ACEH – The Aneuk Muda Aceh Unggul dan Hebat (AMANAH) program, initiated by the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) based on President Jokowi’s directive, has made significant strides in supporting the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) in Aceh. One of the latest initiatives that has garnered attention is the mentoring of the Bili Droe weavers in Aceh Besar, an effort to revive traditional woven products with innovative, more modern derivative products. This collaboration is also supported by Rumpun Consulting, an organization focused on the development of the creative industry in Aceh.
The Bili Droe weaving has a long history as part of Aceh’s culture, especially in terms of agriculture and the daily lives of the local community. These woven products were once only used as household items, such as baskets for measuring zakat and tools to assist in agricultural activities.
Now, through the mentoring program from AMANAH, local artisans have successfully developed derivative products that have a higher selling value and can penetrate the national market.
Mother Sri, one of the artisans of Bili Droe involved in this mentoring program, shared a brief history of the weaving.
“Previously, this weaving was only used to make large baskets as our zakat measuring tools, which were commonly used in agricultural activities.” However, over time, since 1981 we have started receiving guidance from the Department of Industry and Trade. “Our woven goods used to be bought by middlemen and taken out of the area,” said Mrs. Sri.
Now, with the support of the AMANAH Program, Bili Droe’s products have undergone a significant transformation. In addition to maintaining traditional values, artisans are also beginning to explore various new designs that are more appealing.
“The AMANAH program has provided us with a lot of new knowledge, especially in product design. We learned to develop more varied products, such as home décor, and this certainly opens up more opportunities for us as artisans,” added Mrs. Sri.
The support from the Rumpun Consulting team has been one of the keys to the successful transformation of Bili Droe’s products. According to Mr. Iman, one of the members of the Rumpun team involved in this support, Bili weaving is a cultural heritage of Aceh that is spread across various regions. However, not all areas have the capability to develop innovative derivative products like those created by the Bili Droe team.
“Bili weaving is commonly found in Aceh, but what sets Bili Droe apart is its ability to develop derivative products that have successfully received various awards. One of these is the development of home décor products, which has now become one of the main focuses in the development of this small and medium enterprise,” said Mr. Iman.
Through this mentoring program, artisans receive training to enhance the quality of their products, both in terms of design and production techniques.
In addition, it is also taught how to develop a broader market, so that Bili Droe’s products can compete with other creative products in both domestic and international markets.
The hard work of the Bili Droe craftsmen has also been recognized through various awards they have received. These woven products have received several awards for their innovation and quality, demonstrating that the cultural heritage of Aceh can continue to live and thrive through the creative touch of the younger generation.
Mother Sri expressed her hopes for the future of MSMEs in Aceh.
“We are very grateful to AMANAH for providing us with this training and support.” “Our hope for the future is that MSMEs in Aceh can become more advanced and compete at the national and international levels. This is a very good first step,” he said.
With full support from AMANAH and Rumpun Consulting, the woven crafts of Bili Droe have now become a successful example of how innovation and partnership can bring positive change to the community and economy of Aceh.
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