Deputy Minister pushes downstream processing of flagship products in transmigration areas

Gresik, East Java - Deputy Minister of Transmigration (Wamentrans) Viva Yoga Mauladi is pushing for the acceleration of downstream processing of flagship products from transmigration areas through the construction of processing industries to enhance competitiveness, added value, and the welfare of transmigrant communities. “So that flagship products in transmigration areas for food agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries can compete in the global market,” the Deputy Minister said at the release event for 16 tonnes of crab, a transmigrant product from several regions of Indonesia destined for the United States, in Gresik, East Java, on Monday. Viva Yoga stated that the government wants transmigration areas to have processing factories so that community produce is not only sold as raw materials but has higher added value. According to him, the Ministry of Transmigration has data on the potential flagship products from various areas through the Patriot Expedition Programme, which has been running for the past two years. He explained that the results of this research form the basis for the government to realise pioneering downstream industrial projects in transmigration areas. The Deputy Minister cited the Sumba Manis sugar factory in East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, as an example of a transmigration area that already has a processing industry. The government, he continued, wants similar industrial development to also grow in other transmigration areas, including in West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi. According to him, the downstream process will be tailored to the flagship products of each transmigration area so that it can provide added value for the local community. He also revealed that the Minister of Transmigration, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, recently released a durian export from Parigi Moutong in the Sigi area, Palu, Central Sulawesi, destined for China. This step, he said, is proof of the Ministry of Transmigration’s attention in supporting the development of various superior commodities from transmigration areas to penetrate export markets. He affirmed that the Ministry of Transmigration is open to assisting the development of flagship food crop, horticultural, and fishery products to increase the income and welfare of transmigration communities. The Deputy Minister added that the government will conduct further serious communication to discuss the technical process of downstream development with relevant parties. According to him, the potential for flagship products in transmigration areas is very large and only needs to be connected to the global market to compete and expand Indonesia’s export opportunities. “In reality, the potential for flagship products in transmigration areas is very abundant, it just needs to be connected to the global market, so that most of the flagship products in transmigration areas can compete in the global market,” he said. The Deputy Minister released the export of 16 tonnes of crab worth Rp15 billion, a product of transmigrants from several regions of Indonesia destined for the United States, as an effort to encourage flagship products from transmigration areas to penetrate the global market. He said the exported crab came from several transmigration areas in Sorong, Papua; Pasangkayu, West Sulawesi; Maluku, North Maluku, as well as the Pantura areas of Gresik and Lamongan, through collaboration with the Gresik Regency Government and the private export company PT Aruna.