REMARKS – Dean, Faculty of Humanities BINUS University

It is with great honour and sincere appreciation that we welcome all participants to the 14th International Conference on Business, International Relations, and Diplomacy (ICOBIRD) 2025. Held under the theme “Geopolitical & Geoeconomic Risks: Strategies for Sustainability in the Uncertain World”, this annual gathering continues to serve as a vital platform for academic exchange, policy dialogue, and collaborative innovation across disciplines and sectors.

We convene at a time of intensifying uncertainty in the global order. The vision of a stable, cooperative post-pandemic recovery has been overshadowed by the resurgence of geopolitical rivalry, economic nationalism, climate emergencies, and humanitarian crises. The escalating tariff war launched by the United States in early 2025 has further disrupted already fragile global supply chains, testing the resilience of trade diplomacy. Meanwhile, the prolonged Russia–Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, continues to destabilize energy markets and regional security in Europe, with ripple effects felt across the global economy.

Equally pressing is the ongoing and deeply tragic occupation of Palestine, where the human cost of war and systemic injustice underscores the limits of global governance and the persistent failure of international institutions to safeguard the fundamental rights of people under occupation.

These developments point to deeper fractures within the global system. Multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the WTO, and the IMF struggle to respond effectively—often constrained by outdated structures that fail to address the complexities and demands of the present era. Institutional reform is urgently needed so that these platforms may truly embody inclusive, equitable, and representative cooperation.

The future demands a departure from narrow, transactional diplomacy and economic protectionism. Instead, we must advance an ethical form of globalization that promotes fair trade, fosters green and just supply chains, and strengthens regional integration—not as a means of isolation, but as a strategy for empowerment. Trade and economic growth should serve as instruments of inclusion rather than inequality.

Environmental degradation has also emerged as a defining challenge of our time. The past year alone has seen catastrophic wildfires, historic floods, prolonged droughts, and rising sea levels—events that are not isolated anomalies but clear indicators of a global system in distress. Addressing the climate crisis and its impacts on human security, particularly for displaced and vulnerable populations, must become central to the international policy agenda. Climate diplomacy, environmental justice, and the protection of civilian rights—especially in occupied or conflict-ridden regions—must take priority.

In navigating these multidimensional crises, global partnerships must be grounded in mutual accountability, local empowerment, and long-term sustainability. Innovative frameworks, such as the Quintuple Helix Model—bringing together government, academia, business, civil society, and environmental stewardship—offer promising pathways for collaborative knowledge creation, policy development, and sustainable transformation.

ICOBIRD 2025 stands as a crucial platform for advancing these goals. More than an academic event, it is a space to critically engage, share diverse perspectives, and develop policy ideas that reflect both intellectual rigor and moral responsibility. This conference aspires to serve as a hub of transformative knowledge from the Global South—fostering collective solutions, global solidarity, and renewed trust in international cooperation.

In closing, we extend our deepest gratitude to the keynote speakers, distinguished guests, presenters, and participants whose contributions make this conference possible. Special thanks are owed to the ICOBIRD 2025 Organizing Committee for their dedication and professionalism.

May this conference be more than a discussion; may it stand as a declaration of our shared commitment to justice, sustainability, and peace in an uncertain world.

Thank you

Dr. Elisa Carolina Marion, S.S., M.Si.
Dean,  Faculty of Humanities BINUS University