“The pandemic has negatively impacted the economy, but this is the right moment to make it a challenge, to begin in entrepreneurship,” the minister remarked during an online lecture and the opening of the 2022 Magelang Tidar University Student Entrepreneurship Week on Saturday.
This year marks 25 years since the Asian monetary crisis of 1997, the minister said. He recalled that he once lost his job and had to return to his parents' home because he was unable to pay rent.
Then, he gathered the courage to start a business with two partners out of a small room. After countless hardships, the company grew into a national-scale company employing 30 thousand workers.
He urged students to contribute to economic growth by creating micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He also suggested that they hone their skills in technology as well as utilize information for their good, not only for competition but also for collaboration.
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He opined that prospective entrepreneurs need to have some characteristics, for instance, they must be innovative, risk-takers, adaptive, as well as possess soft skills.
"Do not forget to work hard, work smart, work thoroughly, and work sincerely. Indonesia will rise and recover. Make sure Indonesia does not get left behind by other countries by contributing to the creative economy through MSMEs," he remarked.
Meanwhile, the rector of Magelang Tidar University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Mukh Arifin, MSc., said he expected the lecture to be beneficial for students.
"In this event, the theme is ‘Excellent in Entrepreneurship,’ which means that all students who are studying at Magelang Tidar University (are expected to) delve into entrepreneurship. At least the entrepreneurial tendencies are honed during the course of study at Magelang Tidar University," he remarked.
He said that students who learn about entrepreneurship through the event must share their experience and knowledge with others because they are still young and need experience and extra knowledge from practitioners, so that once they graduate, they would be ready to apply their knowledge.
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Translator: Heru Suyitno, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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