The Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the Indonesian Islamic Economists Association (IAEI) of East Java together with the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of IAEI and the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Airlangga held a National Seminar on Islamic Economics on Tuesday (27/06) at Fadjar Hall FEB Universitas Airlangga. The seminar, which was attended by no less than 100 participants, came from various circles, academics, practitioners, and business people in the East Java region. Through the theme "Optimising Indonesian MSME Businesses to Become Stronger and Globally Competitive", it is expected to encourage more resilient MSME business activities and expansively penetrate the global market through more competitive product innovation.
The national seminar was opened with a keynote speech by the Secretary General of IAEI who is also the Director General of Treasury of the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Mr Astera Primanto Bhakti, in his presentation, Astera outlined the challenges, opportunities and important role of MSMEs as the backbone of the national economy. Among the challenges are capital including limited access to information, literacy, and education, therefore the government provides support through MSME empowerment programmes, one of which is financial service facilities such as Ultra Micro Financing (UMi) to Micro Business Credit (KUR).
"There are still many opportunities that can be optimised by MSME entrepreneurs with the large population of Indonesia that can further open access to markets both within Indonesia and abroad. " said Astera Primanto Bhakti.
The event was also attended by the Dean of FEB Universitas Airlangga, Prof. Dr. Dian Agustia, SE, M.Si, Ak, CMA, CA, who in her speech explained the development of Islamic economics in the academic realm and its development globally, especially at Universitas Airlangga, one of which is through synergy with the association. Meanwhile, Mr. Erwin Indra Widjaja, S.E., M.AP. from the Department of Cooperatives and MSMEs of East Java Province conveyed the programmes and services provided by the department to facilitate MSME players in East Java.
The event continued with a panel session that presented three speakers from the practitioner element by Mr Ananta Wiyogo (President Director of PT Sarana Multigriya Finansial) and Mr Doni Wildan (Division Head Social Entrepreneurship & Incubation PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia), as well as Prof. Dr. Sri Herianingrum, S.E., M.Si. (Professor of Airlangga University) from the academic element. Ananta in his presentation shared various Homestay Financing development projects in tourist areas to improve their economic level. Dani Wildan explained BRI's commitment in supporting MSMEs and micro businesses through financing programmes and financial service facilities to remote villages. Meanwhile, Prof Dr Sri Herianingrum explained financial services from a sharia perspective through sharia microfinance institutions.
On the sidelines of a series of seminar activities, the Secretary General of IAEI inaugurated 10 (ten) commissariats in the coordination area of DPW IAEI East Java including Airlangga University as the host. This inauguration activity began with the reading of the decision letter delivered by Mr Dr Wahyu Jatmiko as the Executive Secretary of IAEI.
