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Presentation given by Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga during the CSW 66 Side Event webinar themed "Energy Transition and Rural Women: Experiences from the Republic of Indonesia and Global Partners" on Thursday (March 17, 2022). ANTARA/Anita Permata Dewi - 

Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga accentuated the importance of access to electricity to develop micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia.

"When we talk about economic empowerment, access to electricity is very important for running a business, for business success," the minister noted at the sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 66) Side Event webinar themed "Energy Transition and Rural Women: Experiences from the Republic of Indonesia and Global Partners," which was accessed here on Thursday.

Puspayoga noted that MSMEs contributed 61 percent to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP).

In addition, the minister remarked that MSMEs owned by women also support job creation and reduce poverty in the country.

"Our statistics show that among women, who own MSMEs in our country, usually their business units are very supportive of job creation and also poverty reduction," she stated.

However, several people in rural areas in the country still have limited access to energy, she stated. Hence, those people are still using firewood and kerosene as their energy sources, she pointed out.

Puspayoga highlighted that the use of conventional energy sources could trigger various negative effects.

"According to the WHO, about four million people (each year) die prematurely because of air pollution that occurs at the household level," she remarked.

Puspayoga stressed that women should be given access to clean and renewable energy, so that they can create positive impacts.

"Ensuring that women have access to renewable and clean energy will create a positive trickle effect, will increase economic empowerment, and also improve health in families and support children to become more educated," she remarked//ANT