UMY Expert Calls Diaspora Strengthening BUMN Expansion To Latin America

Expert in international relations at the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Ratih Herningtyas (Between)

YOGYAKARTA - International relations expert at the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Ratih Herningtyas views Indonesia's diaspora role as a strategic force to support the expansion of SOEs to non-traditional areas such as Latin America.

"The diaspora lives and interacts for a long time in a country, so they know firsthand the development in the country. The information they have can be part of a market penetration strategy for SOEs," said Ratih in a statement in Yogyakarta, Saturday.

Ratih assessed that the contribution of diaspora so far is still seen as limited to remittance, cultural promotion, or tourism.

In fact, he said, their capacity is much wider and relevant to contemporary economic diplomacy, especially when the government encourages the expansion of SOEs into non-traditional areas.

According to Ratih, the institutional approach alone is not enough because expansion requires social infrastructure that is able to open access and bridge local needs.

"Ekspansi itu akan menjadi mungkin jika ada infrastruktur yang melengkapi, termasuk siapa yang membuka akses dan siapa yang akan oiling the wheel dari proses kerja sama," ujar dia.

Ratih said diaspora has access to social, understanding culture, and micro knowledge related to local dynamics that are often not owned by the state's formal diplomatic structure.

In the framework of the "two-level game" he offers, diaspora acts as an actor at the lower level who can accelerate the opening of relations, build trust, and create long-term connections that support the country's strategic goals.

According to him, although the number of Indonesian diaspora in Latin America is relatively small, the population size is not the only factor determining the effectiveness of diplomacy.

Emotional closeness, social networks, and long-term relationships with the local community are important capital in building "people-to-people" relationships, which directly affect public perceptions and trust in Indonesia.