Transmigration Minister States Transmigration to Become Engine for Regional Economic Growth
The national transmigration programme is entering a new era. The Ministry of Transmigration is transforming the paradigm of transmigration from a population relocation programme into a regional development strategy capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, improving human resource quality, and accelerating economic growth, particularly in Eastern Indonesia.
This transformation was announced by the Minister of Transmigration, M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, during the launch of the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) in Jakarta on Thursday (30/7). According to the Minister, transmigration is no longer designed through an approach entirely determined by the central government, but rather originates from the needs and potential of each respective region.
“Transmigration must provide tangible benefits to the community. When investment enters, jobs are created. When a region develops, community welfare increases. Therefore, the development of transmimentation areas now begins with regional needs, while the central government is present to strengthen collaboration, bring in investment, and open various development opportunities,” Iftitah stated in a written release on Saturday (1/8/2026).
He noted that local governments act as the primary actors in designing regional development according to their area’s potential. The central government then serves as a facilitator, connecting regional needs with investment, technology, universities, the business world, and various forms of international cooperation.
As part of these efforts, Iftitah, alongside the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Wang Lutong, has inspected several transmigration areas in Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara to introduce various investment opportunities outside the mining sector.
“We want to show the world that Eastern Indonesia has great potential in the agricultural, tourism, education, and community empowerment sectors. This potential must be linked with investors to create added value, open employment, and improve the welfare of local communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Batam, Amsakar Achmad, assessed that this new approach to transmigration demonstrates that regional development—supported by legal certainty over land, the provision of housing, and cross-ministerial collaboration—can create the social stability necessary for investment.
“When legal certainty is available and an integrated economic ecosystem is built, social conflict can be suppressed. The investment climate becomes increasingly conducive. Batam has recorded economic growth of 6.79 per cent, while the poverty rate has dropped to 3.81 per cent,” he stated.
Wang Lutong expressed his support for Indonesia’s transmigration transformation. He noted that modern transmigration is an important instrument for improving the quality of human resources while driving inclusive economic development.
He added that China is exploring various cooperation opportunities, ranging from the development of modern agricultural centres and vocational training to investment in the tourism and education sectors in several areas of Eastern Indonesia.
“Transmigration is not merely about moving people. It is a strategy to empower communities through skill enhancement, technology transfer, and the creation of economic opportunities,” said Wang Lutong.
As additional information, through the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team, 1,476 academics are being deployed to various transmigration areas to map economic potential, identify community needs, and formulate regional development recommendations. The results of this mapping will serve as the basis for formulating policies and developing transmigration areas that are more productive, capable of attracting investment, creating jobs, and delivering sustainable economic growth for the community.