Jakarta to Host ASEAN Weekend Market; Promoting MSMEs in Southeast Asia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) are cooperating to hold the ASEAN Weekend Market in Multipurpose Building Senayan in Jakarta from September 1 to September 3, 2023. The event is intended to strengthen the role of MSMEs in Southeast Asia.

The participants, which are MSMEs across ASEAN, promote their products while exchanging ideas and creativity, establishing intercultural collaborations.

The simultaneous Chairman of Kadin and ASEAN-BAC, Arsjad Rasjid, mentioned that the ASEAN Weekend Market is the prove of Kadin's commitment to supporting MSMEs and provides a platform for them to grow and develop.

"MSMEs are proven to be the driving force of ASEAN countries amid global economic crisis challenges, whether concerning employment opportunities or direct contribution to the economic growth," said Arsjad on Friday, September 1, 2023.

ASEAN Weekend Market is participated by 45 MSMEs from Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Phillippines, and Indonesia. Every participant displayed culinary products or cultural and traditional crafts unique to each country.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of Kadin in the Women Empowerment Division Tri Hanurita said that the event will inspire intercultural collaboration. "Thus, this exhibition will not only develop the economy but also realize a meaningful and deep cultural experience," Tri said.

Additionally, Tri Hanurita also hopes that this event will inspire a movement to empower and increase women's role in the economy. According to the data by the Minister of Cooperatives and MSMEs in 2021, 52% of micro-entrepreneurs in Indonesia are women. Meanwhile, women run 56% of small businesses and 34% of middle-sized businesses from a total of 44,700 business actors.

"Hopefully, this event will boost the participation of women and the young generation, not only in Indonesia but also in ASEAN to take bigger roles in Indonesia's economic development," Tri concluded.

AMY HEPPY

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