Minister Encourages Content Creators to Market Transmigration Area Products

Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Suryanagara is encouraging content creators to market products from transmigration areas through the digital ecosystem to broaden market reach and improve the welfare of transmigrant communities. Speaking at the FYC Fest digital festival in Surabaya on Saturday, he stated that transmigration today is no longer just about relocating people, but about creating a new economic ecosystem. The Ministry of Transmigration is developing a digital transmigration concept by building a comprehensive economic ecosystem, encompassing human resource development, mentoring, technology utilisation, and opening market access for products from transmigration areas. He noted that transmigration areas possess significant potential not only from agriculture but also from plantations, mining, oil and gas, and tourism, which can be developed through collaboration between the government, businesses, academics, and digital economy players. This year, 1,476 participants from 10 top universities along with 143 local universities will be involved in research, mentoring, and community empowerment in transmigration areas. The minister believes content creators and affiliate marketers can become part of the marketing chain for transmigration products, thereby increasing commodity selling prices and boosting community welfare. He cited the example of mangoes from East Java, which are of a quality capable of competing in international markets but have yet to penetrate the Japanese market due to fruit fly pest issues. East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak said the development of digital technology must be harnessed to strengthen regional productivity, not merely turn the public into product consumers. He noted that East Java, with an annual economic value exceeding Rp3,000 trillion, has a significant opportunity to become a hub connecting origin and destination transmigration areas through strengthened business networks and digital technology utilisation. The East Java provincial government is also expanding digital connectivity by reducing blank spot areas in cooperation with Telkom Group and utilising the Universal Service Obligation programme to ensure more equitable internet access to remote regions. Emil added that the current transmigration paradigm has shifted towards building inter-regional economic ecosystems interconnected through digital technology, capable of creating new growth centres and strengthening the national economy.