According to 2024 data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, there are 65 million MSMEs in Indonesia.

Over 60% are owned and managed by women, contributing more than 60% to the national GDP and employing nearly 97% of the workforce.

Olavina Harahap, DANA’s Director of Communications, stated, “We believe MSMEs remain vital pillars of our economy. Empowering women and disabled-owned MSMEs is essential for building an inclusive and sustainable economy.”

She added that a 2024 internal survey showed 74% of women MSME owners struggle with market access, 57% face difficulties upgrading their skills, and 51% have trouble expanding their networks.

Other challenges include lack of mentorship and digital literacy. SisBerdaya and DisBerdaya aim to resolve these issues through technology access, financial inclusion, and business mentoring.

Training Thousands of Women to Compete Using AI and Digital Marketing Tools

Since 2023, the programs have reached over 4,500 MSME participants from 29 provinces. Finalists and winners have increased production capacity by 126% and income by 113%.

Additionally, 99% of participants reported business improvements through funding received during the program.

DANA has committed to leveraging secure and inclusive technology to empower MSMEs.

Over the past two years, the company has focused on AI adoption among MSMEs. The 2025 program theme, “Advancing Business Through Technology,” will cover topics such as digital marketing techniques and artificial intelligence application, with a comprehensive and practical training curriculum.

SisBerdaya targets two categories: micro businesses (Rp10–30 million/month revenue, 0–3 employees) and ultra-micro businesses (Rp1–10 million/month revenue, 4–10 employees).

DisBerdaya is specifically designed for women with disabilities.

Targeting 5,000 Women Entrepreneurs and Inclusive Access via Partnerships

Participants for DisBerdaya 2025 will be selected in collaboration with organizations focused on disability empowerment, including Ego Amote, the Indonesian Disabled Women Association (HWDI), the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Inclusive Society (INKLUSI), Menembus Batas, and the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) in Garut.

“We aim to celebrate women’s entrepreneurial spirit and support them financially and in building business capacity,” said Wilson Siahaan, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Development for Indonesia and the Philippines at Ant International.

He added, “This year, we are targeting more than 5,000 women MSME owners. By giving them access to cutting-edge technology, including AI, we hope to enhance their business resilience and create more global market opportunities.”

Program Timeline and Business Competition for Grand Prize

Registration for SisBerdaya and DisBerdaya 2025 is open from May 7 to May 29.

After the selection process, 180 participants will join online mentoring and training before submitting business proposals.

The top 30 participants will receive in-person mentorship in Jakarta.

Finalists will showcase their businesses at the Grand Final in August, where winners will compete for a total prize of up to Rp750 million.

PHOTO: DANA

This article was created with AI assistance.