Asia Grassroots Forum 2025:
Scaling Impact, Pioneering Entrepreneurial Society

Asia Grassroots Forum 2025:
Scaling Impact, Pioneering Entrepreneurial Society

The 2025 Asia Grassroots Forum takes place from 21-22 May in Bali, Indonesia, convening under the theme “Scaling Impact, Pioneering Entrepreneurial Society.” The forum brings together investment communities, startups, international organizations, partner companies, civil society leaders, academia, young changemakers, social entrepreneurs, and media to address the challenges and opportunities in the grassroots economy.

Why It Matters

With approximately 4 billion people in the grassroots economy demonstrating remarkable resilience, the potential for transformation is immense. As rapid technological advancement continues, the challenge lies in ensuring that digital transformation and AI benefit all segments of society, particularly addressing the persistent digital divide and emerging climate risks.

The Big Picture

If the grassroots economy’s untapped potential represents an opportunity, the path forward requires multi-disciplinary intervention and strategic collaboration. Technology and innovations, particularly AI, have the power to unlock unprecedented growth—but only if deployed thoughtfully and inclusively. The forum explores how to harness these tools to promote inclusive growth while ensuring shared prosperity.

Four Key Themes

The forum is organized under four strategic streams:
  1. Navigating Growth in ASEAN and the Global South Exploring the grassroots economy’s potential in developing nations, featuring insights from key financial leaders including Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Erick Thohir.
  2. To Reform or to Deform: Reshaping Entrepreneurial Policy and Partnership Addressing Indonesia’s ambitious targets for GDP growth and poverty reduction, with focus on policy alignment and foreign investment opportunities.
  3. Making Capital Work for the Grassroots Economy in ASEAN Examining barriers to investment in grassroots societies and exploring solutions for optimal capital allocation to underserved segments.
  4. Balancing the Power of AI and Technology for Social Inclusion Investigating how intelligent technology can promote social inclusion while addressing the digital divide at the grassroots level.

Who's Coming?

The forum welcomes diverse participation from:

  • Government ministers and policy makers
  • Financial institution leaders
  • Technology innovators and entrepreneurs
  • International development organizations
  • Social enterprise leaders
  • Academic experts
  • Media representatives


Notable speakers include ministers from key Indonesian government departments, international organization leaders, and prominent figures in finance and technology sectors.

Access and Engagement

The event will be broadcast live through:

  • Dedicated event website
  • Amartha’s YouTube channel
  • Interactive sessions with global participants

For more information and updates on speakers and sessions, visit the event website or contact the forum secretariat.

Our Speakers

Mahendra siregar

Mahendra Siregar was ordained by the Supreme Court as the Head of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in 2022.

Sri Mulyani

Sri Mulyani Indrawati is the Minister of Finance of Indonesia since 2016. She was known as a tough reformist with strengthening Indonesia's economy.

Perry Warjiyo

Perry has been the Governor of Bank Indonesia since May 2018, bringing over 30 years of experience in central banking and economic policy.

Erick Thohir

Erick Thohir is a businessman and politician who has served as Indonesia's Minister of State Owned Enterprises since 2019.

Retno Marsudi

Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s first female Foreign Minister (2014–2024), led ASEAN diplomacy, global peace efforts, and now serves as the first UN Special Envoy on Water.

Stella Christie, Ph.D.

Stella Christie, cognitive scientist and Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Higher Education, previously a Tsinghua professor, advances research on human cognition, education, and AI.

Njord Andrews

Njord Andrews is the Managing Partner at Accion Digital Transformation, where he focuses on leveraging technology to drive innovation for underserved populations.

David Paradiso

David Arturo Paradiso, Additional Director at Arohan, is a Maj Invest nominee with 15+ years in finance, PE, and VC across the US, Asia, and Latin America.

Mary Ellen Iskenderian

Mary is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. She is a passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment through greater access to finance.

Suwandi Soh

CEO, Mekari

Lany Harijanti

Regional Manager, (Asia) GRI

Justin Arcenas

Managing Director, RuralNet Inc

Andi Taufan

Founder & CEO Amartha

Michael Schelin

CEO of Accion

Prof Bagus Muljadi

Associate Professor, Notthingham University and Chairman, UKICIS

Mary Ellen Iskenderian

CEO Women's World Banking

Andi Taufan

Founder & CEO Amartha

Michael Schelin

CEO of Accion

Prof Bagus Muljadi

Associate Professor, Notthingham University and Chairman, UKICIS

Dr Hendri Sarapini

Senior Economist, Founder and Excecutive Director, CORE Institute

Kian Wee Siah

CEO, UOB Venture Management

Saad Algheriri

CEO, Al-Rajhi Partners

Lanny Budiati

President Director, BCA Digital

Chatib Basri

Senior Economist, Minister of Finance 2013-2014

Tri Mumpuni

Executive Director, IBEKA

Yessie D. Yosetya

Director & Chief Information Officer XLSmart

Pratyush Prasanna

Group CEO, Flip

Nurhayati Subakat

CEO, Wardah

Teruhide Sato

Founder & CEO, BEENEXT

Gayatri Mehta

Director Digital Products, Accion

Manoj Khumar Sharma

Director, Microsave India

Salman Alibhai

Senior Operations Officer, World Bank

Mahendra siregar

Mahendra Siregar was ordained by the Supreme Court as the Head of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in 2022.

Sri Mulyani

Sri Mulyani Indrawati is the Minister of Finance of Indonesia since 2016. She was known as a tough reformist with strengthening Indonesia's economy.

Perry Warjiyo

Perry has been the Governor of Bank Indonesia since May 2018, bringing over 30 years of experience in central banking and economic policy.

Erick Thohir

Erick Thohir is a businessman and politician who has served as Indonesia's Minister of State Owned Enterprises since 2019.

Retno Marsudi

Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s first female Foreign Minister (2014–2024), led ASEAN diplomacy, global peace efforts, and now serves as the first UN Special Envoy on Water.

Stella Christie, Ph.D.

Stella Christie, cognitive scientist and Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Higher Education, previously a Tsinghua professor, advances research on human cognition, education, and AI.

Njord Andrews

Njord Andrews is the Managing Partner at Accion Digital Transformation, where he focuses on leveraging technology to drive innovation for underserved populations.

David Paradiso

David Arturo Paradiso, Additional Director at Arohan, is a Maj Invest nominee with 15+ years in finance, PE, and VC across the US, Asia, and Latin America.

Mary Ellen Iskenderian

Mary is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. She is a passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment through greater access to finance.

Lany Harijanti

Regional Manager, (Asia) GRI

Suwandi Soh

CEO, Mekari

Justin Arcenas

Managing Director, RuralNet Inc

Clarissa Loh

Associate Director, UOB Venture Management

Chuah Kee Heng

CFO Temasek Trust

Dr Sarah Cardey

Associate Professor of International Development, University of Reading

Gayatri Mehta

Director Digital Products, Accion

Salman Alibhai

Senior Operations Officer, World Bank

Miguel Soriano

Senior Upstream Officer, East Asia Pacific Region at IFC

Ryu Kawano

CEO Midtrans

Prastyo Ruandhito

CEO & Co-Founder Broiler X

Michael Schelin

CEO of Accion

Mary Ellen Iskenderian

CEO Women's World Banking

Andi Taufan

Founder & CEO Amartha

Prof Bagus Muljadi

Associate Professor, Notthingham University and Chairman, UKICIS

Dr Hendri Sarapini

Senior Economist, Founder and Excecutive Director, CORE Institute

Kian Wee Siah

CEO, UOB Venture Management

Saad Algheriri

CEO, Al-Rajhi Partners

Lanny Budiati

President Director, BCA Digital

Chatib Basri

Senior Economist, Minister of Finance 2013-2014

Tri Mumpuni

Executive Director, IBEKA

Yessie D. Yosetya

Director & Chief Information Officer XLSmart

Pratyush Prasanna

Group CEO, Flip

Nurhayati Subakat

CEO, Wardah

Teruhide Sato

Founder & CEO, BEENEXT

Gayatri Mehta

Director Digital Products, Accion

Manoj Khumar Sharma

Director, Microsave India

Salman Alibhai

Senior Operations Officer, World Bank

The Asia Grassroots Forum 2025 represents a crucial platform for addressing the challenges and opportunities in grassroots economic development, bringing together key stakeholders to pioneer solutions for inclusive growth in the intelligent age.

Where

Grand Hyatt Bali

Kawasan Wisata, Jl. Nusa Dua, BTDC, Bali,

Badung Regency, Bali 80363

When

Tuesday to Wednesday
May 21 to 23, 2025

Email

theforum@amartha.com