Strengthening the meaningful role of women in technology is key to advancing global economic growth. Mira Tayyiba, Director General of Digital Government Technology at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, highlighted this during the 2025 ITU Girls in ICT Day celebration in Jakarta.

"If women's role increases in a meaningful way, global per capita GDP is estimated to grow by 20 percent, and the global economy could expand by over USD 5 trillion," she stated.

She emphasized that empowering women must be seen as a joint movement to create an equal and supportive digital world without excluding any community.

Equal Opportunities in Tech: A Key to Inclusive Growth

Mira noted that women occupy 42 percent of the global workforce and hold 50 percent of entry-level positions across sectors. However, only 25 percent reach top leadership roles.

“We are not lacking intelligent women who can lead and drive positive change, but equal opportunities must still be opened,” she said.

STEM and Empathy: Building a Human-Centered Digital Future

Mira stated that mastery of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), when balanced with empathy and humanity, is a path toward a more inclusive and empowering future, including for women.

“Our future needs a balanced combination of logic and empathy, of technology and humanity. Because in the end, technology only has meaning if it is used to make human life better,” she emphasized.

Bridging the Gender Gap Through Digital Literacy

She added that the Ministry continues to expand digital training through the Digital Talent Scholarship, MSMEs Level Up, and various digital literacy initiatives for students.

“Women who are increasingly digitally skilled will become drivers of change. We want them to not only be users, but creators and leaders of a better digital future,” she said.

Global Collaboration to Empower Women in ICT

Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, said that inclusive digital transformation must ensure that women are not left behind.

“Digital equality is not a moral choice, but a development necessity. Countries that ensure equal access for women in the technology sector will have stronger economic competitiveness,” she stated.

ITU representative Keishor Yarabala stressed the importance of global collaboration to broaden women's access to technology education and training.

“We need to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn coding, understand data, and get to know AI. The digital world must be a space open to everyone,” he said.

The Girls in ICT Day 2025 celebration in Indonesia became a platform of inspiration for female students to dream big in the technology sector. The event encouraged collaboration between government, international organizations, and the private sector to create more opportunities for women to become empowered, independent, and active in building an inclusive and human-centered digital future.

PHOTO: KEMKOMDIGI

This article was created with AI assistance.