Tuesday, June 27, 2023 Department of Sharia Economics Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Airlangga (FEB UNAIR), together with the Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the Indonesian Islamic Economists Association (IAEI) East Java and the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of IAEI, held a National Seminar on Islamic Economics, for sharia economic experts who are members of IAEI, also from academics, students, practitioners, Regional Government, Lecturers, Study Program Coordinators, LAZ Practitioners, as a form of support for SDG's 4.
The seminar with the topic "Optimizing Indonesian MSME Businesses to Become Stronger and Globally Competitive", was held from the Fadjar Notonagoro Hall, 2nd floor of FEB UNAIR.

Present to give remarks: Dr. Iskandar Ritonga M.Ag. – Chairman of the IAEI East Java Regional Leadership Council; Erwin Indra Wijaya, SE., M.Ap. – Head of the KUMKM Training Unit (Representing the Head of the Cooperative and UMKM Office, East Java Province); and Prof. Dr. Dian Agustia, SE., MSi., Ak., CMA., CA – Dean of FEB UNAIR.
In his remarks, the Dean of FEB UNAIR expressed his pleasure in being able to gather through the National Islamic Economics Seminar held through a synergy between the DPW IAEI East Java together with the IAEI Central Leadership Council, because when connected with FEB UNAIR, FEB UNAIR has a Department of Sharia Economics, one of the 4 Departments in FEB UNAIR. Of the 4 Departments, FEB UNAIR has 13 Study Programs, where according to Prof. Dian Agustia, SE., Msi., Ak., CMA., CA. Islamic Economics has a very extraordinary development not only domestically but also abroad.
UNAIR not only has a vision in carrying out the mandate from the Ministry of Education and Culture-Research and Technology to compete at the global level, namely by carrying out the task of following the world ranking by QS World University Rankings, where UNAIR has a target to enter the top 500 of the world's best universities, and this year UNAIR can enter the ranking of 369 best universities in the world, as well as being the 3rd best in Indonesia (Latest UNAIR Ranking Achievement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuBLF1avkN3/ ). Meanwhile, By Subject, for Subject: Economics and Econometrics, FEB UNAIR managed to get a ranking of 201-250 in the World, and the best 1 (one) in Indonesia. This extraordinary achievement is certainly the result of support from the Department of Economics and the Department of Sharia Economics. This means that Islamic Economic Education is developing very extraordinarily both at the National and International levels.

According to Prof. Dr. Dian Agustia, SE., MSi., Ak., CMA., CA. who is also the National Board of AFEBI, which coordinates Online Learning (Special Commission for Online Learning in AFEBI), that the Association of Islamic Economists, is one of the professional organizations for Islamic economists, in addition to the Sharia Economic Community (MES), the Islamic Economics and Business Lecturer Forum (FORDEBI), then the role of this association is not only small, but will be extraordinary. The role of the Association will coexist with higher education in Indonesia. Because the curriculum in Higher Education must be able to support each other with the existence of professional associations. Higher education will not be able to run alone, because in practice and theoretical associations are implemented. As per the regulations in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, one of them is that in curriculum development must collaborate with professional associations.

Present as Keynote Speaker: Astera Primanto Bhakti – Secretary General of IAEI, Director General of Treasury of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. In his speech, Astera Primanto Bhakti conveyed the need to understand who MSMEs are, which is always debated. Then the need to pay attention to financial access for MSMEs where obstacles can be seen from two sides, from the banking side as well as from the MSME side itself,
Astera Primanto Bhakti added, at the global level, MSMEs need to see and utilize the existing demographic potential, so that they do not need to compete first at the global level (no need to force themselves to become exporters), but rather focus on how to access our own market, so that MSMEs need support in this regard. Therefore, it is our duty to know what their advantages are and what support is needed from MSMEs in East Java.

Astera Primanto Bhakti also reminded that the knowledge gap between practitioners and academics still exists, although it has been reduced somewhat with the MBKM programs. However, it remains a challenge for all of us. Furthermore, Astera Primanto Bhakti invited everyone present, especially those newly inaugurated, to reflect on the current dynamics.

In the seminar, the Inauguration of the East Java Commission of the Indonesian Islamic Economists Association (IAEI) for the 2023-2027 Period was also held: 1. Universitas Airlangga, 2. Al-Azhar Islamic Institute of Gresik, 3. Muhammadiyah Islamic Institute of Tulungagung; 4. UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim; 5. UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim; 6. Ibrahimy University Situbondo; 7. Ibrahimy University Situbondo; 8. Darussalam Islamic Institute Blok Agung Banyuwangi; 9. Idia Prenduan Sumenep Madura; 10. Mandala Institute of Technology and Science; 11. STAI AN Najah Mandiri; 12. Al Fithrah Islamic College of Surabaya; 13. Nahdlatul Ulama Islamic College of Madiun; 14. Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah State Islamic University; 15. Sayyid Ali Rahmatullah State Islamic University; 16. Muhammadiyah University of Malang; 16. Kediri Islamic Institute; 17. Kediri Islamic Institute.

Present as speakers and Moderators;
SESSION I:
1. Prof. Dr. Sri Herianingrum, SE., M.Sc. – Professor Universitas Airlangga
2. Dani Wildan – Division Head of Social Entrepreneurship & Incubation of PT. Bank BRI
3. Ananta Wiyogo – President Director of PT. Sarana Multigriya Financial, and
4. Dr. Binti Nur Asiyah, MSi. (DPW East Java) – Moderator
SESSION II:
1. Sigit Iko Sugondo – Practitioner of Community Empowerment, Regional Economy and Zizwaf Management
2. Dr. Sulistya Rusgianto, SE., MIF, Ph.D. – Moderator / Commissioner of IAEI Universitas Airlangga
SESSION III:
1. Prof. Dr. Raditya Sukmana, MA. – Head of Research and Scientific Development of DPP IAEI
2. Dr. Sulistya Rusgianto, SE., MIF, Ph.D. – Moderator / Commissioner of IAEI Universitas Airlangga
Hopefully through this National Islamic Economics Seminar, blessings from Allah SWT can be obtained, and the newly appointed IAEI Commissioners can carry out their mandate as well as possible until the end of their term.