Dr. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf Visits Bali Ahead of APAC Summit on World Expo Osaka 2025

Last week, Dr. Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, President and Founder of Nuraa Women’s Institute, conducted a working visit to Bali in preparation for the upcoming APAC Summit, scheduled to take place during the World Expo Osaka from May 28 to 30, 2025. This initiative underscores Dr. Assegaf’s ongoing commitment to empowering local businesses and supporting inclusive economic growth across the region.

During her visit, Dr. Assegaf was accompanied by several key officers from Muhammadiyah, one of Indonesia’s largest socio-religious organizations. Together, they engaged with local entrepreneurs and visited a number of small enterprises in both urban and rural areas of Bali. These businesses, many of which are women-led or family-run, represent the vibrant and resilient spirit of Indonesia’s SME sector.

The visit aimed not only to assess the readiness of selected enterprises for potential exposure at the Asia Pacific Conference, but also to listen directly to the challenges and aspirations of small business owners. Dr. Assegaf emphasized the importance of giving local entrepreneurs a global platform to showcase their innovations, crafts, and services.

“Our SMEs are not just the backbone of the national economy—they are the pulse of our communities,” Dr. Assegaf remarked during one of the site visits. “By connecting them with broader regional networks, we’re helping to unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth and cross-border collaboration.”

The Asia Pacific Conference on SMEs is expected to bring together government officials, business leaders, civil society actors, and development partners from across the region to exchange ideas and strategies on SME empowerment, innovation, and resilience—especially in the face of global economic shifts.

Dr. Assegaf’s Bali visit marks an important step in ensuring that Indonesia’s local enterprises are well-represented and supported at this high-level forum. Through the collaborative efforts of institutions like Nuraa Women’s Institute and Muhammadiyah, the journey toward inclusive and sustainable economic development continues with strength and vision.