Since the appointment of the Korea representative
By Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik, VCs Song Na-ra, Choe Nam-suk, Reporter Ms. Kim Soo-bin
Question: Please introduce the activities and work plans of IPEMI for this year and the future cooperation plans with the headquarters in Indonesia.
A: Since the appointment of the Korea Representative on February 23, 2024, IPEMI Korea has been working to promote the distribution of Halal certified products in Korea, and the distribution structure is through the company of Mr. Lee Kwang-Yeon, Chairman of Pacific Korea, for export and import.
In addition, IPEMI products from Indonesia are distributed and imported to Pacific Korea through IPEM’s home country. IPEMI and IPEMI Korea's main objectives are to lead the human rights of Muslim women and women around the world, and to support small and medium-sized enterprises that produce quality products in areas where distribution is difficult.
IPEMI Korea plans to collaborate with IPEMI in various business areas to set goals and work in each field, expanding capabilities through education, creating jobs, scholarship programs, running volunteer organizations, ESG management, and striving to run a transparent and eco-friendly association.
IPEMI and IPEMI Korea will work closely together, and we will work with local governments to establish a green Halal ecosystem in both Korea and Indonesia, and we are considering establishing a hospital in Indonesia with the support of the government and various organizations.
Q: Please introduce the current status of IPEMI's international and domestic organizations.
A: After the appointment of the Korean delegation on Feb. 23, 2024, all work plans are being implemented smooth according to schedule. On that day, Ms. Hwa-Geum Lee was appointed as the chapter leader of 'IPEMI Korea Jeju Chapter', and based on that, we will start by establishing chapters nationwide and focusing on recruiting IPEMI members.
Based on the UN NGO FLML / UN NGO KLF, IPEMI Korea plans to pursue agreements with various companies in the future.
Currently, IPEMI has a base in 35 states, 360 cities/counties, 850 districts, 380 villages, and 5 million members, and the number of members continues to grow.
In addition, IPEMI currently has chapters in 16 countries (Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Belgium, the United Kingdom, India, South Korea, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands), in addition to Indonesia.
In the future, the number of members is expected to grow rapidly through cooperation with 17 countries including Korea, and we will grow into a strong and healthy association.
Q: Please tell us about your plans for international and domestic events in 2024.
A: After the inauguration of IPEMI Korea on February 23, 2024, and the inauguration of the delegation, IPEMI Korea will hold the 3rd 2024 Muslim Women Entrepreneurs Competition Finals on March 2-4, 2024, and the 7th 2024 IPEMI National Conference in Indonesia.
Q: Please introduce your work plans for international and national events in 2024.
A: After the launch of IPEMI Korea on February 23, 2024 and the inauguration of the delegation, IPEMI's home country in Indonesia will host the 3rd 2024 Muslim Women Entrepreneurs Competition Finals on March 2-4, 2024 The 7th 2024 IPEMI National Conference
IPEMI's Birthday Celebration in April 2024
Seminars, exhibitions and technical/talent competition activities for women. June 2024
Best SME Award 2024
December 2024
2024 Indonesian Women's Inspiration Award Book launch for the 5th edition of the Indonesian Women's Inspiration Award Ceremony by the First Lady/Vice President
Attended by the Minister of Women and Child Protection and other female officials and dignitaries 100 Indonesian Women's Inspiration Award winners
Smaller events: Webinars, exhibitions, trainings, etc.
March 2024: Ramadan Fair by IPEMI
April 2024: Halal and Non-Halal and IPEMI's 8th Anniversary
June 2024: Jakarta Anniversary (Featured Speaker: Governor of Jakarta)
July 2024: National Children's Day (Key Speaker: Deputy Minister of Women and Child Protection)
August 2024: Indonesia Independence Day
October 2024: Batik and Youth Oath Day
In addition, the Embassy of Indonesia in Korea is expected to host Indonesia Festival on June 23, 2024, Independence Day in September, and other fairs, cafe shows and Seoul Food & Hotel Fair.
There will be a basic set of events in IPEMI's home country of Indonesia, and with the inauguration of a country's delegation, additional events will be organized through IPEMI and IPEMI Korea and the global IPEMI conference.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the following personalities for providing us with a great deal of support in the process of organization of the Korea Chapter of IPEMI:
Ingrid Kansil, IPEMI General Chairwoman Nurwahidah Saleh, IPEMI Secretary General Yuri Marina, IPEMI Deputy of Secretary General have worked hard to establish the IPEMI Korea Representative Office.
Preuly Selvi, IPEMI Head of SME and Creative Economy Division.
Lilis Suryani, IPEMI Coordinator of SME and Creative Economy Division.
Dhini Azani Kusuma Dewi, General Assistant.
In Korea, we are planning to organize a fair involving bilateral and Muslim companies around October/November this year, and we are also planning to organize a festival of Muslim events in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy in Korea.
Q: Please provide a brief biography and introduction of Chairpersons Kim Eun Soo and Shinta Permata Sari.
A: Please refer to Mr. Kim's profile. For Ms. Shinta Permata Sari, please refer to her profile.
Questions and answers with Ms. Ingrid Kansil:
Q: Please introduce your cooperation and future plans to support IPEMI through the establishment of IPEMI Korea.
A: In terms of halal products that are currently being promoted around the world, Indonesia has a large Islamic market and is the third largest Muslim country in the world, so I think this will be a great opportunity for both countries, and it will be a great opportunity for both Indonesia and Korea.
In the future, I hope that IPEMI Korea will be able to develop activities to promote Indonesian products to Korea and vice versa.
Currently, Korea is an important reference point for young people in Indonesia, and Korea is very well known to Indonesians, not only for fashion and drama, but especially for food and cooking.
Therefore, we expect to be able to market Korean products in Indonesia in the form of product exchanges and, conversely, introduce Indonesian SME products produced by IPEMI members to Korea.
The Indonesian Muslim Women Entrepreneurs Association (IPEMI) was established in Jakarta on April 21, 2015. Now, after almost nine years later, it has garnered significant attention and acceptance from the community. IPEMI has experienced rapid structural organizational development, expanding its presence to 35 provinces, 360 regencies/ cities, 850 sub-districts, and 380 villages. Additionally, it has reached 17 countries, including Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Turkey, Japan, Russia, Australia, Saudi
Arabia, the USA, Belgium, England, India, South Korea, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands. IPEMI is currently implementing its national program, which focuses on economic empowerment through IPEMI's stalls/galleries, IPEMI Magazine, education, and training. These initiatives aim to enhance the well-being of women, particularly Muslim women, to achieve economic independence that reflects the Indonesian identity.
IPEMI is a social organization formed to enhance the role and contribution of Muslim women entrepreneurs in community economic empowerment. It holds a strategic position and function, especially in assisting the development of businesses run by Muslim women, ensuring their continuous growth, contributing to national development, and enhancing the welfare of the community, including strengthening the economy of its members and other Islamic communities.
The success of Muslim Women Entrepreneurs at the local, national, and regional levels is expected to inspire and motivate other Muslim women to continue developing businesses and contributing to grassroots community economic empowerment. IPEMI is crucial for Muslim Women Entrepreneurs in Indonesia, serving as a platform for collaboration and network development, as well as enhancing business competitiveness in the face of global economic challenges. IPEMI is an independent social organization and is not affiliated with any other organization or political party, except for the activities of individual members. One of the goals of establishing IPEMI in South Korea is to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and South Korea.
Q: Please introduce your activities and cooperation in regard to the future plans to support IPEMI through the establishment of the IPEMI Korea Chapter.
A: In terms of halal products that are currently being promoted around the world, Indonesia has a large Islamic market and is the third largest Islamic country in the world, so I think this will be a great opportunity for both Indonesia and Korea.
In the future, I hope that IPEMI Korea will be able to develop activities to promote Indonesian products to Korea and vice versa.
Currently, Korea is an important reference point for young people in Indonesia, and Korea is very well known to Indonesians, not only for fashion and drama, but especially for food and cooking.
So, we expect that we can market Korean products in Indonesia in the form of product exchanges, and conversely, we can introduce Indonesian SME products produced by IPEMI members to Korea.
So, one of IPEMI's activities so far is not only to improve the capacity of entrepreneurs, but also to think about how to promote the excellent products produced by IPEMI members around the world.
So, that's why IPEMI was founded in Korea and that's what we're trying to do globally as well.
View of Indonesia by the Korea Foreign Ministry and other sources:
Indonesia is the backbone of Southeast Asia: a country of nearly 300 million people, a country of young people with a median age of 29, a country of key mineral resources such as nickel, cobalt, bauxite, and coal, and a maritime nation of more than 18,000 islands.
Indonesia may seem far away from us at first glance, but it's a country with which we have a long history of close cooperation, having weathered the twists and turns of history together.
Our two countries have much in common, including our hard-fought independence, the solidarity of our people, and our mutual spirit of cooperation. Indonesia was a non-member of the United Nations during the Korean War, yet they provided wartime material support and post-war reconstruction assistance, and they also lent a helping hand when we suffered from the oil shock.
Korea's first overseas investment in history was in the Indonesian island of Borneo, Kalimantan, in 1968 for Southern Development's timber business, and raw materials from Indonesia in the 1960s and 70s helped our economy take off.
Korea and Indonesia share common values of democracy, human rights, and a market economy, and a history of advancing these values, and over the past half century since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, we have developed bilateral ties in all areas of politics and security, economics, trade and investment, science and technology, and social, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, expanding the horizons of cooperation.
Based on the remarkable achievements of this cooperation, Indonesia is the only Southeast Asian country who has established a "Special Strategic Partnership" with Korea.
Cooperation with Indonesia is not an option but a necessity for Korea, especially in the recent period of international political and economic uncertainties such as US-China competition, global supply chain reorganization, and climate change.
Last year, 2023, marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Indonesia, and President Yoon Suk Yeol of Korea paid an official visit to Indonesia, where the two leaders agreed to strengthen practical and concrete cooperation not only in traditional sectors such as manufacturing, sewing, and footwear, but also in future-oriented industries such as electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy, smart cities, and fintech.
According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Korea will redouble her diplomatic efforts to build on this consensus and ensure that the next 50 and 100 years of the shared future of the two countries will be a journey toward a clear 'Special Strategic Partnership'.
In addition, Korea will do her utmost to support the activities of the proud Korean community and the business community in Indonesia to increase win-wi cooperation with the people and government of Indonesia.