniture to the world. Hendra said, "Hopefully, when tourists or buyers come, they can immediately see the characteristics of Jepara on the main roads."

To enhance Jepara's reputation as an international furniture and carving center, HIMKI and the Jepara district government are working together in this program. Indra also said that these chairs will be a "free exhibition" on the street, which will be filled with photo and video competitions on social media to encourage the public to participate in the promotion.

Jepara Regent, Witiarso Utomo, appreciated the idea. He believes that synergy like this is a real example of community participation in developing the creative industry and beautifying the appearance of the city.

This is a very good first step. According to him, "HIMKI has provided real evidence that the spirit to build Jepara does not only come from the government but also from industry players."

The Regent wants to continue working with HIMKI on other projects after the sidewalk bench grant. The One Village One Product program will develop business and production-based tourism.

We will support the needs of industry players to encourage the creative economy. In short, he stated that the government is open to receiving suggestions like this, studying them, and developing them.

By placing Jepara's signature teak chairs in public places, Jepara not only adds to the beauty of the city, but also emphasizes that this is Jepara, a city famous for its world-class carvings and furniture.

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