Women Play Significant Role in Economic Development, Minister Says

VIVA – The Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna H. Laoly stated that women play a significant role in national economic development. Women, according to him, are generally creative, dynamic, lively, and dedicated to their work. 

"Millennial women are expected to bring creative and innovative thinking and be able to bring creative ideas to real work. This needs special attention from the government through the protection of Intellectual Property (IP) for their creative economic works," Minister Laoly said at the 2023 World Intellectual Property Day Commemoration at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Pacific Place, South Jakarta, on Wednesday. 

The Indonesian government through the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights wants to encourage and trigger more women to utilize the IP (intellectual property) system as a protector and provider of added value for the sustainability of the life cycle in creativity and innovation. 

Recorded data supports the fact that women are the spearhead of the nation's development, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owned and managed by women are the most important and strategic economic actors in economic recovery and maintaining long-term economic stability. 

On the other hand, Director General of Intellectual Property Min Usihen explained that the occasion of this commemoration is also the right moment to campaign for the importance of increasing awareness that Intellectual Property has an impact on life. 

"The role of Intellectual Property in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Industrial Revolution 5.0 has a very important position. For example, the United States, South Korea, and Japan have pivoted national economic development on the development of IP ecosystems through sustainable IP ecosystem management policies starting from creating, protecting, and utilizing intellectual property," Usihen stated on the same occasion. 

"Unfortunately, although IP is the basis of Indonesia's creative economy development, most MSME players (around 88.95%) do not have IP protection," he continued.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2021, around 64.5% of all Indonesian MSME players, which are owned by women, also do not have protection for their intellectual property. 

Nevertheless, Minister Laoly revealed that in 2022 there was a significant increase in IP applications when compared to 2021. 

DJKI recorded an increase of 26.41% and for the first time, IP applications broke the 100 thousand application mark. Trademark recorded 120,216 applications and copyright reached 117,083. 

"Together we create an IP ecosystem that can protect and utilize the creative potential of Indonesian women to contribute in all fields so that all Indonesian women can grow into advanced, independent, and competitive women," the minister concluded.

Meanwhile, a series of commemorations of World Intellectual Property Day 2023 started in early February through DJKI Mendengar activities that invited 1,000 women MSME managers, the largest Southeast Asian craft exhibition INACRAFT. 

DJKI also opened an exhibition of local products, an exhibition of Geographical Indication products, talk shows, national IP seminars, and consultation and facilitation of free IP registration for MSME players in two places; Sarinah and at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on May 16 to 17, 2023.

In addition, DJKI will also hold IP Tourism in Bintan, Riau Islands. This program aims to increase tourism through the potential of intellectual property in the Riau Islands.