Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia must be bold in developing its villages if it wants to stand on equal footing with major nations, Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman said on Sunday.Speaking at the briefing and send-off of the Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) in Jakarta, Sulaiman stressed that true national progress begins at the village level.”If we want to be on par with big nations, we must be brave to develop from the villages, open new frontiers, and strengthen the people’s economy,” he stated.He noted that developed countries are not only defined by advanced technology and large capital, but also by human resources equipped with innovation, collaboration, and the willingness to reach remote areas.As examples, he cited South Korea’s Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement), China’s integrated rural development that lifted millions out of poverty, Germany’s system of local economic communities supporting industry, and the United States’ frontier development, which turned unsettled areas into centers of opportunity.”Transmigration is one way to achieve this. This is where the Patriot Expedition Team comes in,” he added.According to the minister, the TEP program is designed to formulate policy recommendations, create economic and investment strategies, foster collaboration, and develop integrated solutions across economics, science, social affairs, and technology.The program also aims to bridge academia and policymaking, ensuring that knowledge is applied directly to benefit communities.”This program is different from research, community service, or work-study activities that often end up as mere reports. The Patriot Expedition Team ensures knowledge reaches the people,” Sulaiman emphasized.TEP will conduct research and map economic potential in transmigration areas, transforming them into new centers of national growth.The effort includes evaluating regions as a basis for policy, developing local potential into competitive commodities, strengthening community governance, and building sustainable technological infrastructure.”All of this is based on research and studies of regional potential, making transmigration the key to Indonesia’s future,” Sulaiman pointed out.
Indonesia must build from villages to match big nations: minister
