APEC Ensures Financial Access for Entrepreneurial Women

By ( www.apec2013.or.id )

Updated: 2013-09-29

Bali, APEC 2013 - Social activities and environmental development become priorities and strategic issues, as it involves direct stakeholders, including economic delegation for APEC Women and Economy Forum (WEF APEC) 2013, which saw the concrete importance of the role of women entrepreneurs as the actor of microeconomic and the pillar of family.

This was conveyed by Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (PP & PA Minister) Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar at the Community Service Program that was held in cooperation with Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection in Tanjung Benoa , Bali , Saturday ( 7/9 ) . "The interest and participation of women in micro- enterprise economy can be accommodated well by corporate world. These activities, I also hope to inspire and encourage women as well as the other businesses to continue to work together to advance the nation's economy ," said Linda.

The activity is a social and environmental programs in a real form of partnership between public and private sectors in improving the capacity and social welfare. Surely this will not go well without the support of Empowerment and Human Services Center Coastal (P3MP) Badung Regency , Tanjung Benoa," added Linda .

Tanjung Benoa is located in Badung regency , Bali where the majority of people are low-income fishermen that are still experiencing economic and social difficulties such as lack of financial management skills, limited access to information and opportunity, erratic weather, and other geographical challenges.

Financial management education takes place in a typical Balinese building called Banjar place that serves as administrative and spiritual center for Balinese people. In addition to financial management education, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection also issued a booklet 'The Easy Way of Financial Management and Financing of MFIs' as a simple guide women in managing finances.

In addition to supporting the provision of financial management education to the local women's community the minister also inaugurated Reading Corner to encourage reading habits among the people of Tanjung Benoa. Reading Corner provides books and computer science with an internet connection so that people especially fishermen, can learn a great way of packaging and selling their products online.

In addition to financial education , until now the ministry and Standard Chartered Bank has distributed more than 50,000 pairs of glasses for school students and teachers . This was done after a report surfaced that about 80 percent of teachers and 30 percent of students experiencing vision problems. In addition to the glasses donation, free cataract surgery services have also been carried out in various regions in Indonesia.

After seeing the community service in the form of financial education , Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar with Tom Aaker , CEO of Standard Chartered Indonesia and Anak Agung Gede Agung , the regent of Badung with APEC delegates WEF planted with palm trees on the beach of Tanjung Benoa . Previous concern for the environment is also manifested by releasing turtle hatchlings in its natural habitat conservation.

Community service program was held in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, as part of APEC Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) 2013, titled Women as Economic Activator. The cooperation Standard Chartered Bank and the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection has been going on for three years.