Jakarta – On September 24, Embassy Jakarta co-hosted a breakfast event, Silakan Valley: Levering Indonesia’s Innovative Fintech Solutions and Women Entrepreneurs, at the Jakarta Convention Center. The event, which took place on the sidelines of the Asosiasi FinTech Indonesia’s (AFTECH) first Fintech Summit & Expo, highlighted existing Indonesian, women-led and women-focused fintech companies and showcased U.S. private sector solutions to improve access for the under- and unbanked.
“We see today’s event as the beginning of a wider conversation,” United States Agency for International Development Erin McKee explained to approximately 100 attendees during the AFTECH event, encouraging greater dialogue with industry, the Indonesian government, and all those that are interested in fostering an inclusive, accessible financial sector that benefits Indonesians and the Indonesian economy. “The speed of Indonesia’s cashless and digital payment revolution requires partnerships and ongoing dialogues that share our vision of using disruption to create gender equality,” she added
“When women succeed, communities succeed. Investing in the financial security of women entrepreneurs leads to greater and more inclusive economic growth for all. Mastercard is committed to working in partnership with the government and civil society to advance financial inclusion at scale. When you empower business owners – such as the women Mastercard works with at DigiAsia and other local fintech companies – with the skills, know-how, and access to technology, we accelerate their success and achieve shared prosperity,” said Alison Eskesen, Vice President for the Center for Inclusive Growth, Asia Pacific at Mastercard.
The event is the first overseas project under the State Department’s Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (POWER) initiative. The initiative, part of the United States’ Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, leverages diplomatic resources to promote women in business and works with the private sector to establish professional networks and business environments focused on promoting women’s economic empowerment in a global context.
