Coordinating Minister Airlangga: Women Are Expected To Be Actors In Supporting The Economy

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said women are key actors and backbone in encouraging the sustainable economy in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's economic growth grew solidly by 5.17 percent in the second quarter of 2023.

Accompanied by the social situation of the community or the economic movement that continues to improve after the pandemic.

This is illustrated from the poverty rate, unemployment, to decreasing inequality.

Airlangga said that inclusive and sustainable economic growth requires contributions from all economic actors.

One of them is how these women become actors to encourage and support economic progress.

"So women are not spectators in their own country. The government will certainly continue to encourage women to become important actors in economic empowerment, important actors in food management, and important actors in financial inclusion," said Airlangga at the National Seminar and National Working Meeting I Perempuan Indonesia Maju (PIM) in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 17.

Airlangga said, in terms of food, one of the most important things to encourage is the movement to fight food waste.

"This is real. How the food waste can be used and we can make it efficient. Because many of our brothers and sisters lack food," said Airlangga.

In addition, related to access to formal financial services, the Government has issued an Inclusive Financial National Strategy (SNKI) and one of the groups targeted, namely women.

Meanwhile, inclusive financial access in Indonesia increased from 67.8 percent in 2016 when SNKI was launched, and to 85.1 percent in 2022.

However, Airlangga said the high level of financial inclusion in Indonesia had not been followed by public financial literacy, which currently only reached 49.68 percent.

This indicates that the use of financial products and services is not followed by an adequate understanding.

Airlangga said that the gap between inclusion and literacy has serious potential risks for the community, especially related to threats of being trapped in cases of fraud, fraudulent investments, or illegal online loans (pinjol).

"Don't be tempted too much. It's better to encourage what the government provides, namely People's Business Credit," said Airlangga.

In addition, SNKI also aims for all women in Indonesia to have equal access to safe and affordable formal financial products and services, as well as to support and encourage women's productive activities in improving the quality of life for women in actively participating in the economy.

In accordance with the fifth sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely 'Gender Equality', the Government is committed to presenting gender equality and empowerment of women in all aspects of life.

Airlangga said the government would encourage women to continue to develop, one of which was through increasing entrepreneurship and the digital ecosystem.

In addition, the government has prepared various policies such as financing facilities, such as People's Business Credit and the Pre-Employment Card Program.

"Indonesia Maju Women must be accelerators, facilitators, and aggregators rather than People's Business Credit," concluded Coordinating Minister Airlangga.