Malang, May 21–24, 2025 — The Department of Strategic Studies and Action of the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga (FEB UNAIR) successfully participated in the 1st Congress of the Indonesian Economics Student Forum (FMEI) held at Brawijaya University. Carrying the main theme "Capital Escape in a New Direction: The Reality of Foreign Investment Amidst the Uncertainty of Economic Transition Policies in Indonesia," this event took place for four days, from May 21 to 24, 2025.

FMEI is a national forum that brings together student executive boards (BEM) from various faculties of economics across Indonesia to act as initiators and catalysts for change in the economic sector. The congress, attended by 18 FMEI member universities, collaborated on strategic issues, data processing, and policy recommendations for stakeholders.

In the forum, Universitas Airlangga successfully proposed and won the theme that was chosen as the Grand Theme of the 2025 FMEI 1st Congress. From this theme, FEB UNAIR produced two strategic research works:

• A minor study entitled "Elections Change, Profits Shift: Leadership Change Becomes a Rollercoaster for Indonesia's Investment Climate"
• Major's study entitled "Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Inhibitors of Foreign Investment in Indonesia: Perspectives of Human Resource Capability, Governance, and Infrastructure Readiness"

Both studies have been presented to relevant policy makers as a form of students' intellectual contribution to the national economic transition process.

In addition, two delegates from FEB UNAIR received important mandates as national presidium:

• Muhammad Amirul Ihsan (KASTRAT Department) was elected as the National Presidium of Kastrat
• Althaf Rijaldy (Department of External Relations) was elected as the National External Presidium

The First FMEI Congress is expected to foster collaboration among economics students from various universities as part of an intellectual partnership for national development. This demonstrates Universitas Airlangga FEB commitment to continue being a driver of change by presenting strategic ideas and fostering awareness of Indonesian economic issues.