From June 16 – 19th, over 70 Dutch companies and institutions joined the Dutch Economic Mission to Indonesia to explore partnerships in key sectors like agriculture, water, and maritime. Wavemakers United also took part in these days of innovation, trade, investments, and knowledge!
Let’s look back at our contribution and achievments during the Trade Mission:
📅 June 13–14: Strategizing the Future at Jakarta Future Festival
Wavemakers United kicked off their journey in Indonesia with the Jakarta Future Festival 2025, a gathering of more than 250 collaborators all focused on shaping a resilient, inclusive future for the city. Under the theme “Collaborate to Elevate!”, discussions centered on sustainability, water, and urban resilience. During the festival, Wavemakers co-founder participated in a compelling panel alongside Nanya Burki from Nuffic, delving into water governance and nature-based solutions like Room for the River.
At the same time, strategic meetings took place with the leadership of IPB University and the head of Wave Indonesia, Sabrina, to renew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and map out a yearlong strategy for strengthening Wave Indonesia. This included programs like guest lectures, student mobility, and community-based research.
📅 June 16: Formalizing the Partnership with IPB University
This day marked a milestone as Wavemakers United and IPB University, supported by Sabrina from Wave Indonesia, formalized their collaboration with a ceremonial MoU signing. The event was witnessed by Dutch Vice Minister Michiel Sweers and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. This agreement set the stage for impactful initiatives co-created by students and educators, from summer courses to village-based research.
Later that day, Wavemakers also hosted a vibrant “World Café” roundtable, empowering youth voices to co-create ideas for the 2026 UN Water Conference Gamechanger Challenge. The energy and innovation in the room made clear: young people are ready to lead.
📅 June 18: Celebrating Youth Innovation at Wetskills Finals
The mission wrapped up with the high-energy finale of Wetskills Indonesia 2025. After days of teamwork, four youth teams pitched their water solutions—each in just two minutes. The winning proposal, led by Emma from HZ University of Applied Sciences, addressed how to attract investors for water infrastructure in Semarang. Their impactful pitch earned accolades from judges and the audience, with the award presented by Meinke van Ginniken, Special Envoy for Water for the Netherlands.
During this Trade Mission we laid down the groundwork for a ripple effect: with plenty of follow-ups and future events underway. We hope these connections will become long-stending partners and we will be spreading waves together!
