UNAIR NEWS Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri BA MSc visited 51动漫 (UNAIR) to deliver a public lecture titled Young Entrepreneurs for a Better Future of Indonesia. The event was held at Garuda Mukti Hall, Management Office, UNAIR MERR-C Campus on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The session also brought together students with entrepreneurial potential, business associations, and the Indonesian Franchise Association (AFI) in an interactive session.
MSME potential in modern and international retail
Putri noted that Indonesia檚 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for approximately 60 percent of the nation檚 gross domestic product. To support this sector, the Ministry of Trade has introduced several strategic initiatives. One key effort is business matching, which has connected MSMEs with both domestic and international retail partners. Domestically, MSME products entered retail chains such as Alfamart, Indomaret, and Paragon. Indonesian MSMEs expanded into networks including MAP and IKEA. 淲e have facilitated business matching for around 804 MSMEs with MAP Group, IKEA, Metro, and others, with 107 MSMEs successfully passing the curation process, Putri said.
As a follow-up strategy, the government strengthened trade diplomacy by establishing trade attach茅s in 33 countries. Indonesia also signed trade agreements with several countries, including New Zealand, Pakistan, and Russia, as well as with international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). These developments aligned with Indonesia檚 渇ree and active foreign policy, which enables broader international cooperation. In a closing statement, Putri emphasized that the government continues to listen to public needs and aspirations.
Open discussion with students
During the discussion session, students asked questions ranging from how to launch a first business to navigating entrepreneurship amid global geopolitical uncertainty. In response, Putri highlighted the importance of defining a clear purpose before starting a business. She also recommended the book Start with Why by Simon Sinek. Addressing the common tendency to overthink, she encouraged students to shift toward a positive mindset by taking small but consistent steps. 淧eople do not see how many times successful individuals failed before achieving success , Putri said.
On global geopolitical challenges, she explained that such uncertainty could present opportunities for Indonesia to strengthen its independence, particularly in food and energy resilience. She concluded by urging students not to compare themselves with others and to expand their networks.淪uccess is always within reach. It depends on how quickly we choose to pursue it, Putri concluded.
Author: Yongki Eka Cahya
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
