Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy has highlighted that Indonesia seeks to build strong and competitive female entrepreneurs.”We want to build a new generation of women as the pillars of the nation—strong, competitive female entrepreneurs grounded in the spirit of sustainable development,” he said in an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.Following the signing of a partnership between the Ministry of National Development Planning, Padjadjaran University (Unpad), and the Nuraa Women's Institute to establish a women's SMEs center, the minister expressed hope that the collaboration would serve as a strategic step in strengthening women's economic empowerment.This is to be achieved through the development of a more inclusive, productive, and sustainable business ecosystem.Minister Pambudy emphasized that a nation's progress is inseparable from the strength of its businesses and its entrepreneurs.”No nation is strong or great without strong entrepreneurs. Thus, we must continue to encourage the birth of new entrepreneurs, including female entrepreneurs,” he remarked.According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report, developed nations typically have entrepreneurs making up at least 10 percent of their total population.Meanwhile, Indonesia's entrepreneurial rate currently stands at around 2 percent, highlighting the need for collective efforts to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the country.Women-owned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) hold significant potential for the national economy. Of the approximately 56.7 million business players in Indonesia, about 37 percent, or roughly 21.2 million, are women, with the majority operating at the micro-business scale.”Most women-owned MSMEs also still operate within the informal sector, with relatively low added value,” he added.To address this challenge, the minister continued, strengthening the women's economy must focus on several areas, such as enhancing business capacity and management, expanding access to financing, and improving market access and integration into production value chains.He also highlighted the importance of utilizing technology and digitalization, alongside fostering stronger collaboration between the government, universities, and the private sector.