Jepara Furniture Industry Targets Global Markets Through Export Training and Octofest 2026
JEPARA, Indonesia — Furniture manufacturers in Jepara Regency are being encouraged to strengthen their understanding of export procedures to expand their markets and increase business profitability. The initiative was highlighted at an export procedures training session for Jepara’s furniture industry, held at the Mulyoharjo Sculpture Center on Monday (Nov. 2, 2026), as part of the Octofest 2026 programme.
Dhaula Patta Raya, head of the industrial affairs division at the Jepara Industry and Trade Agency, said the training was designed to help businesses manage exports independently rather than relying on intermediaries.
“By understanding export procedures, businesses are expected to market their products directly to overseas buyers and achieve better profit margins,” she said.
She added that of the 100 business owners who had obtained Jepara Furniture Cards (KMJ) in 2026, 20 had participated in the Indonesia International Furniture Expo (IFEX).
The Jepara regency administration hopes more furniture entrepreneurs will obtain KMJ cards in 2027, enabling them to receive assistance in participating in various exhibitions organized by the local government.
The programme is also open to employees and woodcarvers. Cardholders are eligible for technical training, access to Indonesia's KIP and PIP education assistance programmes for children from families in the lowest five socioeconomic deciles, as well as coverage through the BPJS Health and Employment Social Security programmes.
Registration for the KMJ card is free. The local government has allocated an additional quota of 1,500 cards for 2027, with applications open until the end of December 2026.
Meanwhile, RM Satya Brahmantya, a consultant with the Ministry of Industry's Directorate General of Small, Medium and Multifarious Industries (IKMA), said Jepara's furniture industry continued to have significant opportunities in international markets. However, he stressed that businesses needed to strengthen their distinctive competitive advantages.
Jepara would struggle to compete with China in mass production, he said, given China's advanced manufacturing technology and well-established industrial ecosystem. However, Jepara's traditional carving skills and artistic craftsmanship remain qualities that machines cannot easily replicate.
“What cannot be matched is the skill of woodcarving and artistic craftsmanship. In fact, a buyer from Canada rejected CNC-produced furniture because they valued products made by human hands more highly,” he explained.
Satya also urged manufacturers not to focus solely on following overseas market preferences, but to incorporate local identity and cultural narratives into their products as a source of added value.
He said designs should be tailored to buyers' requirements, including dimensions, pricing and styles. Manufacturers should also anticipate potential constraints in timber supplies over the next five to 10 years by developing smaller-sized products without abandoning Jepara's distinctive carving traditions.
“Products with a story carry greater value in the eyes of buyers. That is why businesses need to explore the stories of our ancestors and cultural heritage to strengthen the character of their products,” he said.
Octofest 2026 Showcases Jepara Furniture and Woodcarving to International Markets
Octofest 2026 is providing a platform to promote Jepara's furniture and woodcarving products to a wider market. The Jepara regency administration has facilitated dozens of exhibition booths for small and medium-sized industry (SMI) businesses and is preparing to host approximately 20 ambassadors on Nov. 4.
The festival, held at the Mulyoharjo Sculpture and Woodcarving Industry Center in Jepara, runs through Nov. 5, 2026.
Jepara Deputy Regent Muhammad Ibnu Hajar, widely known as Gus Hajar, visited the exhibition on Sunday (Nov. 1), where he viewed a range of furniture and carved handicrafts produced by local artisans.
He said the local government had provided 50 exhibition booths for furniture and woodcarving businesses affiliated with the Mulyoharjo Sculpture and Woodcarving Industry Center Association. In addition, 117 artisan showrooms are participating in this year's festival.
According to Gus Hajar, the participation of dozens of small and medium-sized businesses and more than 100 showrooms reflects the considerable potential of Jepara's furniture and woodcarving industry, which is renowned for its diverse designs and artistic craftsmanship.
“The Jepara regency administration is committed to continuing to support and facilitate local businesses so they can grow and compete in broader markets,” he said.
One of the most anticipated events at Octofest 2026 is the scheduled visit of approximately 20 ambassadors and their delegations on Nov. 4.
The visit is expected to create promotional opportunities and expand international market access for Jepara's furniture and woodcarving products.
Gus Hajar said he hoped the visit would go beyond showcasing Jepara's handicrafts and help open up opportunities for trade partnerships and investment in the local industry.
“We hope the visit by around 20 ambassadors will open the door for Jepara's furniture and woodcarving products to gain greater international recognition. This is an opportunity for our artisans to demonstrate the quality, distinctive designs and artistic value that set Jepara products apart,” he said.
Through Octofest 2026, the Jepara regency administration hopes to preserve its woodcarving heritage as a defining part of the region's cultural identity while further developing the industry into a competitive economic driver in both domestic and international markets.
Octofest 2026 Seeks to Revitalize Jepara’s Furniture and Woodcarving Industry
The Jepara regency administration is hosting Octofest 2026, also known as the Jepara Furniture Market, at the Mulyoharjo Furniture and Woodcarving Center in an effort to revive the region’s renowned furniture and woodcarving industry.
The festival, running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5, 2026, is part of a broader strategy to restore Jepara’s prominence as a furniture and woodcarving hub, an industry that has long served as a defining symbol of the region both nationally and internationally.
Held under the theme Jepara Furniture Market & Woodworking Exhibition, Octofest 2026 is designed as a platform for promotion, business transactions and collaboration. It also aims to connect furniture manufacturers with buyers, business owners, collectors, interior designers and the general public.
The event will feature more than 117 live showrooms from various regions, along with dozens of booths showcasing products from micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as furniture and woodworking exhibitions involving players from the creative industries.
Jepara Regent Witiarso Utomo said Octofest was a strategic initiative to strengthen the region’s position as a competitive center for furniture manufacturing and woodcarving in domestic and international markets.
“Jepara has tremendous potential in the furniture and woodcarving industry. We must continue to develop this strength so that the industry can grow further, gain wider recognition at home and expand its reach into international markets,” Witiarso said on Friday (Oct. 30, 2026), accompanied by Jepara Industry and Trade Agency head Anjar Jambore Widodo.
He said developing the furniture industry required more than maintaining product quality. It also called for design innovation, stronger promotional efforts and closer cooperation among the government, business owners, artisans and MSME operators.
Witiarso expressed hope that Octofest would serve as an opportunity to bring together all stakeholders in Jepara’s furniture industry within a shared collaborative platform. This, he said, would give artisans greater opportunities to showcase their products and establish business partnerships.
“Through this event, we want to create greater market opportunities for artisans and business owners. We also want to ensure that Jepara’s furniture industry continues to grow, innovate and generate economic benefits for the community,” he added.
Beyond the exhibition itself, Octofest will feature a range of activities, including an opening ceremony, live demonstrations by artisans, business-matching sessions, MSME product presentations, furniture design workshops, export-import discussions and talk shows on the next generation of woodcarvers.
The programme will also include woodcarving competitions, cultural performances, a woodcarvers' festival, participant recognition events and musical entertainment.
The Mulyoharjo Furniture Center will be transformed into an open-air exhibition environment, with promotional displays and directional signage installed throughout the area to encourage visitors to explore participating showrooms.
In addition to the main furniture exhibition booths, a supporting MSME zone spanning approximately 50 meters will showcase a variety of culinary products, souvenirs, wooden accessories and local handicrafts.
Jepara Industry and Trade Agency head Anjar Jambore Widodo expressed hope that Octofest 2026 would generate benefits beyond immediate sales during the festival, creating longer-term growth in visitor numbers, economic activity and the profile of the Mulyoharjo Furniture Center.
“Through Octofest 2026, Jepara aims to reaffirm its position as one of Indonesia’s leading centers for furniture manufacturing and woodcraft, driven by a spirit of collaboration, innovation and sustainability,” he said.
