REMARKS – Vice Rector – Research and Technology Transfer BINUS University

Distinguished guests, respected colleagues, and dear friends,

It is my privilege to welcome all of you to BINUS University for the International Conference on Business, International Relations, and Diplomacy — ICOBIRD 2025. This annual gathering is more than an academic event; it is a space where minds from across disciplines and across the globe converge to address some of the most pressing challenges of our era.

The title of our conference — “Geopolitical & Geoeconomic Risks: Strategies for Sustainability in the Uncertain World” — reflects not only a timely academic inquiry, but a lived reality for nations, businesses, and communities alike. Around us, the contours of the global political economy are shifting in ways that are as disruptive as they are transformative.

We meet at a time when the world is adjusting to renewed tariff wars, including the recent escalation of trade measures between the United States and major Asian economies. We are witnessing intensified competition over critical minerals essential to the green energy transition, the expansion of BRICS+ as an alternative economic architecture, and the strategic recalibration of supply chains to reduce overdependence on single markets. In parallel, conflicts in various regions — from Eastern Europe to the Middle East — continue to reverberate through energy prices, food security, and humanitarian systems.

At the same time, climate-related disasters are testing the resilience of economies, artificial intelligence is challenging existing labor and governance structures, and the so-called “weaponization of finance” — through sanctions, currency policies, and debt leverage — is redefining the boundaries between economic tools and political power.

In such a context, we cannot afford to approach these issues in silos. The essence of ICOBIRD is to bring together scholars, policymakers, industry experts, and practitioners in an environment that encourages cross-sector dialogue. The conversations we have here will not be purely theoretical — they will be rooted in lived realities, informed by data, and driven by a shared commitment to finding actionable solutions for a world that is increasingly unpredictable.

At BINUS University, we embrace complexity as an opportunity for learning, adaptation, and collaboration. We see this conference not as an endpoint, but as part of a continuous journey — one where research, policy, and practice are interwoven to foster sustainable growth and resilient societies.

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the organizing committee for their dedication, to our distinguished speakers for sharing their expertise, and to every participant here for contributing your time and intellect to this important dialogue.

Let us engage with open minds and critical spirits. May the exchanges that begin in these rooms ripple outward, shaping not only academic discourse but also the policies, business strategies, and diplomatic engagements that will define our shared future.

Welcome to ICOBIRD 2025. May the discussions here inspire collaborations that extend well beyond this conference.

Thank you.

Prof. Dr. Juneman Abraham, S.Psi., M.Si.
Vice Rector – Research & Technology Transfer, BINUS University