JAKARTA – Sarawak’s Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, led a high-level delegation to Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday to forge strategic partnerships and enhance regional collaboration in women’s empowerment. The visit aimed to build connections with prominent women’s organizations and industry leaders, while drawing inspiration from Indonesia’s progressive approaches to gender equality.
“The core goal of this visit is to establish impactful partnerships with leading women’s organizations and stakeholders, while learning from Indonesia’s innovative strategies and best practices in empowering women across various sectors,” said Dato Sri Fatimah in a statement. “This engagement strengthens Sarawak’s policy framework and drives meaningful programs to advance women’s development and leadership.”
Accompanying the minister were KPWK Deputy Ministers Datuk Rosey Yunus and Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, KPWK Permanent Secretary Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, Director of the Women and Family Department of Sarawak Salmah Jobeli, and senior departmental officers.
The delegation’s visit began at Indonesia’s Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, where Minister Arifah Choiri Fauzi warmly welcomed them. Fauzi expressed strong support for cross-border collaboration, emphasizing the value of knowledge exchange in promoting gender equality regionally.
At Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM) Indonesia, President Director Arief Mulyadi briefed the delegation on PNM’s data-driven dashboard, offering real-time insights into program performance and impact. The visit highlighted effective microfinance models, grassroots women’s empowerment, and community-based entrepreneurship strategies, providing valuable lessons for inclusive economic development.
The delegation also engaged with UN Women Indonesia, led by Country Representative Ulziisuren Jamsran, gaining insights into gender-responsive policymaking, regional strategies for women’s rights, and programs addressing gender equality, leadership, and protection against gender-based violence.
The visit concluded at the Indonesian Women’s Congress (KOWANI), where Ibu Nani Hadi Hadjonto and representatives from over 100 member organizations welcomed the delegation. KOWANI’s pivotal role in shaping public policy, promoting women’s leadership, and preserving cultural values while advocating for gender equality was a key focus of discussions.
This strategic visit underscores Sarawak’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment through regional collaboration and adopting global best practices.
