The UK-ASEAN Trade Mission, part of the UK Government-funded UK-ASEAN Collaboration on Women’s Economic Empowerment, connected women entrepreneurs from Indonesia with UK companies on 21 and 22 November in Jakarta, Indonesia. Organised in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Initiative and the SheTrades Indonesia Hub hosted by Womanpreneur Community, this trade mission follows a successful exhibition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, featuring 75 women-led businesses from Cambodia earlier this week. 

In Jakarta, the trade mission facilitated business-to-business opportunities between UK companies and women-led Indonesian companies in sectors such as textiles and apparel, handicrafts and footwear sectors. Seven UK companies, as well as 25 Indonesian women-led businesses participated in business-to-business meetings. This trade mission aims to strengthen trade connections between UK and ASEAN countries as well as empower women in business in the region through the UK Government-funded SheTrades Programme in ASEAN. 

The opening session featured remarks from the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia Gita Sabharwal, UK Ambassador to ASEAN H.E. Sarah Tiffin, Director General of the National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia Mardyana Listyowati SH. M.SE, as well as pre-recorded remarks from the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh. 

At the event, ITC also launched the updated ‘export procedures handbook’ to support Indonesian women-led businesses to export textiles and apparel, footwear, and handicrafts to the UK, including information on the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). 

UK Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Sarah Tiffin said: 

Empowering ASEAN’s women entrepreneurs is essential for fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development across the region. The UK-ASEAN Trade Mission provides a practical platform for women-owned and led business to connect, collaborate, and thrive in new markets.

The UK are committed to supporting dynamic women entrepreneurs as they contribute to the prosperity and resilience of both the UK and ASEAN economies. This trade mission not only strengthens our economic ties but also underscores our shared commitment to equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh said: 

Women entrepreneurs are not just participants in our economy; they are vital drivers of innovation and sustainable development. In this connection, I strongly welcome the active role of the ITC SheTrades Programme in ASEAN, funded by the UK government.

ITC has been a crucial partner in unlocking market access and information for women entrepreneurs, bolstering institutional capacities of AWEN and SheTrades Hub host institutions in ASEAN, and supporting governments with gender-inclusive business and trade policy technical assistance. Building on this success, we look forward to expanding this initiative across other ASEAN Member States, fostering greater economic integration.

Director General of the National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, Mardyana Listyowati SH. M.SE. said: 

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the businesses from United Kingdom and Indonesia who continue strive to boost business and actively engage through business-to-business meetings. This trade mission will further strengthen trade relations between Indonesia and the UK. I see this trade mission as crucial, as it focuses on key sectors crucial to Indonesia’s economy.

In this trade mission, the Indonesian women-led businesses had the opportunity to engage directly with the UK delegates through one-on-one business-to-business meetings. On the second day, the UK companies visited the women-led businesses sites in the textiles and apparel, handicrafts, and footwear sectors across Jakarta, Bandung and surrounding areas that offer an opportunity for further business discussion. 

About the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme 

Funded by the UK Government, the ITC SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme aims to foster an enabling gender-inclusive business ecosystem by promoting inclusive policy and data and engaging business support organisations, private-sector partners, and women-led businesses in the Commonwealth countries and their key trading partners, including the ASEAN region.