Deputy Minister Of Trade: RI Becomes The Largest Digital Economy In ASEAN Because Of Women

Photo: Doc. Antara

Deputy Minister of Trade (Wamendag) Dyah Roro Esti said Indonesia is the country with the largest digital economy in the ASEAN region due to the contribution of women.

According to him, in his statement quoted by Antara in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 28, the role of women in the MSME sector is a strong driver in inclusive trade, so that many digital learning programs from the government are given to women as MSME drivers.

"We (Indonesia) are currently the center of the largest digital economy in ASEAN and are predicted to continue to grow every year. Of course, we appreciate this achievement and behind it, all many people are involved, one of which is the contribution from women. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last Sunday, May 25.

Deputy Minister of Trade Roro explained that the Indonesian Ministry of Trade has established the Export Center and FTA Support Center as integrated services to provide training, assistance, and business matching to help domestic entrepreneurs expand to regional and global markets with women being advised to take part.

Furthermore, he added that the Ministry of Trade is wide open to establishing wider cooperation with international and domestic stakeholders in promoting women's economic empowerment.

"I really appreciate the collaboration that has been carried out between the Indonesian Government and our honorable partners. We are fully open to establishing broader international or domestic cooperation," he also said.

In line with the statement of the Deputy Minister of Trade, according to data from the relevant ministries, until 2023, as much as 64.5 percent of the approximately 65 million micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia are owned by women.

Various business entities in Indonesia contribute about 60.5 percent to national gross domestic product (GDP) and employ 97 percent of the national workforce that underlines economic significance in these business entities.

"To strengthen the role of MSMEs in encouraging national export performance, we at the Ministry of Trade also hold MSME training which is expected to provide MSMEs led by women to have wider access to the international market, as well as offer structured support and strategic opportunities to increase their global competitiveness," said Roro Esti.

In Indonesia, women have the freedom to access the labor market. However, the representation of women in the managerial position is still at 31.7 percent. That figure still has significant potential to be improved in the future.

The Ministry of Trade also seeks to encourage greater women's participation in the formulation of public policy, for example by providing broad and equal access to senior leadership positions at echelon 1 and echelon 2 levels for ministry staff, without compromising meritocracy principles and performance quality.

"I encourage women, especially young women, to be able to take a role so as not to be afraid to carry out strategic tasks in any line, both in social life, government and business," said Deputy Minister of Trade Roro.