One of the foundations of national progress is ensuring that all elements of society have equal access to resources and development opportunities. Indonesia as an archipelago with abundant natural resources actually has great potential to become a prosperous country. However, the reality is that there are still many regions that have not benefited from development equally.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (2025), Indonesia has more than 17,000 islands with a land area of 1,892,410.09 km². The unequal distribution of population between regions is a serious challenge in realizing spatial justice. This is where the transmigration program occupies a strategic position as an instrument of equitable development as well as a driver of economic growth in new regions.
The transmigration program in Indonesia has undergone changes in meaning and approach from time to time. This is also reflected in the institution that oversees it, sometimes standing as a separate ministry, sometimes joining other ministries. This happens because of the dynamic situation and conditions, the developing socio-political situation and the need for transmigration programs at each time. Nevertheless, the implementation of transmigration so far has made a major contribution to national development and regional development.
One of the achievements of the transmigration program in the context of increasing and equitable regional development is the birth of 3 provincial capitals, namely Mamuju City as the capital of West Sulawesi Province, Tanjung Selor as the capital of North Kalimantan Province, and Merauke as the capital of South Papua Province. In addition, the implementation of transmigration has also given birth to 116 regency capitals, 466 sub-district capitals and 1,567 definitive villages. Another success is also the implementation of transmigration has contributed to efforts to fulfill domestic food needs sourced from the agricultural and plantation sectors (Ministry of Transmigration RI, 2025).
Currently, there are 153 transmigration areas spread from Sabang to Merauke.Transmigration is no longer limited to moving people, but rather building economic areas based on local potential. Therefore, mapping the potential of transmigration areas ranging from the potential of natural resources, accessibility, inter-regional connectivity to human activities is very crucial in determining the leading sector of a transmigration area which will later become a development priority. Without a mature spatial approach, transmigration areas risk growing unequal and unsustainable.
Because basically, each transmigration area has its own uniqueness and characteristics. This uniqueness is formed by the character of the natural physical environment (physical landscape), social environment (human landscape), or a combination of the two. In addition, transmigration areas in Indonesia are generally located in strategic locations. For example, the Sei Menggaris transmigration area in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, is located in the state border area. There is also the Salor transmigration area in Merauke Regency, South Papua, which is designed as a thematic agricultural area and has great potential for the development of the agricultural sector. Furthermore, many transmigration areas have the potential to become new centers of economic growth, both in the tourism, agriculture, maritime and renewable energy sectors.
Therefore, sensitivity to the potential of each region must be an important concern of the government in formulating policies and priority programs for each transmigration area, both in terms of the potential of natural resources and human resources that manage the area. In the current era of scientific and technological development, identifying the potential of an area no longer requires large costs. In the geography approach, the most relevant instruments are geographic information systems and remote sensing. Through these two instruments, we can conduct an initial assessment and mapping of the potential of the transmigration area. The mapping includes physical aspects of the area such as land use, elevation, land conditions, water, accessibility as well as social aspects such as the existence and distribution of public facilities in the transmigration area.
President Prabowo Subianto's administration formulated eight national development missions called Asta Cita. These missions are expected to be able to answer various challenges and uncertain global situations. In this case, the transmigration program is one of the relevant strategies to help answer this uncertainty. The transmigration program strategically intersects strongly with the 6th Asta Cita, namely “building from villages and from below for economic equality and poverty eradication.” Transmigration is present to balance population distribution, open access to potential spaces, and strengthen the local economic base. Transmigration areas are expected to be able to become new integrated economic nodes, thus encouraging equitable development between regions in a sustainable manner.
The role of transmigration does not stop at the aspects of population distribution and economic development alone. Transmigration is also relevant to the 2nd Asta Cita which emphasizes the importance of national independence through self-sufficiency in food, energy and water. A local potential-based transmigration approach such as the development of thematic agricultural areas is a strategic step to support food self-sufficiency. This can be realized through the provision of agricultural infrastructure, adequate irrigation systems, and planned clean water management. Thus, transmigration is part of a spatially and ecologically based national resource security strategy.
Furthermore, transmigration is also part of the 5th Asta Cita which encourages downstreaming and industrialization to increase domestic added value. When transmigration areas successfully develop superior commodities such as rice, coffee, cocoa, or horticulture, opportunities arise to build local economic value chains. The presence of processing industries and downstream activities in transmigration areas will encourage economic transformation based on regional potential, while reducing the gap between the center and the periphery.
However, to achieve these goals, the Ministry of Transmigration cannot run alone. Cross-sectoral synergies between ministries and institutions are needed, starting from spatial planning, providing appropriate technology, to empowering local communities and transmigrants. In the future, the transmigration program must be placed as a spatial justice-based regional development strategy. We are no longer talking about population relocation, but comprehensive regional transformation. With a more holistic and collaborative approach, transmigration can be a new direction towards advanced Indonesia.
