Indonesia Needs More Women Entrepreneurs, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, takes picture with participants of National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (Rakernas IWAPI), at Grand Inna Hotel, Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (8/10). Photo by: Agung/ Public Relations Division of Cabinet Secretariat.

Women entrepreneurs tend to be more persistent, more tenacious, and more meticulous than their male counterpart, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“Persistence, tenacity, and meticulousness are prerequisites for becoming successful entrepreneurs,” President Jokowi said during the opening of the 28^th National Working Meeting of the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (Rakernas IWAPI), at Grand Inna Hotel, Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (8/10).

Therefore, the President said, Indonesia needs more and more women entrepreneurs to boost economic growth and to become a developed nation.

President Jokowi said that he agrees with the Chairman of the IWAPI, Nita Yudi, who said that 49 percent of women entrepreneurs are involved in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The President further said that MSMEs has become the backbone of Indonesian economy –the largest economy in Southeast Asia.

“I want to say that a lot of our MSMEs are owned and run by women. It means that the progress that Indonesian women entrepreneurs make will help the country to achieve an advanced economy,” President Jokowi said.

The President went on to say that in order to face the future competition, Indonesia needs more entrepreneurs who provide jobs and build a strong presence in both domestic and export market.

Therefore, President Jokowi invited the IWAPI members to sell their products to the export market.

“Don’t worry, (you can choose) different market segments. There are upper class segment, middle class segment, or lower class segment,” President Jokowi explained, citing segmentation of garment consumers as the example.

On the occasion, President Jokowi, accompanied by Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise, Governor of West Sumatra Irwan Prayitno, and General Chairperson of the IWAPI Nita Yudi, played traditional musical instrument from West Sumatra “gendang tabuik’ to officially open the IWAPI National Working Meeting.

Also present during the event were First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo, Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Governor of West Sumatra Irwan Prayitno, and General Chairperson of the IWAPI Nita Yudi.

(UN/AGG/ES) (RI/YM/Naster)