Kediri, July 18 -- Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute 60 percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP), with women constituting 64 percent of the sector's driving force, Deputy Trade Minister Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri stated.

"Equally important, 64 percent of MSME drivers are women. Therefore, women are encouraged to stay motivated in empowering both local and national economies," Putri stated during the "Apeksi Nite Carnival" in Kediri, East Java, on Thursday (July 17).

According to the deputy minister, trade serves as the main engine for urban economic growth. Beyond mere buying and selling, trade opens up vast opportunities for entrepreneurship, creates jobs, and drives local economic development.

The ca...