September 26, 2024, the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta took part in an International Collaboration on the Community Service Program, themed Empowering Exporters and SEMEs: Gayo Coffee in Supply Chain Building, Product Quality, and Branding for the Global Market. The event, hosted in the main hall of the Bener Meriah Regent Office, focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Gayo coffee entrepreneurs in global markets.

This international community service initiative attracted around 20 local coffee entrepreneurs from Bener Meriah, aiming to strengthen their businesses through improved supply chain management, product quality, and branding strategies. The program was officially opened by Acting Regent of Bener Meriah, Ir. Mohd Tanwier, MM, with representatives from Bank Aceh Lhokseumawe and the Head of Lhokseumawe Customs also in attendance, underscoring the importance of export development in the region.

The International Collaboration Program was the result of a joint effort between Universitas Malikussaleh, Universitas Teknologi Malaysia, and the Indonesian Alliance of Management and Business Study Programs (APSMBI). Representing FEB UIN Jakarta, Ali Rama, PhD, and Murdiyah Hayati, S.Kom., MM, actively contributed to the program by sharing their research insights.

Ali Rama and Murdiyah Hayati presented research titled The Role of Social Enterprises in Empowering Gayo Coffee SMEs: A Path to Community-Based Economic Prosperity, analyzing how social enterprises like cooperatives can enhance the economic wellbeing of Gayo coffee entrepreneurs. He emphasized the crucial role these organizations play in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.

Murdiyah Hayati, S.Kom., MM, a faculty member of FEB UIN Jakarta and an active member of APSMBI, highlighted that this international program is part of a series of events linked to the APSMBI Congress held at Universitas Malikussaleh in Lhokseumawe. She pointed out the importance of collaborative efforts to uplift local entrepreneurs and align with the broader mission of empowering small businesses, particularly in sectors as vital as Gayo coffee production.

This collaborative initiative not only strengthens academic and institutional partnerships across Indonesia and Malaysia but also significantly contributes to the economic empowerment of local communities in Bener Meriah through research-driven solutions and community engagement.