Women’s Empowerment Strategy Becomes an Opportunity to Boost National Economic Equality

Jakarta – Women’s empowerment in the business world continues to be a concern for the government and various parties as a strategy to increase national economic equality. Although the role of women in the economy is increasingly significant, the level of female workforce participation in Indonesia is still not optimal. Therefore, synergy between various sectors is needed to increase the role of women in the world of work and entrepreneurship.
Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Teguh Anantawikrama, said that although there has been progress, the level of female workforce participation in Indonesia has remained stagnant for the past two decades.
“For the past two decades, the level of female workforce participation in Indonesia has tended to stagnate at around 53 percent, much lower than men who reached 81 percent. This shows that there is still homework that we must complete to encourage women’s involvement in the wider economic sector,” said Teguh.
According to Teguh, to increase this participation rate, collective steps are needed from the government, business world, and society. One way is to provide more access and support for women in the world of entrepreneurship and formal industry.
At the regional level, the Mayor of Cilegon, Helldy Agustian, also highlighted the importance of the role of women’s organizations in supporting economic growth. He emphasized that the existence of the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (IWAPI) can help strengthen the regional economy, especially by encouraging more women to get involved in the business world.
“I think the existence of the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association can help the government’s economy and can develop entrepreneurs in Cilegon City, especially for businesses run by women,” said Helldy.
In addition, Helldy highlighted the importance of innovation in developing women’s businesses, especially by utilizing digital technology.
“Now is the era of the digital world, so I ask women entrepreneurs to be able to take advantage of it. Hopefully by following technological developments, the businesses they run can grow and compete even more,” he added.
The central government itself has taken various strategic steps to increase women’s participation in the economy. Various entrepreneurship training programs, easy access to capital, and incentives for women’s MSMEs continue to be developed. This step aims to create a more inclusive business ecosystem and encourage gender-based economic growth.
Support for women in the world of work and business will not only accelerate economic growth, but also contribute to equal welfare in various regions. With close collaboration between the government, the business world, and society, it is hoped that women can play an increasing role in national economic development. Increasing the role of women in the economy is not only a matter of gender justice, but also a strategic step to strengthen national competitiveness. By continuing to encourage women’s empowerment, Indonesia can move towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy.