Reframing transmigration: A strategic transformation framework for Indonesia’s economic resilience and national integration

Abstract

This research examines how Indonesia's transmigration program has evolved as a tool for national development, addressing regional issues and enhancing the country's economic resilience. Transmigration is not only a program for relocating people, but also a means of establishing competitive and welcoming economic development hubs. The research utilises the SWOT and Theory of Change (ToC) frameworks to facilitate a more efficient change process. It achieves this by employing a descriptive, qualitative technique. The study shows that incorporating transmigration into important national plans, such as relocating the capital city, ensuring food and energy security, and the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045, contributes significantly to spatial growth. The preparation of a national grand design, the creation of the Integrated Transmigration Economic Zone (KETT), cross-sectoral institutional reform, and the adoption of new financing methods, such as Government and Business Entity Cooperation (PPP) and blended finance, are all ways to accelerate progress. The study concludes that accelerating the process of transmigration transformation may be a valuable tool for creating a regional ecosystem that can adapt, be resilient, and endure. Political, regulatory, and institutional backing is crucial for transmigration to strengthen the economy of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and maintain the country's borders. The research finds that institutional change, capacity training, and innovative funding approaches are all crucial for leveraging transmigration as a tool for regional progress and national unity.