Indonesia Urges Academic and Medical Diaspora to Drive National Development

Indonesia’s President, Prabowo Subianto, has appealed to members of the country’s academic and medical diaspora to play a more active role in national development, as the government intensifies efforts to close critical skills gaps and accelerate economic growth.

Speaking to Indonesians abroad during an international forum in Switzerland earlier this month, the president described diaspora professionals as key partners in the country’s development agenda, particularly those working as doctors, researchers, and university academics. The government, he said, is keen to see more highly skilled Indonesians either return home or contribute directly to national progress from overseas.

The call comes amid persistent shortages in the health sector. Official figures show Indonesia has fewer than one doctor per 1,000 people, falling below global benchmarks. Health authorities have noted that while many Indonesian doctors are practising in countries with adequate medical staffing, domestic hospitals and clinics continue to face acute shortages, especially outside major cities.

Government officials acknowledge that returning home is not straightforward for many diaspora professionals. Challenges such as lower wages, complex licensing procedures, limited research funding, and inadequate medical infrastructure have discouraged many from relocating. In response, the administration says it is working to remove bureaucratic barriers and introduce targeted incentives.

The Ministry of Higher Education has pledged simplified processes for returning PhD holders, including faster recognition of foreign qualifications and access to research grants. Diaspora academics who return are expected to receive full professional recognition as lecturers or medical practitioners within Indonesian institutions.

At the same time, authorities have clarified that physical relocation is not the only pathway for contribution. Diaspora professionals are encouraged to support Indonesia through knowledge transfer, collaborative research, virtual teaching, and policy advisory roles while remaining abroad.

Beyond education and health, the government is expanding diaspora engagement across technology, the creative economy, and business. A new digital platform has been launched to map and connect Indonesian creative professionals worldwide, while plans are underway to establish a unified national body to coordinate diaspora affairs by 2029.

Revised citizenship and immigration policies now allow diaspora members easier access to government roles and long-term residency, even for those who no longer hold Indonesian citizenship, addressing long-standing concerns over dual nationality restrictions.

Officials say stronger diaspora involvement will be central to achieving the administration’s ambitious economic growth targets, with overseas Indonesians increasingly seen as a strategic asset rather than a distant community.