Celebrating World Women's Day, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) together with Müstakil Sanayici ve Isadamlari Dernegi Turkey (MUSIAD Indonesia) today held a talk show entitled Cup of Change: Women Empowering Progress. This hybrid event was initiated by the Women's Empowerment Division of Kadin Indonesia as an effort to empower women entrepreneurs to move up in class and realise a more inclusive national economy.

Carmelita Hartoto, Deputy Chairperson of the Coordinator for Human Quality Improvement, Research and Innovation, Kadin Indonesia, said that women entrepreneurs play an important role in national economic development. Around 64% of the total micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are women-owned businesses. Meanwhile, by 2023, MSMEs will contribute 60.5% to the national gross domestic product (GDP).

In order to open up space for growth for women entrepreneurs, Kadin Indonesia and MUSIAD Indonesia held a talk show that is expected to be a bridge to expand networking and economic penetration in each country. "This talk show aims to increase women's leadership in entrepreneurship as well as a means of networking, especially with women entrepreneurs from Turkey," said Carmelita.

Carmelita added that the talk show can also be a means of sharing women's personal experiences in their process of climbing the ladder to success. This is expected to inspire and motivate other women to explore their potential and support the advancement of women in society.

Chairperson of MUSIAD Indonesia, Nihal Yazici Aygun, appreciated the cooperation between Indonesia and Turkey, from sharing knowledge to opening markets between women entrepreneurs. "We really appreciate the cooperation between the two countries, especially in terms of sharing knowledge to opening markets between Indonesian and Turkish women entrepreneurs. We hope that events like this can continue to be held to build relationships between entrepreneurs and motivate fellow women entrepreneurs," she said.

The event, which was attended by more than 100 people, was a place to share knowledge between the two countries, Indonesia and Turkey, related to aspects of women's empowerment, especially on women's entrepreneurial skills, leadership, and self-development.

On that occasion, Deputy Chairperson for Women's Empowerment of Kadin Indonesia, Tri Hanurita emphasised that solidarity between women entrepreneurs in Indonesia must be maintained in order to expand their market potential. "With the potential of women entrepreneurs, especially in the MSME sector, solidarity between women entrepreneurs in Indonesia must continue to be well maintained. In addition, Indonesian women entrepreneurs need to be confident to continue networking, one of which is with entrepreneurs from Turkey, to expand their market," she concluded.