Australia partners with Femina to support women entrepreneurs

Winners of the female entrepreneurial awards were announced today from a strong field of almost 400 applicants.

This annual competition, sponsored by Australia, is hosted by Indonesia’s leading women’s magazine Femina.

Rakhma Sinseria from Surabaya took out first place for her small coffee shop business, Coffee Toffee. A business she successfully expanded to almost 100 locations within a two-year period.

Myrna Munadi, owner of Taqilla Home Industry, also impressed the judging panel taking home the Australian Government sponsored award for local resource utilisation.
Taqilla Home Industry specilises in sourcing local materials and labour for their exclusive line of fun and creative laptop computer bags.

The head of AusAID in Indonesia, Jacqui De Lacy, is proud Australia is involved in this competition as it celebrates and congratulates self-sufficient and savvy Indonesian business women.

“More than nine million women in Indonesia are the breadwinners in their families and many of them own small businesses,” said Ms De Lacy.

“This competition not only showcases a small selection of Indonesia’s powerful business women, but it inspires women and girls to get out there and lead smart and environmentally friendly economic development, "said Ms. De Lacy.

“Women play an important role in economic development. By supporting their business enterprises, their families and communities also benefit,” added Ms. De Lacy.

AusAID in Indonesia supports women empowerment through a range of initiatives, from training nurses and midwives, to improving incomes and access to markets for women living in poor rural areas. Australia also provides half of its scholarships to women to study postgraduate qualifications in Australia.

Media enquiries:
Mia Salim, AusAID Public Affairs, +62 812 107 0237
Rendy Djauhari, AusAID Public Affairs, +62 811 190 4823