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“Women in business face a host of challenges. In traditional societies, such as Indonesia, the challenges posed are even greater.”

Giuseppe Nicolosi, chief executive of Ernst & Young Indonesia, expressed this sentiment at the Financial Club in Jakarta last week during a news conference to promote the company’s program to help level the playing field for women working in the business world.

Female entrepreneurs account for nearly 30 percent of private enterprises around the world. The rate in Indonesia is even higher, with 70 percent of businesses here run by women, according to data from Ernst & Young Indonesia and research company AC Nielsen. However, enterprises run by women do not enjoy the same growth and opportunities as companies operated by their male counterparts.

With this in mind, Ernst & Young, a global leader in business advisory services, has launched its Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program.

“We’re specifically targeting businesswomen who are already successful to a certain extent, but they’ve reached a kind of ceiling and therefore need some kind of assistance to reach the next level,” Nicolosi said.

The EWW program is a national competition designed to connect a select group of women with the advisers, resources and insights they need to become market leaders.

Applicants for the EWW program are required to either be the founder or a founding partner in their venture and hold at least a 51 percent ownership stake. The company must have been in operation at least five years and achieved Rp 10 billion to Rp 50 billion ($1 million to $5.5 million) in annual sales within the last two years. Applications are due on July 30.

Ten to 15 Indonesian women will be named Entrepreneurial Winning Women by the third week of September 2010.

Winners will participate in a customized program designed to expand their business acumen with the latest information, research and executive dialogues on strategies and best practices, identify potential partners, strategic alliances, customers and suppliers, as well as potential access to funding from among select venture capitalists.

Ernst & Young first launched the program in the United States in 2008. This year four more countries will be participating in the program: Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil and India.

For the local program, Ernst & Young collaborated with Globe Asia, a leading English-language business magazine in Indonesia; Femina Group, a major publishing company targeted toward women; and Delta FM, a radio broadcaster owned by Masima Contents & Channels. Globe Asia is a sister publication of the Jakarta Globe.

“Women entrepreneurs unfortunately face a lot of glass ceilings in this country and many countries around the world,” said SK Zainuddin, Globe Asia’s editor-in-chief. “It can be very difficult to break the glass ceiling.”

According to Jerry S Justianto, chief executive of Masima Contents & Channels, not all of Indonesian women’s businesses are profit-driven.

“Many are driven by concern for their surroundings,” he said. “They’re also very persistent in running their businesses while holding on to the traditional values. They’re actually making twice the effort of their male counterparts. We should support them so that they succeed.”

Svida Alisjahbana, the president director of Femina Group, said the women in the program were sure be an inspiration to others.

“This is in line with our vision to develop strong and independent Indonesian women that maintain their national identity,” Svida said.