Overview

The four-day Indonesia Diaspora Festival 2021 concluded in South Jakarta with a clear message: Indonesia’s diaspora and returning migrants are essential partners in national development. Organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) at Piazza Mal Gandaria City, the festival offered an open, collaborative arena for Indonesian diaspora, returnee migrants, and Indonesian alumni from German universities to connect, co-create, and contribute to Indonesia’s future.

Celebrating 25 Years of Returnees and Diaspora Engagement

Carrying the theme “Celebrating 25 Years of Returnees and Diaspora Engagement in Indonesia,” this first-ever GIZ-hosted festival in Indonesia highlighted how knowledge transfer, networks, and entrepreneurship can accelerate inclusive growth. The event also served as a multi-stakeholder communication platform designed to elevate the role of diaspora communities in shaping policies, innovations, and market opportunities.

GIZ’s Migration and Diaspora Programme (PMD), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has supported Indonesia for 25 years. The programme focuses on ensuring migration generates positive outcomes—for individuals and for Indonesia’s development—by facilitating skills circulation, strengthening professional networks, and nurturing impact-driven enterprises.

A Strong Commitment from GIZ

Martin Hansen, Country Director of GIZ Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor-Leste, underscored that diaspora communities can catalyze meaningful change by mobilizing intellectual capital (ideas and innovation), social capital (networks, cooperation, and community), and economic capital. He reiterated the call to actively involve diaspora and returnees in national development agendas.

At the festival, GIZ showcased the work of 20 outstanding PMD alumni whose ventures span technology, creative arts, design, and local wisdom—each with potential to strengthen Indonesia’s economy. These entrepreneurs were selected through a sequence of trainings, workshops, and a business competition curated by GIZ to surface scalable, socially conscious solutions.

Makhdonal Anwar, Team Lead of GIZ’s Migration and Diaspora Programme in Indonesia, expressed gratitude for the participation of diaspora and Indonesian graduates from German universities, as well as for the public’s enthusiasm. He emphasized GIZ’s aspiration to continue attracting and empowering Indonesia’s top talent to innovate and build at home.

Entrepreneurship and Alumni Impact

Since 2014, the PMD entrepreneurship track has engaged 250 Indonesian alumni of German higher education institutions. Many have since grown their initiatives into thriving ventures and influential platforms across sectors—from architecture and engineering to culinary arts, education, and digital technology.

Among the featured alumni at the festival were:

• Agust Danang Ismoyo (Pavilion Sembilanlima)
• Stephanie Larassati (AT-LARS)
• Imannuel Manurung (Olah Kebaikan Bersama)
• Adam Pamma (Malikal Zentrum Institute)
• Widya Esthi Riany (Lula Pasta)
• Abriansyah (Gaya Bahasa Institut)
• Agesa Permadi (LOGOS)
• Nur Anindya Setiyaningsih (Mak Rah Pireng)
• Novita Dwi Saraswati (VIU Outfitters)
• Enggar Jati Priatiwi (Athlimah)
• Ahmad Risqi Meydiarso (Feedloop)

The event also welcomed contributions from Germany Indonesia Professionals (GIP), the German-alumni Entrepreneur Network (GEN), the Business Innovation Center (BIC), and the Goethe-Institut.

Alumni Voices

• Stephanie Larassati, Founder of Atelier Larassati (AT-LARS), highlighted how GIZ’s support has accelerated alumni-led businesses. Her architecture studio focuses on social and environmental impact, including rapid-response temporary structures for hospitals during the pandemic—work that has earned multiple accolades.
• Agust Danang Ismoyo, lighting specialist designer and co-founder of Pavilion Sembilanlima, credited GIZ trainings for helping his startup gain market traction. After seven years in Germany, he returned to Indonesia to translate advanced lighting design into architectural projects that contribute to better-built environments.

Looking Forward

In closing the festival, Makhdonal Anwar reaffirmed GIZ’s dedication to supporting Indonesian diaspora members and students in Germany, encouraging them to return, apply their expertise, and generate broad-based benefits for communities across Indonesia.

About GIZ

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a German federal enterprise operating worldwide. We support the German Government in international cooperation for sustainable development and are active in global education initiatives.

About GIZ in Indonesia

Active in the country since 1975, GIZ Indonesia collaborates across key areas including Climate Policy and Climate Finance, Economic Development, Social Protection and Employment, Energy Transition, Governance, Natural Resource Management, and Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. GIZ operates in Indonesia on behalf of BMZ, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the German Federal Foreign Office, and the European Union. The Jakarta office coordinates support to the Governments of the Republic of Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and ASEAN.

Writer: Aditya Wardhana