Jakarta, 12 March 2025: Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind economic growth. Bridging the gap between male and female entrepreneurs has the potential to drive innovation, create jobs, enhance productivity, boost competitiveness, and increase overall wealth. In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the European Parliament in ASEAN (EPinASEAN) co-organized a session titled 'Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Economy Realm.' This policy dialogue explored how women entrepreneurs what is the break down navigate challenges and identified emerging trends to enhance their participation in the digital economy.
While global perceptions of gender equality in entrepreneurship have shown positive progress, challenges in creating an inclusive digital economy and addressing the digital gender divide persist,particularly as economic activities and social interactions increasingly shift online.
The session was opened by Antoine Ripoll, Minister of Council at the European Parliament in ASEAN. In his remarks, he emphasized that this discussion is part of the Women’s Voices in Public Spaces exhibition, hosted by EPinASEAN, which examines cultural and social biases that hinder women's participation in public affairs.
The panel discussion featured women entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and insights. Arlin Chondro, Founder of Peek.Me Naturals, and Angeline Callista, Co-Founder and CEO of Sirsak, discussed the cultural barriers and stigma they faced in their entrepreneurial journeys. They also highlighted the benefits of technology in managing data and expanding market reach while emphasizing the need to balance online and offline human interactions.
Lishia Erza, Chair of SME Entrepreneurship Capacity Building and Inclusive Economy at APINDO and CEO of Candra Naya Lestari, shared APINDO’s initiatives in fostering a supportive ecosystem for women-led entrepreneurship despite existing structural barriers. She also underscored the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial growth mindset for women entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy. The session was moderated by Lina Maulidina Sabrina, Senior Programme Officer at ERIA.
