Denpasar – In an effort to expand international academic networks and showcase regional economic potential, Chairman of the Bali Provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Bali), Made Ariandi, welcomed a study visit from a delegation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on Thursday (15/01/2026).

The visit, involving 17 students and one academic supervisor, aimed to examine Bali’s economic ecosystem and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration in the vocational sector.

On the occasion, Made Ariandi outlined how Bali has successfully rebounded following the impact of the pandemic. He emphasized that Bali’s economy is no longer reliant on a “single pillar” of tourism alone.

“We are currently implementing an economic transformation through the Kerthi Bali Economy concept. The objective is to create a more resilient ecosystem by balancing the agricultural sector, creative industries, and digital nomads, alongside cultural tourism, which remains the backbone of our economy,” said Made Ariandi.

Furthermore, Kadin Bali elaborated on the organization’s crucial role as a bridge between the business community and the government. Made Ariandi highlighted several key points, including:

Policy Advocacy: Kadin Indonesia and Kadin Bali play an active role in ensuring that regional regulations support ease of foreign investment without eroding local identity.

Human Resource Standardization: To face global competition, Kadin continues to encourage competency certification for local workers to enable them to compete with foreign labor.

MSME Digitalization: Encouraging micro and small enterprises to enter the digital ecosystem so that local Balinese products can penetrate international markets, including Hong Kong.

Focus on Vocational Education and Human Capital

One of the main highlights of the meeting was the potential for cooperation in vocational education. Given PolyU’s global reputation in practice-oriented education, Made Ariandi sees significant opportunities for Bali to engage in knowledge sharing.

“Our human capital development strategy focuses on a strong link-and-match between educational curricula and industry needs. We are very open to internship collaborations or joint research with Hong Kong students to bring fresh perspectives to our creative industries,” Made Ariandi concluded.