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What the diaspora means for a small town in Sulawesi

With all its great human and natural resources, Pangkep, however, is still considered among the most disadvantaged areas in Indonesia due to its relatively low Human Development Index.

Rahmat HM (The Jakarta Post)
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Pangkep
Fri, July 14, 2017

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What the diaspora means for a small town in Sulawesi Struggle for life: Migrant workers from South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi, together with their children, disembark from a vessel at Tunon Taka Port in Nunukan regency, North Kalimantan, on March 6. (Antara/M. Rusman)

W

hile the fourth Indonesian Diaspora Congress held in Jakarta on July 1, featuring Barack Obama as the keynote speaker, made headlines across mainstream and social media, a little-noticed gathering of Indonesian diaspora in the small regency of Pangkep, South Sulawesi, coincidentally took place on the same day.

The gathering, called the Pangkep Diaspora Network (PDN), inspired by the national congress, aimed to create a platform for Pangkep migrants, professional workers, and international students who originate from the regency.

The congress focused on the tradition of mudik (homecoming) and the custom of countless school reunions held during the Idul Fitri or Lebaran holiday.

To take advantage of mudik during the Idul Fitri holiday, PDN was the first diaspora congress held by the regency’s local youth. Thirty-five young people and professionals gathered to explore opportunities for the diaspora to take part in their hometown’s development.

Although only a small regency, Pangkep (short for the archipelago regency of Pangkajene Kepulauan) treasures its important historical artifacts of early human civilization, which are found in several prehistoric cave sites. It is also home to significant natural resources and tourist sites on both land and sea.

The world’s second longest kart exists in Pangkep where national cement company Semen Tonasa operates.

The beautiful Pangkep archipelago also comprises 117 scattered coral islands where locals mostly work as fishermen or in other roles related to the fishing industry.

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