INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country increasingly plays an important role in the economic arena of ASEAN. SMEs in ASEAN countries are active in a forum called the Forum Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN (FORSEAA).

"FORSEAA is a network of SMEs from Africa-ASEAN and helps SMEs in promotion and marketing, quality improvement, design, and branding image to gain direct access between producers and consumers and better value added," said Deputy Secretary General of FORSEAA Rita Widyasarii.

Rita, who is also Bupati of Kutai Kartanegara, said that SMEs in ASEAN also put forward the role of women as the main character in improving the economy. "One of our focus is on empowering the role of women and youth in accelerating economic development in the region," explained Rita.

Therefore, she appreciated the welcome of President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the 50th ASEAN Anniversary. At that time Jokowi said, ASEAN should be able to bring benefits to the level of SMEs.

"In the economic field, ASEAN should be more relevant, it should be more useful in responding to various challenges in the middle of the weakening global economy," said Jokowi in ASEAN Secretariat, Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta as reported by Setkab.go.id

Rita is the only district head in Indonesia who is honored to be invited by the ASEAN Secretary-General on the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. Previously, Rita has worked with the Special Envoy of Seychelles for ASEAN Nico Barito in the development of international teenage cultural tourism with local indigenous communities.

Rita has also invited the ASEAN Secretary General to be the guest of honor at Erau International Folklore Arts Festival 2017 in Tenggarong recently