Lombok Timur, NTB (ANTARA) - Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara said the Selaparang Transmigration Area in east Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, could be developed into a technology hub similar to Silicon Valley in the United States to attract digital nomads.
Digital nomads are people who work remotely using digital technology, allowing them to travel and work from different locations around the world.
“We can create a hub for digital nomads there, for global citizens who enjoy moving from place to place and focusing on technology,” Suryanagara said in a statement during his visit to Selaparang on Sunday.
He added that he had discussed with West Nusa Tenggara Governor Lalu Muhammad Iqbal the idea of transforming Selaparang into Indonesia’s own version of Silicon Valley by building a globally connected technology ecosystem.
The minister noted that the provincial government is currently developing transportation infrastructure linking Lombok with other regions in eastern Indonesia as well as several cities abroad, including in Australia and Malaysia.
“With the presence of global communities there, we hope there will be a positive economic impact,” he said.
In addition to serving as a Work From Anywhere (WFA) destination for global residents, the area is also expected to become a hub for nurturing local digital talent, ranging from e-sports athletes to game developers and software programmers.
Suryanagara emphasized that transmigration areas should not only serve as residential zones but also as centers for the creative and digital economy.
To support this vision, three Patriot Expedition Teams have been deployed to map and research the economic potential of the Selaparang Transmigration Area for the next five to 25 years.
“We truly hope to build something that can serve as an economic magnet in Selaparang,” Suryanagara said.
