(FEB NEWS) Surabaya, Wednesday, December 10, 2025 — The Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Airlangga in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga (IKAFE UNAIR), held a community service activity in the form of a seminar for 150 MSMEs from Surabaya and various regions in East Java. This seminar was intended as part of the East Java MSME Development program with the theme "Development of Mentored MSMEs from the Legal, Marketing, and Product Aspects." The activity took place in the Soepoyo Hall, FEB UNAIR.
In his remarks, Dr. Zakik Basalamah, SE., M.Si., as the General Secretary of IKAFE UNAIR and Deputy Chairman of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), emphasized that MSMEs are the backbone of the East Java and Indonesian economy. He emphasized that although MSMEs have proven to be an economic buffer in various crisis situations, micro-business actors still face recurring problems such as production capacity, capital, marketing, and legality. Therefore, IKAFE UNAIR is committed to providing a coaching space that is not only theoretical, but also presents real solutions, including plans to present successful MSMEs as benchmarks for participants so they can learn from good practices that have been proven successful. Dr. Zakik also encouraged MSMEs to continue developing business literacy, strengthening product identity, and fostering independence without relying on subsidies, so they can move up in class sustainably.
Meanwhile, Prof. Rudi Purwono, SE., MSE., Dean of FEB UNAIR, reiterated the significant contribution of MSMEs to the national economy, including their role in absorbing more than 99 percent of the workforce and contributing almost 60 percent to national output. Prof. Rudi emphasized that strengthening MSMEs is a strategic step amidst increasingly complex global economic challenges and geopolitical dynamics. He also highlighted the role of UNAIR which now carries a vision as an Entrepreneur University, where the campus is committed to building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaboration between academics, alumni, and MSME actors. Prof. Rudi also encouraged MSMEs to share real experiences with FEB UNAIR students as authentic entrepreneurial learning, so that the younger generation will dare to build businesses and dive directly into the world of entrepreneurship independently and competitively.
This seminar presents four main speakers with a focus on developing MSMEs from various perspectives:
- Dr. Zakik Basalamah, SE., M.Si. – Deputy Chairman of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN)
Discussed the role of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) in supporting the development of MSMEs through partnerships, business networks, and ongoing development. - Rofiul Masyhudi – BPJS Employment
Theme: “Businesses May Be Small, Protection Must Be Large through BPJS Employment”
Providing socialization of employment social security programs and benefits for MSMEs. - Prof. Dr. Tika Widiastuti, SE., M.Si. – Vice Dean I of FEB UNAIR
Theme: “UMKM Development Program with FEB UNAIR Alumni Brings Impact on Increasing Family Income”
Explains how the synergy between alumni and faculty is able to encourage MSMEs to move up a class through structured mentoring and access to business development. - Ida Suryati
delivered material on Practical Guidelines for Product Labels and Packaging for MSMEs, as well as the importance of product display quality in increasing competitiveness in the market.
Through this seminar, IKAFE UNAIR and FEB UNAIR hope to make a real contribution to MSMEs in East Java through regular coaching, training, expanding access to financing, improving production quality, and developing more effective marketing strategies. This program is part of an ongoing commitment to encouraging MSMEs to become more independent, innovative, and competitive, thereby strengthening regional economic growth.
"Hopefully, this activity will be the first step towards more systematic and sustainable development of MSMEs in the future," said the committee at the closing ceremony.