Ketak Center, a New Place for Lombok Women Craftsmen to Work and Go Global

Bandung, 15 December 2025 – Through the construction of a Ketak Production Center and training in Longserang Preparation Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, PT Penjaminan Infrastruktur Indonesia (PII) is collaborating with Insan Bumi Mandiri (IBM) to strengthen 33 female ketak craftsmen through capacity training and technical production skills. This effort aims to improve product quality and expand market reach.

A series of assistance in the form of training and strengthening infrastructure was carried out with Pak Sarinah as the person in charge of the center, to prepare the group of ketak craftsmen so they were ready to open up opportunities to the export market. Along with increasing public interest in products handmade And environmentally friendlyStrengthening market access is one of the key steps in efforts to empower ketak craftsmen.

Craftsmen are now directed to enter the wider distribution chain through strategic partnerships. One of them is Nusa Indah Gallery, which has penetrated the ketak craft export market for more than a decade in various countries such as Asia, Europe and America. It is hoped that this will introduce ketak crafts to the wider community, including globally.

The implementation phase will be carried out from August to December 2025. With PII’s support, IBM and the craftsmen now have a production room and drying oven to improve fiber quality. We also provide assistance with weaving techniques that adapt to market demand standards as a strategic step to open up economic opportunities, create jobs and strengthen the economic resilience of craftsmen’s households.

The Ketak Center was built as an integrated production space that facilitates the manufacture, storage and arrangement of ready-to-sell products. The building structure and interior are now equipped with green bamboo dividing walls to maximize the craftsmen’s work area. This room is also used for production standards training which includes product quality standardization for export, techniques for making bag straps, and making basic bags and trays. All training uses direct practice methods with assistance coach so that craftsmen can easily understand the production flow in an applicable, neat and consistent manner.

The training process for ketak craftsmen was carried out in Setra Ketak, Longserang Preparation Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

In addition, a production oven was built to dry the raw materials after the cleaning and dyeing process, ensuring that the fiber quality is stronger, mold-free and stable for optimal production in the long term. Installing official signs in the central area helps strengthen the identity and visibility of the location and ensures that the center is easily recognized by the community, partners, local government and other stakeholders. The presence of this center is an important space for craftsmen to produce in an organized manner.

Example of woven ketak made by a group of craftsmen in Longserang Preparation Village, Lingsar District, West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

“It’s quite fun here because you can gather with friends, so you’re more enthusiastic about making ketak. You also learn a lot of new things, especially new motifs and products,” said Erma, one of the ketak craftsmen from East Longserang.

This activity of course begins with an assessment of the capacity of the ketak craftsmen to understand and link their needs and their potential. The data collection process was carried out through joint discussion and observation coachvillage representatives, as well as beneficiaries to map production experience, skills that have been mastered or stages that are still a challenge. This approach is an important basis for strengthening and responding to the conditions of craftsmen groups.

With more organized production facilities and improved product quality, it is hoped that the empowerment of Ketak Craftsmen can bring economic growth along with preserving the culture of ketak weaving which is the pride of the people of West Lombok. This empowerment is part of Insan Bumi Mandiri’s ongoing efforts to support economic strengthening and preserve local culture so that it can be enjoyed by the wider community. To find out more about Insan Bumi Mandiri’s approach and empowerment program, please visit www.insanbumimandiri.org

About Independent Earth Inserts

Insan Bumi Mandiri (IBM) is a philanthropic institution engaged in empowering communities to develop rural Indonesia. Founded in 2016, IBM has successfully held 1,004 programs and helped more than 163,792 people in rural Indonesia. We always believe that small steps with you #InlandFriends, will create a trail of goodness for our brothers and sisters in the interior. We can solve various problems, such as access to transportation, infrastructure, health and education together. Complete information can be seen at insanbumimandiri.org.