HIMMETALK 3.0: Leading Sustainability through MSME’s Globalization

Last Saturday (17/12/2022), Bina Nusantara University Business and Management Student Association (HIMME Binus) successfully held its third webinar, HIMMETALK 3.0. The online webinar was attended by nearly 500 Binus students who are interested in business development in Indonesia, especially regarding small and medium business actors.

Unlike the ‘small’ title that labels these businesses, the contribution of MSMEs cannot be underestimated, they are even referred to as ‘critical engines’ for the progress of the nation’s economy – by supplying up to 60% of GDP, absorbing up to 97% of the workforce, and covering up to 98% of national business actors.

Their large contribution has made MSMEs the focus of the government in achieving sustainability, especially in promoting community welfare through poverty alleviation, livelihood creation and economic growth. To achieve this goal, globalization brings great opportunities for MSMEs which are currently dominating the domestic market to expand their market through export-import to foreign markets. However, MSME actors are still faced with various challenges in the international market, one of which is low competitiveness.

Realizing the importance of MSMEs and the challenges they face in the global market, HIMME Binus brings “Leading Sustainability through MSME’s Globalization” as the theme for this webinar. As a labor-intensive industry with high flexibility and resistance, empowering the competitiveness of MSMEs in the international market is the key to create a competitive advantage for Indonesia’s business ecosystem in the era of globalization.

The event was opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Ir. Hardijanto Saroso, M.MT, M.M. as Dean of Binus Business School. Afterward, the explanation of the material was delivered by Najmi Mumtaza Rabbany as Chair of the Regional Leadership Council of the United Development Party (Chairman of the PPP DPW). The material described provides an overview of the opportunities, challenges, and strategies that MSMEs need to implement in facing the era of globalization and competing in the international export-import market. The material presentation was followed by a question-and-answer (Q&A) session which was attended by the students with great enthusiasm.

As a young politician with high concern for national economic development, the insights provided by Najmi as a speaker through material presentation and Q&A session were very fresh and easy to digest, even able to present a new perspective on the role of students as the younger generation to accelerate the achievement of MSME globalization goals. This webinar provides a real and practical picture for students to apply the theory they have learned in class in addressing real issues in the real Indonesian business environment.

With this success, HIMME Talk will return again with material that is relevant and strategic for business development in Indonesia.