Details
Speaker: Dr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, former Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Indonesia)
Title of Talk: The future of small businesses in a protectionist world order: Indonesia’s approach by Dr. Sandiaga Uno
Date, Time: Monday, 23 June, 3:00PM – 4:30PM
Venue: Conference Hall, Penang Institute
Moderator: Dato’ Dr. Ooi Kee Beng
Registration: Register on Eventbrite
Abstract
As global trade becomes increasingly protectionist, micro, small, and medium enterprises (Usaha Mikro, Kecil, dan Menengah or UMKM) face new challenges and opportunities. In this talk, Dr. Sandiaga Uno, former Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, outlines Indonesia’s approach to strengthening UMKM through policy innovation, digital transformation, and regional trade diplomacy. He will share how Indonesia is positioning its UMKM sector to thrive in a shifting global landscape while promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
About the Speaker
Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno is a prominent Indonesian businessman and politician, actively involved in the country’s business communities. He served as the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia during the 2020–2024 term.
Since 2005, Sandiaga has empowered young entrepreneurs by supporting small and medium enterprises with microloans and leading several notable associations and foundations. In 2016, he founded OK OCE, a social movement focused on job creation through entrepreneurship training and mentoring.
Sandiaga joined the Gerindra Party in 2015 as a Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, bringing significant momentum to the party. He served as Jakarta’s Deputy Governor in 2017, though resigned in 2018 to run as Prabowo Subianto’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2019 election. After rejoining Gerindra in 2019, Sandiaga later transitioned to the United Development Party (PPP) in June 2023.
About the Moderator
Dato’ Dr Ooi Kee Beng (黄基明博士) has been studying the process of nation-building in Asia and analyzing Malaysian politics over the last three decades. He was appointed Executive Director of Penang Institute in 2017.
He received his Ph.D. in Sinology from Stockholm University, Sweden. Before returning to the region, he worked at Ericsson Electronics in Sweden for 22 years during the heyday of that company’s mobile phone era, while studying in Stockholm University. Courses that he taught at Stockholm included Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy and General Knowledge of China.
His major academic interests were in Language Philosophy and Ancient Chinese Political and Strategic Thinking. He joined Singapore’s Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (now ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) in 2004, becoming its Deputy Director from 2011 to 2017. He writes regular opinion pieces for regional and global mass media on Malaysian matters and regional matters. These have been compiled in seven separate volumes. Many of these works can be accessed at (www.wikibeng.com). He was Visiting Associate Professor at the City University of Hong Kong (2009-2012); Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore’s Department of Southeast Asian Studies (2009-2011); He is the Founder-Editor of Penang Monthly and ISSUES (Penang Institute) and ISEAS Perspective (ISEAS). He is also Series Editor for Trends in Southeast Asia (ISEAS).