Ibas Promotes Strengthening of Women's Role Through SMEs
Jakarta – Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, commonly known as Ibas, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI), has expressed his commitment to strengthening women’s roles as key pillars of village development and drivers of the tourism ecosystem. This was conveyed by Ibas during a technical guidance dissemination and Ramadan recess activity in East Java’s seventh electoral district for 2026.
In his remarks, Ibas stressed that Ramadan is not merely a ritual act of worship, but rather a school of character that shapes integrity, discipline, and social solidarity. “Fasting teaches patience, honesty, and compassion. Ramadan not only strengthens faith, but also strengthens unity, economy, and family,” Ibas stated in a release dated Sunday, 1 March 2026.
He also highlighted the importance of women’s roles in national development. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), more than 64 per cent of UMKM (small and medium enterprise) entrepreneurs are women, and more than 50 per cent of Indonesia’s population are women. This demonstrates that women represent a significant force in national economic development, particularly in the village tourism sector.
Village tourism, according to Ibas, has become a strategic sector for regional economic growth. However, there remain several challenges such as stunting, extreme poverty, low digital literacy, and limited access to financing and marketing.
Ibas reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening women’s economics through access to UMKM capital and the creative economy, entrepreneurship training, and digitalisation of business and marketing activities. Additionally, he pledged oversight of stunting reduction programmes through nutrition education, strengthening of community health centres (Posyandu), and collaboration with PKK women’s organisations and religious discussion groups.
“Improving digital literacy to support the development of tourism communities and drivers of village economic welfare, alongside strengthening the values of the Four Pillars of MPR RI – Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of Indonesia, and Unity in Diversity – as the foundation of national life,” he concluded.
He emphasised that women’s empowerment through organisations and communities is the key to transforming village tourism. Through technical guidance, training, strengthening of marketing networks, and supportive policies, women can become engines of family welfare and village progress.
“When women are strong, families are strong. When families are strong, this nation is strong,” he said. Ibas also expressed full support for village tourism development in East Java’s seventh electoral district through policies that expand women’s access to training, financing, and infrastructure strengthening.