Gallery Direct recently hosted a top-level Indonesian trade delegation at its Kent-based head office and warehouse.
Gallery’s international supply chain selects furniture from manufacturing sites around the world, and Indonesia is a strategically important part of this due to its unique craftsmanship and manufacturing skills.
Noviani Vrisvintati, directorate general of national export development for the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, led the visit, meeting the Gallery team and seeing some of its Indonesian-manufactured items.
Tom Hudson, Gallery's head of quality, says: “It was an honour to have the director visit us. She was extremely impressed with the quality and Gallery-led design coming from Indonesia.
"We have a long-standing working relationship with Indonesia – we’ve been working with them for nearly 25 years, initially for Frank Hudson furniture and now our Hudson Living brand as well. The director loved our long ties with some factories and how we invest and work with them to improve quality and the ethical standards.
“Their VPA (Voluntary Partnership Agreement) with the EU for shipping legal timber, and FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) agreement between the Indonesian Government and the EU helps us ensure our products use sustainable, regulated timber.
"Our suppliers in Indonesia have become increasingly efficient, especially over the last 10 years."
The success of the visit was highlighted by an invitation to Tom to meet the new Indonesian ambassador in September.
Noviani also confirmed that, as Gallery is considered to be strategic business partner of Indonesia, it would be nominated for a Primaduta Award, which recognises international trading partners – the competition's winner will be announced in October at the Indo Expo.
