Championing Indonesian Youth Entrepreneurship
Indonesia's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are a powerful force for the nation's economic engine. With an estimated 66 million businesses in operation, MSMEs contributed a significant 61% to Indonesia's GDP in 2023, a value of around IDR 9,580 trillion. These businesses are also major employers, providing jobs for roughly 117 million workers, which is 97% of Indonesia's total workforce, making their resurgence crucial for Indonesia's economy.
As the Chairman of Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia Jakarta Raya (HIPMI Jaya), Sona Maesana strives to uphold the integrity of HIPMI Jaya as an accelerator and driver for entrepreneurs to rise and thrive.
According to Sona, entrepreneurship is not only about personal pursuit. Greater income may be one of the reasons why someone wants to own a business, but from a bigger perspective, a business undoubtedly can contribute to the greater good. "By becoming entrepreneurs, we can create job opportunities for others and achieve better income," he stated.
From his previous experiences, Sona thinks that a business leader must have several necessary characteristics to succeed. They are perseverance, resilience, calculated risk-taking, and the ability to build networks. "A young entrepreneur must be persistent, not easily discouraged, brave enough to take risks but with careful calculation, and must build extensive networks," he explained, underscoring the importance of networking through various organizations and activities as the key to finding business opportunities.
With the change coming to Jakarta and Indonesia as a whole, a big hope awaits for Indonesia’s entrepreneurial landscape. Looking at what’s to come, Sona dreams of an increase in the number of entrepreneurs in Indonesia, noting that the current number is still small compared to developed countries. Additionally, he desires an improved ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Indonesia, with a smoother business environment and easier access to markets and funding.
"Dream big, but take the first steps, no matter how small, and act now, don't wait," Sona said, sharing his inspiring message for Indonesia’s bright young generation.