The prestigious business award event, the Jogja Brand and Business Awards (JBBA) 2026, was officially opened on Wednesday (15/7/2026) at the Royal Ambarrukmo Hotel, Yogyakarta. The inauguration was marked by the striking of a gong by the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, accompanied by the President Director of Harian Jogja, Arif Budisusilo.
In his remarks, Sri Sultan delivered a profound message regarding the essence of sustainable business. He emphasized that the success of a business should not be measured solely by financial profit figures, but by the extent of trust and long-term relationships built with the community.
The King of the Yogyakarta Sultanate reminded the audience of the relevance of the ancient Javanese philosophy, 'Tuna Satak, Bathi Sanak'. This philosophy teaches business actors to willingly sacrifice a portion of material gain to foster brotherhood and customer trust. According to the Sultan, doing business from the heart aims to gain a place in the community's heart (heart share), rather than merely dominating the market (market share).
The Sultan also highlighted the adaptation of local values in the digital economy era. According to him, the modernization of financial technology, such as the QRIS digital payment system, should be utilized for the equitable distribution of social welfare, not just as an instrument to boost corporate profit margins.
In addition, strengthening local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) became an important focus raised through the concept of Local Value for Money. The Sultan considers MSME actors highly strategic as they optimize regional supply chains and the nobility of local culture. These efforts are accommodated by the DIY Provincial Government through the SiBakul DIY digital platform to ensure local products gain broad market access and certainty of government budget absorption.
Echoing this vision, the President Director of Harian Jogja, Arif Budisusilo, explained that JBBA 2026 intentionally adopted the theme 'Smartly Cultured, Sustainably Driven'. This theme is expected to motivate the industrial sector to implement ethical business practices that prioritize environmental sustainability and social responsibility for future sustainability.
