In commemoration of the 62nd Anniversary of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Diponegoro University (Undip) successfully held an Open Senate Meeting and Scientific Oration with the theme Strategy for Strengthening MSMEs and Cooperatives in the Pandemic Period as the Economic Backbone of Central Java, Monday (14/03) ) at 09.00 WIB. The event was held offline at the FEB Entrepreneurship Building Hall, Undip Tembalang campus and online through the Zoom meeting platform.

The event was attended by the Undip Chancellor, Deputy Chancellors, Chair of the Undip Academic Senate, Chair of the Board of Trustees, FEB Dean, Chair of the FEB Academic Senate, Deputy Deans, Head of Department Head of Study Programs and Secretary of Study Programs within FEB, Deans and Deputy Deans within Undip . Also attended by the Deputy Governor of Central Java H. Taj Yasin Maimoen, the Leaders of FEB Undip Partner Banks, the Chair of IKAFE Undip, and FEB Undip Alumni.

In his remarks, Undip Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yos Johan Utama, SH, M. Hum., congratulated the Undip Faculty of Economics and Business on the 62nd Anniversary. “I congratulate you and let us unite to improve the quality of FEB Undip. God willing, this will also have an impact on improving welfare.” he said.

Prof. Yos revealed that FEB Undip has produced many great alumni who are beneficial to the community and have been recognized internationally. “FEB Undip from the early 60s until now has produced many people who are very useful for Indonesian citizens and even people in the world. FEB Undip has produced a wide variety of renewable knowledge. This achievement has been recognized by the world, it is proven that FEB Undip with its study programs has been internationally accredited by FIBAA, and I am sure it will continue to improve.” he explained.

More Prof. Yos advised to continue to prioritize integrity in facing every challenge. “We prioritize integrity every time we face such things. It will set or direct our intentions. Integrity will govern us, govern our rights and powers, also govern our goals and the ways in which those goals will be achieved.” concluded Prof. Yos.

“My best prayer for FEB Undip and the academic community of FEB Undip is that in the future FEB Undip will be a bright light in the field of economics and business, not only at the national and regional level but also at the international level. And able to produce graduates who can become uswatun hasanah, role models in every activity that has high integrity.” continued Prof. Yos.

While in his presentation the Deputy Governor of Central Java H. Taj Yasin Maimoen conveyed the Strategy for Strengthening MSMEs and Cooperatives in the Pandemic Period as the Economic Backbone of Central Java. “MSMEs are one of the biggest supporters of economic growth during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Taj Yasin explained.

Data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises in 2021 noted that the number of business sectors reached 64.19 million with a participation of 61.97% of GDP, which is 8.6 trillion MSME contributions to the Indonesian economy. These MSMEs can grow to absorb 97% of the total workforce and can also collect 60.4% of the total investment.

“Meanwhile in Central Java alone in the 4th quarter of 2021 there were 173,431 MSMEs with details of employment as many as 1,331,015 people, which we know during the Covid-19 pandemic many people got laid off, but in MSMEs there is growth in energy absorption.” said Taj Yasin.

According to Taj Yasin, the existence of students who were still doing online learning in their respective regions was one of the driving forces for the rise of the regional economy. “With students, especially students who have vocational economics, of course they have different views so that in the end many trainings are initiated by students, I’m sure there are also many Undip students majoring in economics training the community. How to push it should be managed like this, it should be packaged like this, and in the end of course it has its own market share.” he explained.

On this basis, the government subsequently issued several policies to support the re-growth of MSMEs, including the National Economic Recovery (PEN) policy, providing grants for budding entrepreneurs, increasing LPDB Cooperatives and MSME funds, cheap loans for MSMEs through KUR credit. “Not only that, we are also preparing MSMEs to be able to compete in the domestic market and even to the international market and this is our challenge.” said Taj Yasin.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taj Yasin invited the public to change their mindset in viewing the pandemic as a disaster, but to make it a lesson for the community. The current home industry MSME players can compete with large industries by taking advantage of the international market.

Human resource development has also been carried out through various kinds of training and technical guidance. This is expected to increase the ability and knowledge of MSME actors related to product branding, making product designs, and promoting products with good storytelling.

“We also do virtual marketing through the UKM Virtual Expo or what we call UVO. We also cooperate with several e-commerce. Promotions through our Gojek start-up can earn a turnover of 2.5 billion, besides that UVO can earn 4.8 billion. This means that these MSME actors, especially in Central Java, are actually ready, we just need to accompany them. We also have a marketplace that we call Sadewa Market, we also build for Central Java MSME superior products.” Taj Yasin explained.

In addition to MSMEs, cooperatives are also one of the drivers of national development. In Indonesia, cooperatives have become important institutions and have a long history. The founding fathers of the nation had a strong belief that the Indonesian economy would progress if it was structured as a joint effort with the principle of kinship. This makes Cooperatives undeniable as a strategic partner of the government in moving the nation’s development to achieve community welfare.

“In Central Java as of 2021, the number of cooperatives will reach 20,777 cooperatives, consisting of 10,770 inactive cooperatives and 10,000 active cooperatives with a turnover value of 54 trillion and a turnover of 47.3 trillion with 7,999,000 members. This means that we also need to encourage cooperatives.” said Taj Yasin.

At the macro level, cooperatives can contribute to increasing GDP, creating jobs, reducing unemployment, maintaining price stability, and maintaining inflation, which in turn can help reduce poverty.

Furthermore, Taj Yasin advised the students to always think creatively and innovatively in order to be able to open their own business opportunities. “We need young people, not just young people who study at the faculty to impart their knowledge, but young people who have innovation, have skills. I hope that FEB Undip will equip our students to be creative and innovative so that they can open up business opportunities.” concluded Taj Yasin.

Source: Universitas Diponegoro