Women Have Shown Much Progress but Still Face Many Challenges

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Vice Chair of the National Economic Council, Mari Elka Pangestu, assessed that Indonesian women have demonstrated considerable progress at present. This progress is marked, among other things, by the presence of women in important positions in the country.

Mari conveyed this during session I of the Top Women Fest 2026 talkshow at Sarinah, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (25/4/2026). Also present as speakers in this session were Deputy Minister of Cooperatives Farida Farichah, Managing Director of Danantara Asset Management Febriany Eddy, President Director of Inalum Melati Sarnita, and Director of Communication, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Unilever Indonesia Nurdiana Darus.

“In my view, if we compare from the time of Mother Kartini to now, there has certainly been much progress, including myself—I am already a senior compared to the others. From the time I started my career to now, there has also been much progress,” said Mari.

She exemplified the figure of Friderica Widyasari Dewi, the first woman to hold the position of Chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority. On this occasion, Friderica delivered the keynote speech to open Top Women Fest 2026.

“There are two remarkable women in mining here. There is a deputy minister from the government and one from Unilever. So there has been much progress but still many challenges. That is what we must discuss together, and the invitation from Mrs Kiki earlier is what we must follow up on together,” said Mari.

Meanwhile, Farida expressed her gratitude for being able to continue Mother Kartini’s struggle. She revealed the similarity of her home region, Grobogan, with Jepara, Mother Kartini’s birthplace.

“In Central Java, there is a district called Grobogan. But it’s not on the map; there’s Purwodadi, which culturally, in terms of culture and geography, is similar to Jepara,” said Farida.

She is grateful because the values of the struggle from Mother Kartini’s era continue to be passed down to the present day.

“Now we just need to continue it. Something like that,” said Farida.