The Power of Youth: Catalysts for Global Transformation became the title of the International Relations Edufest 2025, where Dr. Jerry Sambuaga, former Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia, was invited as a distinguished speaker. Held on May 2nd 2025, the seminar attracted enthusiastic participation from students of President University and other universities. In his opening remarks, Dr. Sambuaga emphasized the importance of such platforms in fostering youth engagement beyond classroom learning, providing students with the opportunity to contribute to broader national and global discussions.

His presentation centered on Indonesia’s economic resilience amidst global uncertainties. He highlighted the nation’s impressive trade performance, with a surplus of USD 31 billion in 2024 and over 50 consecutive months of positive trade balance. Despite concerns about the weakening rupiah, he reassured the audience of the country’s robust economic fundamentals, supported by innovations like QRIS, which enhance financial sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign currencies.

Addressing Indonesia’s trade challenges, Dr. Sambuaga acknowledged the nation’s reliance on commodity exports but stressed the government's commitment to downstream processing to boost value-added exports. He also noted the success of Indonesia’s trade diplomacy, with 38 trade agreements secured across five continents. These efforts reflect Indonesia’s proactive role in international cooperation and its strategy to diversify markets and reduce tariff barriers.

President University reaffirms its commitment to nurturing globally-minded, adaptable, and engaged students by continuing to provide platforms like Edufest, where youth voices are not only heard but also empowered to drive real change. (Rachel V, PR Team. Photo: PUMA IR)