Transmigration Minister Says Indonesia Wants to Learn from China in Developing Villages to Border Areas

Transmigration Minister Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara stated that the government is continuously striving to eradicate poverty in peripheral areas. He said President Prabowo Subianto wants to ensure equitable development.

This was conveyed by Iftitah at the China-Indonesia Promotional Event for the English Edition of ‘Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volume V)’ at Hotel Mulia, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (28/4/2026).

“There is one problem that keeps leaders awake at night, namely poverty. This is not just an economic issue, but a matter of dignity,” said Iftitah.

He stated that Indonesia is learning from China’s success in eradicating poverty. He said Indonesia wants development to reach peripheral communities.

“Indonesia wants to deeply understand how development can reach peripheral communities, not just in the centre,” he explained.

Iftitah assessed that China’s approach to tackling poverty demonstrates strong political will and human-centred governance. One principle of particular note is ensuring no region is left behind.

“The success of development cannot be measured solely by skyscrapers in big cities, but by whether villages and border areas also feel prosperity,” he said.

He mentioned that President Prabowo Subianto’s focus on poverty eradication is already evident. One example is the decline in the extreme poverty rate.

“From more than 3.6 million people, it has now decreased to around 2.2 million people. This is not just a number, but shows improving lives for the people,” he said.

Iftitah stated that the government is promoting various strategic programmes to accelerate poverty eradication. One of them is through the transmigration programme.

“Transmigration now is about creating new growth centres. Our transmigration areas are being encouraged to become centres of production, innovation, and hope,” he said.

One concrete example is the development of transmigration areas in South Papua, including vocational education cooperation and agricultural research to increase productivity and food security. He said poverty eradication must be comprehensive and sustainable.

“Not as charity, but as justice. Not temporary aid, but structural transformation,” he said.