Transmigration Ministry Deploys 1,476 Young Patriots to 53 Transmigration Areas
The Ministry of Transmigration has dispatched 1,476 young patriots to 53 transmigration areas across Indonesia through the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) programme. This initiative represents the government’s effort to bring in a generation of young people who will work directly in the field to map regional potential, identify various community issues, and formulate data-based recommendations for the development of transmigration areas.
Minister of Transmigrasi M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara asserted that development cannot be carried out solely through desk-based studies. According to him, effective policies must be formulated based on actual field conditions and the needs of local communities. “If you, ladies and gentlemen, and younger siblings are not present in every corner of Indonesia, then others will be. Therefore, the state facilitates the presence of these Patriots to see conditions on the ground firsthand,” said Minister Iftitah during the opening of the Patriot Expedition Team 2026 briefing in Bogor, West Java, on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
He explained that transmigration areas possess significant economic potential but also face diverse and complex challenges. Consequently, Indonesia requires a young generation that not only possesses academic capabilities but is also able to apply knowledge into solutions that benefit society. “Development is not enough to be discussed only in classrooms or meeting rooms. We must be present, understand the problems directly, and then find solutions together with the community,” he said.
Minister Iftitah also reminded participants that many issues in transmigration areas have persisted for decades. Therefore, the Patriots are not expected to solve all problems in a short time, but rather to become part of a continuous process of change. “Problems that have lasted for decades certainly cannot be resolved in one or two days. The important thing is that we keep moving, keep seeking solutions, and ensure that development continues,” he stated.
The Patriot Expedition Team programme is part of Transmigrasi Patriot, one of the flagship programmes under the Ministry of Transmigrasi’s 5T agenda. The results of the participants’ work are expected not to remain merely as academic reports, but to become the basis for policy-making, innovation, investment, and the development of various economic activities in transmigration areas. Findings from the field are expected to open up new employment opportunities, increase regional productivity, strengthen community enterprises, and connect regional potential with technology, markets, and investment. The Ministry of Transmigrasi views the deployment of Patriots to various remote areas as an investment in human resources to expand community access to knowledge, innovation, and superior talent.