The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), with support through the KATALIS initiative, aims to be a bridge for Indonesian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to expand internationally, particularly in Australia. Deputy Minister of Trade, Dyah Roro Esti, highlighted the critical role of networking and cross-sector collaboration at the Women-led SME Forum on Trade: Go Big, Go Global in Jakarta on Tuesday. "Collaboration is essential for progress, and innovation is key to ensuring MSMEs stay competitive globally," she emphasized. According to KATALIS research, IA-CEPA is projected to boost Indonesia's GDP by AUD 28-46 million by 2038, while adding AUD 21 million to Australia’s GDP, presenting substantial growth opportunities for Indonesian businesses, especially women-led enterprises.
Iskandar Panjaitan, Director of Export and Import Facilitation at the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, sees collaborations with KATALIS and the Asian Development Bank as instrumental in empowering women-led SMEs, equipping them with relevant guidance to support Indonesia’s economic growth. Australia's Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Gita Kamath, also underscored the rising prominence of female entrepreneurship in Indonesia, although significant challenges remain. She noted that overcoming these hurdles is an economic imperative, as women entrepreneurs contribute substantially to both Indonesian and Australian economies. Australian Business Champion for Indonesia, Professor Jennifer Westacott, added that trade fosters cultural and community ties, underscoring the need to empower more women to seize these opportunities. The forum, attended by over 200 female-led MSME entrepreneurs, provided insights into export financing, credit insurance, and market access expansion, particularly to Australia.
