TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than 100 SMEs owned and led by women from various areas in Greater Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Bali got a direct learning experiences from major corporations and organizations in a unique event aimed at providing information for better opportunities and access to markets, domestic and beyond.
“Despite women controlling over US$20 trillion in consumer spending every year, ironically only 1% of the enterprises which are owned or led by women are suppliers of the basic goods and services of these commercial items,” said Suryani S.F.Motik, chairperson of Himpunan Pengusaha Pribumi Indonesia (HIPPI), organizer of the event, which took place on March 22 in Jakarta and supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). She said that the lack of suppliers from enterprises was not due to the low number of entrepreneurs, but rather the low access for women entrepreneurs to be able to enter into the supply chain market.
According to Rachel Freeman, IFC Asia Advisory Manager for Financial Institution Group, “According to our study, women run half of the small enterprises and a third of the medium-sized ones in Indonesia,” adding that inclusive sourcing and supplier diversity policies, such as gender-sensitive procurement, will increase opportunities for women-led enterprises to participate in the nations’ economy as well as sustain their business.
Held to commemorate International Women’s Day, the event sought to bring insights, establish networks and bring together SMEs with over a dozen large enterprises in Indonesia, such as Sarinah, Hypermart, Ranch Market, Unilver, Adaro Energy, Wardah and Martina Berto.
YULI ISMARTONO
