The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UKM) has pledged to guide and collaborate with the Overseas Indonesian Students’ Association Alliance (OISAA) to boost export numbers, aligning with the objective of nurturing a new generation of export leaders. During a recent meeting with the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, OISAA Coordinator Hamzah Lubis emphasized, "The primary focus is to empower the network of 65 OISAA chapters and 80,000 Indonesian students abroad through the OISAA Export Ambassador Program (Export School, Trade Talks, and more)." Addressing concerns raised by the OISAA Coordinator and alumni regarding the absorption of diaspora potential by foreign companies, Minister Teten Masduki highlighted the necessity for export-related training. Emphasis was placed on optimizing export priorities for effective logistics and efficient market penetration.
Highlighting the existence of trading houses in Switzerland under the Free Trade Agreement, Kemenkop UKM discussed both conventional and online market strategies. Previous ties with Australia were brief, yet potential commodities like coffee and home decorations were identified. Kemenkop UKM conveyed a message to students to focus on consumer goods and foreign market needs, stressing the importance of clarity in determining the sectors OISAA chooses to develop in the export process. Furthermore, Teten Masduki and the ministry encouraged students to gain international experience before contributing to Indonesia upon their return. "Learn from major global corporations and hopefully bring that knowledge back to Indonesia to enhance domestic production." Short-term plans proposed by Kemenkop UKM involve training sessions and mapping foreign needs for Indonesian students abroad. The Minister also urged Indonesian students abroad to leverage markets in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand through local e-commerce platforms to sell domestic products as a strategic move. Moreover, it was revealed that Kemenkop UKM already has a trading house in Guangzhou, China, strengthening Indonesia's presence in international trade.
