Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) - Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for East Nusa Tenggara Province Bobby Lianto, expressed his appreciation for the support of the academic community, which has played an important role in assisting the business sector particularly in preparing high-quality graduates who now work in various companies affiliated with Kadin across the province.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) initiated by Prof. Jefri Bale, Vice Rector IV for Partnerships at Nusa Cendana University, has led to several mutually beneficial forms of collaboration.

As part of the MoU, Kadin NTT will regularly be invited to deliver guest lectures at Nusa Cendana University, while academics from the university will also provide expert input and serve as speakers in various Kadin activities across the province.

“Through the research conducted by Prof. Jefri and his team, several impactful business collaborations have emerged that have benefited Kadin NTT,” said Yusak Benu, Kadin NTT’s Vice Chairman for Investment and Maritime Coordination, on Thursday (October 2, 2025).

Echoing this sentiment, Chris Samara, Vice Chairman for Economic Coordination at Kadin NTT, emphasized the importance of academic involvement in supporting community-based economic programs.

“Academics with expertise, broad networks, and humility like Prof. Jefri are greatly needed by the business sector. This kind of collaboration is inseparable from our efforts to support the Ayo Bangun NTT (Let’s Build NTT) vision,” Chris stated.

“In fact, we have collaborated several times in conducting analysis for the Free Trade Zone, which is now one of our primary focuses. Moving forward, we hope figures like Prof. Jefri will continue to play a key role in regional development,” he concluded.