"Our presence at the opening of the Sanur Village Festival is to support efforts to increase tourism as well as empower the economy of women and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bali," she noted in a statement received here Thursday.
Puspayoga said this festival highlighted the unique characteristics of the Indonesian economy that is fulfilled by the widespread participation of the middle and small people's economy, men and women, and also supported by mutual cooperation with artistic and cultural dimensions in Bali.
As the prime driving force in Bali's economic development, the tourism sector's development is directed at solving fundamental economic problems, particularly in expanding employment opportunities, equalizing people's incomes, and accelerating women's economic empowerment, she affirmed.
"The Sanur Village Festival has been held 16 times. This shows that this activity has been able to gain success, both in terms of the economic turnover value and the ability to garner broad support and participation from the community," Puspayoga remarked.
The minister then cited data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small, Medium Enterprises which showed that out of a total of 65.5 million Indonesian MSMEs, 64 million were micro-enterprises, of which over half were owned and managed by women.
This fact cannot be separated from the role of Indonesian women, who already own and manage half of the 64 million micro businesses in Indonesia, including in Bali.
Puspayoga also stated that increasing women's economic empowerment was one of President Joko Widodo's five priority directives for her ministry.
It is hoped that women's economic empowerment can solve various problems related to women's and children's issues, she stated.
The Sanur Village Festival was opened on Wednesday, July 19, in Sanur, Denpasar, Bali, with the theme "Amrta Sagara" as an effort to campaign for marine conservation and promote various tourism potentials and the creative economy in the Sanur area that will be held until July 23.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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