Indonesia's BNPP Encourages Students at Ben Mboi Polytechnic, Unhan, to Develop Border Areas
The National Border Management Agency (BNPP) of Indonesia has once again held the BNPP MENYALA (Directly Engaging the People and Students) programme through an interactive public lecture at Ben Mboi Polytechnic, National Defence University (Unhan), in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This activity serves as a strategic step in enhancing the understanding of the younger generation regarding the importance of border area management as part of Indonesia’s future.
As an institution led by Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian as Head of BNPP Indonesia ex officio, the programme emphasises the importance of student involvement in safeguarding sovereignty while promoting economic development in border regions.
The public lecture was opened by the Deputy for State Border Management at BNPP, Nurdin, who outlined the complexities of managing the borders of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. He explained that Indonesia shares maritime borders with ten countries and land borders with three countries, thus requiring strong, integrated, and sustainable governance.
According to him, border development is not only oriented towards security aspects but also serves as an important instrument in improving community welfare. “Without an advanced economy and high productivity, welfare will take a long time to achieve. Therefore, building borders means building the economy of its people,” he stated in a BNPP press release on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
Nurdin also encouraged students to utilise State Border Crossing Posts (PLBN) as field learning laboratories. He highlighted the increasing activity of people and goods movement at integrated PLBNs as an indicator of economic growth, particularly at PLBN Motaain and Motamasin, which serve as distribution centres for needs to Timor Leste.
“Indonesia’s future is not only in Jakarta. Indonesia’s future lies at the state border line. As per BNPP’s motto, we guard the territory, we prosper the people,” he asserted.
Another speaker, BNPP Expert Group member Hamidin, elaborated on the importance of geopolitics in border management amid global dynamics. He assessed that global geopolitical tensions demand that Indonesia strengthen its border economy through equal bilateral cooperation.
“Speaking of future borders is not enough to just focus on defence and security. That is important, but the main focus is to revitalise the economy through equal cooperation,” he said.
Hamidin also stressed the need for technology-based border management, strengthening the role of Border Liaison Officers (BLO), and inter-agency synchronisation to create modern and effective management. He is optimistic that within the next decade, Indonesia’s border areas will develop into advanced regions capable of competing globally.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Arm Dr. Erlan Wijatmoko explained the strategic role of the RI–RDTL Eastern Sector Border Guard Task Force Yonarmed 12/Kostrad as the frontline in safeguarding border areas. According to him, the task force’s duties encompass not only security aspects but also territorial activities to assist the community as a form of state presence.
From an academic perspective, the Dean of the Military Logistics Vocational Faculty at Unhan, Marshal Muda TNI Dr. Penny Radjendra, stated that this public lecture provides strategic insights for students in facing future challenges, particularly in logistics and border area management, while opening opportunities for collaboration between Unhan and BNPP.
The Head of the Bureau of Finance, General Affairs, and Public Relations at BNPP, Belly Isnaeni, added that through the BNPP MENYALA programme, students are expected not only to understand BNPP’s role but also to have concern and enthusiasm to contribute to safeguarding the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
As a closing, this activity becomes a strategic dialogue space between government, academics, and the younger generation to instil awareness that border areas are Indonesia’s front porch. Through collaboration, knowledge, and dedication, students are expected to become the driving force for sovereign, advanced, and prosperous border development.