The Association for the Development of Indonesian Folk Crafts (APIKRI) took part in the Competency Development Mapping Meeting organized by the Trade Competency Development Center (Bapekomdag) Yogyakarta on Monday, 10 November 2025. The meeting, held at the Office of the Department of Industry and Trade of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, was part of the Ministry of Trade’s preparation for formulating the 2026 Non-Aparatur Competency Development Program.

Representatives from various business associations across the region, including APIKRI, were invited to discuss priority needs and challenges faced by trade practitioners. The session began at 14.00 WIB and was attended by selected delegates, each representing their respective associations to ensure the effectiveness of the limited meeting capacity provided by the organizing committee.

During the discussion, APIKRI actively contributed insights regarding essential skill-building programs needed by handicraft exporters and MSMEs. APIKRI emphasized the importance of strengthening export readiness, product innovation, and digital trade capabilities to support the competitiveness of local craft industries in international markets. These inputs were welcomed and noted as valuable considerations for the 2026 program design.

In addition to sharing recommendations, APIKRI completed the competency-needs questionnaire distributed by Bapekomdag Yogyakarta. The questionnaire served as a formal data-gathering tool to map current gaps in business competencies, allowing the Ministry of Trade to prepare more targeted and impactful development initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year.

The meeting concluded with appreciation from Bapekomdag for the active participation of all associations, including APIKRI. Through its involvement, APIKRI reaffirmed its commitment to supporting capacity-building efforts for craft-based entrepreneurs in Yogyakarta and contributing to the broader effort to enhance the region’s trade performance.