UNAIR NEWS – The Faculty of Humanities UNAIR ambassadors collaborate with Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Surabaya for a joint broadcast on Monday, February 19, 2024. Exploring “Surabaya’s economy post-independence”, they also invite the Faculty of Economics and Business ambassadors as the speakers for a broader perspective.
Ilham Baskoro, the Head of FIB Ambassadors and the initiator, stated that the broadcast is part of an ongoing program with the Begandring Soerabaia community to delve deeper into the history of Surabaya.
In this broadcast, the four representatives from FIB and FEB Ambassadors discuss a rarely explored crucial historical period—the revival of Surabaya’s economy after the intense Indonesian War of Independence. The discussion covers the theme comprehensively, with each speaker contributing from their expertise, divided into historical perspectives and economic theory.
As a speaker from FEB Ambassadors UNAIR, Dhio highlights that Surabaya is a city with enormous economic potential. This significant potential is one of the reasons why Surabaya ranks as the second-largest metropolitan area in Indonesia.
“Surabaya is a city with a rapidly growing economic hub. It serves as a trade gateway in the eastern region of Indonesia. This factor contributes to Surabaya having a multitude of diverse industries, businesses, and employment opportunities. These potentials are the strengths behind Surabaya’s recovery after its devastation during the War of Independence,” he said.
Aurel, FIB ambassador stated that Surabaya has faced a significant economic transformation post-independence. “It happened in two periods, namely the parliamentary democracy era from 1950-1959 and the guided democracy era from 1959-1966. Both had policies that played a crucial role in the development of Surabaya,” she said.
Athaya, as the FIB Ambassador, added that the policy of transforming the colonial economy into a national economy during the parliamentary democracy era led to the nationalization of many Dutch companies in Surabaya. It aims to stimulate the economic growth of the indigenous population.
During the guided democracy era, Indira stated that the presence of the lighthouse project also led to rapid development of buildings and infrastructure in Surabaya. Unfortunately, this project was too extravagant and caused inflation.
Responding to the statement, Indira, FEB Ambassador, emphasized that economic issues teach us to make the best decisions by considering various options, as economic problems impact social, cultural, and political aspects. Determining economic policies can be the key to the progress or downfall of this nation.
Ilham hopes this program’s success inspires other student organizations to collaborate, serving as a source of inspiration for ambassadors to progress and actively share knowledge across faculties. ”I hope this collaboration can inspire other ambassador associations to progress and be active in various opportunities, especially in sharing knowledge according to the scientific disciplines of each faculty,” he said.
Author: Aidatul Fitriyah
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
