Barelang Targeted to Become Sustainable Zone; Summer Course 2026 Aims to Maximise Economic and Environmental Potential
The Secretary of the Directorate General of Economic Development and Community Empowerment of Transmigration at the Ministry of Transmigration, Nirwan Ahmad Helmi, stated that the Barelang Transmigration Area is being positioned as a shared ‘laboratory’ to design integrated green development ideas.
This was announced in relation to the Summer Course 2026, which involves students from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany, alongside domestic students, in Batam, Rempang, and Galang (Barelang).
According to Helmi, Barelang was selected as a learning field because its regional characteristics allow for the integration of agriculture, fisheries, community enterprises, and economic access to Batam. The development of the area also involves transmigration and local communities, while paying close attention to the Malay cultural community.
Participants from various academic backgrounds are invited to understand the economic, environmental, and infrastructural potential, as well as the lives of the local people.
“Barelang offers an environment for integrated regional development, which is the direction of our development—a unified transmigration economic zone that combines agriculture and fisheries with extensive access to the Batumn centre,” he explained during a keynote speech at the BP Batam Office, as reported on Saturday (3/10/2026).
“Fisheries and marine activities serve as the primary economic drivers, supported by small business services. The development of fisheries, marine sectors, and cultural tourism must respect the coastal Malay communities and involve both transmigration residents and local populations,” he added.
Following this, the Director of Transmigration Community Empowerment at the Ministry of Transmigration, Bondan Djati Utami, noted that students will undergo a series of observations, discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities in Barelang until 10 October.
The activity is directed towards seeing how the regional ecosystem can be maximally developed based on existing potential.
“Their concern is focused on how to develop the existing ecosystem here—what the development of the Barelang area should look like,” she told the media.
According to her, the learning outcomes will be presented after the students continue their activities in Semarang.
“The output will be shared with us. Once they are in Semarang, they will present their findings on the 13th,” she explained.
Meanwhile, the Director of Transmigration Area Development, Robi Suherman Ponglabba, explained that the implementation of the Summer Course is supported by the Ministry of Transmigration through the preparation of regional infrastructure, including the Mess Patriot, which serves as the students’ accommodation during their stay in Barelang.