Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) indicates that 64% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia are managed by women.
Unfortunately, most of these businesses remain in the micro category due to limited opportunities to work elsewhere. To strengthen the role of women in MSMEs, UGM has initiated women empowerment programs supported by cross-sector collaborations involving thousands of students.
This time, UGM partnered with the Yogyakarta Office for Women Empowerment, Child Protection, and Population Control (DP3AP2) and Exporthub.id to elevate MSMEs into the digital and global market arenas.
The program resulted in 51 MSMEs onboarding global e-commerce platforms, 102 MSMEs onboarding local e-commerce platforms, and three products joining Exporthub.id as partners, entering local and global markets.
Erlina Hidayati Sumardi, Head of the Yogyakarta DP3AP2 Office, highlighted that women possess significant potential and opportunities to drive the nation’s economy but still face many challenges. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to build women’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and skills to propel MSME products into global markets.
Amalia Prabowo, President Director of Exporthub.id, noted that while women manage 90% of MSMEs, only 24% currently utilize e-commerce.
Indonesia is projected to dominate the Southeast Asian e-commerce market by 2025. Therefore, training and mentoring are essential for MSME products to compete in the global marketplace.
Challenges for women in MSMEs often arise from limited time to manage their businesses. Many cases involve homemakers who spend significant time on production and family care, leaving minimal resources for marketing, a critical aspect of any business.
Consequently, many MSMEs are treated as secondary income sources, merely fulfilling daily needs.
“Not only training but also close mentoring is necessary. In collaboration with UGM, we have engaged 1,600 students who have proven capable of generating IDR 1.5–5 million per week. And that’s only 10% of the commission fee,” Prabowo explained during the Jogja Women’s Forum held at Grha Sabha Pramana on Thursday (Nov. 28).
She added that this collaborative initiative offers a solution for homemakers looking to grow their businesses while maintaining a steady revenue stream. By delegating marketing operations to affiliate students, business owners can focus on production and product innovation.
Prabowo stressed the importance of evaluating and innovating products to ensure they remain attractive to consumers. She hopes the partnership between Exporthub.id and UGM can provide a formula for overcoming women’s barriers to scaling up MSMEs.
In alignment, Professor Wening Udasmoro, UGM’s Vice Rector for Education and Teaching, stated that this collaboration reflects UGM’s mission to advance the nation’s intellectual development.
“Universities act as enabling factors. We need to motivate economic activities for women and ensure capacity building,” she concluded.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie