Govt drafts citizenship policy to support diaspora: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is currently drafting citizenship policies to accommodate the diaspora entering the country in a bid to encourage their involvement in national development.

During a discussion with the Indonesian diaspora in London on February 8, Indonesia's Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, stated that the policy might draw inspiration from the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) mechanism, implemented by the Indian government, which offers lifetime visas, ease of work, property ownership, and access to scholarships.

"The Indonesian Ministry of Law has conducted a comparative study, including the OCI mechanism, which provides many facilities for the Indian diaspora to enter the country," Agtas said, as confirmed on Monday.

He believes this scheme can be adapted to align with Indonesia’s regulations.

The ministry is also keen to enhance the diaspora's role in national development through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and investment in Indonesia, he added.

To facilitate investment, the ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Investment to explore opportunities for the diaspora to invest in various specific sectors in Indonesia.

Agtas highlighted that this initiative addresses previous proposals from diaspora members interested in investing under the same conditions as domestic investors.

The government will also provide additional facilities for the diaspora regarding employment requirements in Indonesia, with the Ministry of Law suggesting revisions to the criteria and requirements for foreign workers among diaspora members.

In the future, all ministries and institutions will integrate diaspora services to better accommodate their needs, Agtas remarked.

"The Ministry of Law will coordinate with relevant ministries and institutions to integrate diaspora data, such as visa services, population information, and citizenship records," he stated.

Agtas assured that, in addition to services for the diaspora, the government is committed to providing legal assistance to Indonesians living abroad, including in the UK.

The ministry's Directorate General of Legal Administration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offers legal assistance to Indonesian citizens abroad, including data exchange and utilization, citizenship services, and legal case assistance.

"We integrate their citizenship data, manage citizenship documents, and also provide protection in legal cases," he explained.