Iftitah Reveals Many Undiscovered Indonesian Potentials, Cites US-Owned Resort
Many potentials remain undiscovered. We ourselves don’t even know how rich Indonesia is. Yes, we don’t even realise how wealthy Indonesia is,” said Iftitah during the socialisation of the 2026 Transmigration Patriot program at Bundaran HI, Central Jakarta, Sunday (17/05/2026).
He explained that one example of Indonesia’s hidden wealth, discovered by foreign entities in transmigrasi areas, is in East Sumba. Iftitah stated that researchers from an Australian university found the potential for a sugar industry in this previously barren area.
“During my visits to over 25 transmigrasi areas across Indonesia, I experienced that in the Melolo transmigrasi area in East Sumba, for example, it was researchers from Queensland University Australia who discovered that there was potential for sugarcane plantations and a sugar industry in what was once a barren and woody place,” he said.
Iftitah then mentioned Indonesia’s tourism potential, which was also first identified by foreigners. He stated that the most expensive resort in Indonesia is owned by people from the United States.
“In the Lamboya transmigrasi area, West Sumba, there is extraordinary natural tourism potential, and it was actually discovered by people from the United States, who even own the most expensive resort in Indonesia, located in Nihi Sumba. There is also Bawah Island Resort in Anambas, which was discovered by French people and now has the most expensive resort around the Riau Islands. Almost 90 percent of its occupancy comes from Singapore, and it costs around Rp 120 million per night at Bawah Island,” he said.
Iftitah also revealed a report he received from the Patriot Expedition Team on Mangole Island. He mentioned that there was a Canadian businessman operating there.
“Then I received a report from the Patriot Expedition Team, which has been travelling for almost 24 hours to Mangole Island, and they met a Canadian who is running a chocolate business. When I arrived in Bener Meriah, I met Dr. Nia in Bener Meriah, and I also met Canadians, Australians, British, and Americans who were conducting research and doing coffee business. So if we don’t all recognise these potentials, how will we know that Indonesia is rich?” he added.
This, said Iftitah, led the Ministry of Transmigration to create the Patriot Expedition program. He hopes that the researchers involved can identify the potential in these transmigrasi areas.
“That’s why the Patriot Expedition Team was born. We don’t lack smart people; there are many intelligent individuals. What we lack are people who are present on the front lines of Indonesian development. We want these smart people to not only be intelligent because they get 9s or As in class, but also to be able to identify potential in the field,” he said.
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(ygs/gbr)