Empowered Women Strengthen Family Economies with PNM

Tempo Information — International Women’s Day is a moment to reaffirm the crucial role of women in driving the economy, both at the household and community levels. In Indonesia, women’s contributions to the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector form one of the foundational pillars of national economic growth.

According to data from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) in 2024, around 64.5 percent of Indonesia’s MSME operators are women, equivalent to more than 37 million women running businesses across various sectors. The MSME sector accounts for about 61 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This shows that small-scale economic activity, largely led by women, has a real impact on the stability of the community’s economy.

In Indonesia, one of the initiatives focused on empowering women is through the PNM Mekaar programme (Membina Ekonomi Keluarga Sejahtera). To date, the programme has served more than 22.9 million economically disadvantaged women.

Through this programme, women not only gain access to finance, but also sustained mentoring covering business training, capacity development, and strengthened social networks among borrowers.

This mentoring has not only improved family economies but also encouraged the growth of female leadership in the surrounding environment. Based on the 2022 FISIPOL UGM research, 71.86 percent of PNM Mekaar borrowers participate in family decision-making, especially regarding finances, children’s education, and household needs. Moreover, in borrower group meetings, women have begun to take on roles as group leaders who guide and mobilise other members.

PNM’s Corporate Secretary Dodot Patria Ary said that empowering women is an important part of PNM’s efforts to strengthen family economies. “We see how women possess extraordinary resilience in maintaining family life while also developing their businesses. Through PNM Mekaar, we want to ensure they do not walk alone. Not only through access to financing, but also mentoring and learning spaces so that their businesses can grow and bring better prospects for families,” he said.

This commitment is reflected in PNM’s financing approach. Currently, around 73 percent of PNM financing is based on sharia principles, providing a more inclusive financing option for the community. This approach has also been recognised at the Indonesia Sharia and Halal Top Brand Awards 2026, where PNM received the Indonesia Best Sharia Business Unit of Financial Services 2026 with Inclusive Financing Scheme to Strengthen Economic Empowerment in the Sharia Business Unit of Financial Services category.

Going forward, PNM will continue to broaden access to empowerment for underprivileged women so that more Indonesian women have the opportunity to develop, strengthen their enterprises, and contribute to the welfare of their families and the surrounding community.

Behind many small businesses that endure and grow today are women who continue to persevere, keeping hope alive and moving forward for the future of their families.