Indonesia eyes global markets for transmigration products

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Transmigration Ministry pledged to expand exports of products from transmigration areas through strategic partnerships, citing strong potential for agricultural, fishery and horticultural commodities to reach global markets.

Deputy Transmigration Minister Viva Yoga Mauladi said transmigration areas produce a range of commodities, including rice, corn, horticultural products and fisheries with export potential.

"They have abundant high-quality products. The priority is connecting them with global markets so they can compete internationally," Mauladi said in a statement on Tuesday.

He said blue swimming crab is among the commodities being promoted for export and is already shipped to the United States through a private-sector offtaker.

The ministry is strengthening partnerships to support downstream processing, industrialization and community empowerment in transmigration areas, he added.

Mauladi said US demand for blue swimming crab remains strong, while production from transmigration areas still has room to expand.

Improving workforce skills, increasing the number of fishermen and adopting better technology will help raise catches and boost exports, he said.

He said partnerships with offtakers are essential for securing market access, ensuring stable demand and increasing the economic value of local products.

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Mauladi said Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara recently launched exports of 459 metric tons of durian from Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi, to China worth Rp42.5 billion (about US$2.3 million).

The shipment demonstrated that each transmigration area has distinct competitive advantages requiring development strategies tailored to local strengths, he said.

The ministry will continue strengthening cooperation with public and private partners to expand overseas markets for agricultural, horticultural and fishery products from transmigration areas.

Earlier, Suryanagara said products from transmigration areas entered international markets through the Trans Karya Nusa flagship program launched in 2025.

He cited exports of cocoa beans from the Polewali Mandar Transmigration Area to Yokohama, Japan, and durian from Parigi Moutong to China.

Suryanagara said the Trans Karya Nusa program promotes transmigration areas to investors to generate more employment for transmigrants and local communities.

"As investment grows and jobs are created, local communities must remain the primary beneficiaries," he said.

He cited the Maloy-Kaliorang Transmigration Area in East Kalimantan, where South Korea's LX International has committed Rp1.2 trillion (about US$65 million) in investment, potentially creating more than 3,800 jobs.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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