Entrepreneurship Webinar: Creative Economy and Empowerment of Indonesia’s Migrant Workers during Covid-19 Pandemic through Entrepreneurial Movement
Hana Fajria –FEB UI Public Relations Officer
DEPOK – The UKM Center (UKMC) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and BPLN Bara JP-HKG, held an entrepreneurship webinar entitled “Creative Economy and the Empowerment of Indonesian Migrant Workers during the Covid-19 Pandemic through Entrepreneurial Movement” on Sunday (26/7/2020). The webinar was attended by 70 participants.
The keynote speaker at the event was Teten Masduki, Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises. The speakers were Dr. Nining Indroyono Soesilo, M.A, UKMC FEB UI, Kang Aziz, a local entrepreneur, Prof. Ir. Ambar Pertiwiningrum, S.Pt., M.Sc., IPM, ASEAN.Eng, professor at Gadjah Mada University, Maizidah Salas, former migran worker and migrant worker activist/Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) and pioneer of the Village of Migrant Workers. The event was moderated and hosted by Arieke Sumba, SAP, representative of the PMI-KRPI Alpha Team the Netherlands, and Laeli Putri, representative of PMI-KRPI Alpha Team Hong Kong.
The first session encouraged Indonesian migrant workers to become entrepreneurs and to give up their overseas employment to produce better results for their immediate community. Kang Aziz, the first presenter, proposed entrepreneurship training for migrant workers before they leave for overseas jobs, as well as creating a business plan and market access, establishing or building networks.
Nining Soesilo, the second speaker, encouraged entrepreneurs to be more enthusiastic and learn more from the examples of successful people so that they acquire more knowledge (aspirations) not only from theories but also from practice.
Maizidah Salas responded to the speakers ‘presentation by elaborating on her success in establishing the Village of Migrant Workers.
Meanwhile, Teten Masduki talked about the procedures for and implementation of the program to establish enterprises that are accommodated by the government so that former migrant workers fully understand the steps that must be taken to start a business. The government also prepared business opportunities for migrant workers so that they don’t have to return to their overseas jobs. While working abroad, migrants can invest their money by starting a business. They can build food cooperatives in villages and invest in regional development (micro hydro). Teten mentioned two big ideas, namely, for the government to facilitate the sale of domestic MSME products abroad by utilizing the diaspora network and Garuda Indonesia’s services.
“We have to be an intelligent market to start a business. We have provided entrepreneurship training and access to capital financing. It is necessary to plan in advance and prepare business capital, starting with what you have. Entrepreneurship is about what you do, not what you think. First, look at what other people need, serve smartly and humbly. Find ideas and execute them, and be prepared for life’s ups and downs but keep trying,” said Teten.
Ambar Pertiwiningrum ended the session by talking about the empowerment of Indonesian migrant workers through local resources-based entrepreneurship education to strengthen migrant workers in all aspects of their life.
Keep the entrepreneurship spirit and determination, strengthen networks, believe in ourselves, Ambar concluded. (hjtp)
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