Diaspora Hebat: Memaksimalkan Peran dan Potensi Indonesia di Tingkat Internasional
Jakarta – Penggunaan atlet diaspora Indonesia telah mulai menunjukkan hasil yang positif dengan peningkatan prestasi di arena olahraga dunia. Di dunia sepak bola, misalnya, atlet diaspora telah memberikan kontribusi besar dalam membawa tim nasional Indonesia mencapai Piala Asia 2027 dan Babak Ketiga Kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2026. Pertanyaan selanjutnya adalah bagaimana kita dapat memanfaatkan diaspora Indonesia tidak hanya dalam olahraga, tetapi juga dalam sektor-sektor penting lainnya seperti sains, teknologi, rekayasa, dan matematika (STEM). Dengan memaksimalkan Potensi Diaspora Indonesia, kita dapat meningkatkan kontribusi mereka secara signifikan dalam pembangunan negara.
Hal ini sangat penting dalam mencapai Visi Indonesia Emas 2045 yang membutuhkan sumber daya manusia (SDM) yang unggul, dan juga menghadapi persaingan global dalam menarik para SDM terbaik untuk tinggal dan bekerja di Indonesia. Namun, sebelum membahas langkah-langkah untuk memanfaatkan Potensi Diaspora Indonesia secara optimal, kita perlu memahami terlebih dahulu apa dan siapa yang dimaksud dengan diaspora Indonesia.
Definisi Diaspora
Pursuant to Presidential Regulation Number 76 of 2017 and the Indonesian Diaspora Congress, Indonesian diaspora refers to Indonesian citizens living abroad. This includes Indonesian citizens, former Indonesian citizens, as well as descendants of Indonesian citizens and/or former Indonesian citizens. Indonesian diaspora is spread across more than 90 countries around the world.
According to World Bank data, the number of Indonesian diaspora reaches around nine million, which is equivalent to the population of South Sulawesi, the seventh most populous province in Indonesia. Data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BP2MI shows that at least 3 to 4.6 million of them still hold Indonesian citizenship. The rest have foreign citizenship or limited dual citizenship until the age of 21.
Indonesian diaspora have various professions, reflecting the diversity of Indonesia. Some of them are known as lecturers, scientists, and/or involved in STEM fields.
Optimization Steps
In their vision and mission, the elected President and Vice President, Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, pay special attention to the utilization of “Optimizing the Potential of Indonesian Diaspora in realizing national interests.” In various occasions, they also commit to increasing the number of workers in STEM fields and other high-skilled workers. Here, there is a significant convergence. For example, diaspora can be optimized to support several downstream programs that will be continued and expanded by the next administration.
According to the book *Developing a Road Map for Engaging Diasporas in Development* and a study by the Migration Policy Institute, there are at least four steps that need to be taken to utilize diaspora in development. The first step is to conduct a complete and accurate data collection of Indonesian diaspora. This database of Indonesian diaspora is key to mapping the talents of Indonesian diaspora based on their skills, industries, locations, and willingness to contribute to national development.
In some countries like the Philippines and Bosnia, the government can easily search for their diaspora based on skills, educational background, and industry. Creating a diaspora database is not a difficult task. For example, in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, there are already data on more than 600 Indonesian diaspora athletes active in more than 10 sports branches. The same can certainly be done for skilled Indonesian diaspora in other fields.
The second step is to communicate and collaborate with government agencies, private sector, and industry leaders to identify talent needs that can be filled by Indonesian diaspora. In other words, we need to understand the needs in the homeland and how much of those needs can be met by diaspora. For example, in the technology sector, we need 1000 experts in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Then we map how much of this need can be supplied by Indonesian diaspora.
The third step in this strategy is to provide attractive incentives for diaspora to contribute or return to Indonesia. These incentives can include tax facilities, ease in the return administrative process, access to a wide professional network, and attractive career opportunities in strategic sectors. For many Indonesian diaspora, what they desire is not just financial rewards but also the opportunity to apply their expertise in ways that can have a significant impact. With this step, we hope to optimize the potential of Indonesian diaspora to support national development significantly.
The fourth step is to actively communicate with the skilled Indonesian diaspora, explaining the potential opportunities available ranging from research collaborations, fellowships, to job opportunities in strategic sectors. This communication also aims to provide a clear understanding of the incentives available in Indonesia. If diaspora choose to continue their careers permanently in Indonesia, this is known as reverse brain drain. However, if they only visit temporarily or share knowledge, this is a form of brain circulation that can be beneficial in the exchange of knowledge, technology, and skills.
Essentially, the government does not need to establish a new agency or institution to manage this. A small, agile team in diplomacy and swift action is enough to reach talented diaspora and interact with stakeholders in Indonesia who need their expertise. This approach is similar to the process of matchmaking and headhunting in the context of national interests. By adopting this approach, the government can optimize the potential of Indonesian diaspora to support national development effectively.
With these steps, we can optimize the potential of Indonesian diaspora not only in sports but also in other important sectors. Thus, Indonesian diaspora can become a valuable asset that contributes significantly to national development, especially in realizing the Vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.
Hamdan Hamedan Executive Director of the Indonesian Diaspora Network-United (2017-2018)
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