Jakarta, May 24, 2025 – Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, underscored the strategic role of women in advancing Indonesia’s digital economy during the CNBC Indonesia Top Women Fest 2025 panel discussion, themed “Indonesian Women: Creating, Empowered, and Impactful,” held at Anjungan Sarinah, Jakarta, on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf - Wamenekraf menyoroti pembangunan ekosistem yang inklusif guna mengubah perempuan dari sekadar pelaku menjadi pemimpin di rantai ekonomi kreatif saat menghadiri panel diskusi CNBC Indonesia Top Women Fest 2025, Anjungan Sarinah, Jakarta (24/05/25).
Deputy Minister Irene Umar highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration to empower women, addressed the challenges they face, and proposed solutions to encourage greater participation of women as decision-makers in the digital era.
"Building an inclusive ecosystem – from access to financing and digital literacy to strengthening business networks – is the key to transforming women from mere participants into leaders in the creative economy value chain. Through cross-sector collaboration between government, private sector, and communities, Indonesian women will not only contribute but also help shape a more sustainable and impactful digital economy," said Deputy Minister Irene Umar.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in 2023 shows that Indonesia has 84.5 million women of productive age, who make up the majority of the workforce in this sector. Deputy Minister Irene Umar further emphasized that women play a pivotal role in developing the digital economy and creative industries, particularly in subsectors such as culinary arts, fashion, and crafts.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf
"The role of women in the creative economy is increasingly recognized as a key factor in creating a more inclusive and sustainable industry. Women’s contributions go beyond labor – they are innovators, leaders, and decision-makers," she added.
The Deputy Minister also addressed several challenges faced by women in the creative economy, including access to financing and capital, the digital and technological literacy gap, as well as the lack of representation and networking opportunities within the business ecosystem. To address these issues, the Ministry of Creative Economy has introduced training and capacity-building programs specifically designed for women in the creative economy sector, covering areas such as digital literacy, business management, and leadership.
One of the Ministry’s flagship programs is Emak-Emak Matic (Mothers Empowered by Technology), which aims to empower women through digital-based activities, enabling them to earn income and work independently as affiliates or sellers across various digital platforms. This program represents the government’s commitment to increasing women’s participation and potential in the growth of the creative economy.
Dok. Biro Komunikasi Kemenekraf
In line with this aim, CNBC Indonesia CEO, Wahyu Daniel Panjaitan, shared his thoughts on how the event was designed to provide an inspirational platform for women to contribute to Indonesia’s digital economy development.
"Top Women Fest 2025 marks the third edition hosted by CNBC Indonesia, following its successful staging at Sarinah last year. This event is designed to bring together women driving the economy and provide a platform to showcase their contributions, inspiring stories, and leadership," said Wahyu.
Also attending were Deputy Minister of Trade Dyah Roro Esti, Deputy Minister for Population and Family Development Isyana Bagoes Oka, and Founder and CEO of Widya Esthetic Clinic, Dr. Ayu Widyaningrum.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Acting Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
