Transmigration Minister explores downstreaming co-operation with China

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara is making a working visit to China from 12 to 18 October 2026 to explore co-operation in modern agriculture, downstream processing and industrialisation, with the aim of opening up employment opportunities for people in transmigration areas.

Iftitah said the visit, at the invitation of the Chinese Government, was intended to study the use of technology and investment, as well as human resource development, to build new centres of economic growth, particularly outside Java.

“We need technology, investment, industry and human resources capable of creating added value. That is why we want to learn from China’s experience in building industry and developing the rural economy,” Iftitah said in an official statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

He said China’s experience of integrating agriculture, infrastructure development, industrialisation and workforce skills upgrading could serve as a reference for developing transmigration areas in Indonesia.

During the visit, Iftitah is scheduled to meet China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) on 12 October to discuss potential co-operation in modern agriculture, production technology, agricultural processing and rural economic revitalisation.

The meeting is also expected to involve the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FEC), to explore technology development and economic co-operation in the agricultural sector.

Commodities from transmigration areas that could be considered for co-operation include durian in Central Sulawesi, dwarf coconut in East Nusa Tenggara, coconut in North Maluku, and rice, cocoa, coffee and sugar cane in Papua.