JAKARTA, investor.id – The Indonesian government announced a discourse on the introduction of dual citizenship. The goal is to attract highly competent workers. It also aims to support the government’s ambition to become a developed country by 2045.
The proposed policy is seen as a strategic step. It can help harness talent in the global landscape. It can also help drive economic innovation.
Veronica Cotdemiey, CEO of Citizenship Invest, welcomed the initiative. According to her, dual citizenship could start a positive transformation for Indonesia.
“Not only making Indonesia an attractive destination for international talents, Indonesians abroad can also maintain emotional bonds and contribute to their homeland without sacrificing their global mobility,” Veronica said in a written statement in Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024).
Citizenship Invest is a Dubai-based company. It specialises in citizenship and residency through investments from high-net-worth individuals around the world.
Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy. It has lost many high-quality human resources who left and settled abroad. This phenomenon is called brain drain.
This is due to a citizenship law from 2006. That law does not allow dual citizenship for Indonesian citizens. As a result, many Indonesian professionals and academics have renounced their Indonesian citizenship. They did so to get better opportunities abroad.
According to the Directorate General of Immigration, nearly 4,000 Indonesians changed nationality to Singapore in 2019–2022. This figure reflects similar migration trends to other developed countries.
The departure of high-quality human resources is very unfortunate. Indonesia is a developing country with great growth potential. The World Bank estimates that Indonesia’s GDP can rise faster still. That requires retaining and attracting global talent effectively.
By legalizing dual citizenship, Indonesia can take advantage of diaspora networks. Many work in crucial sectors such as:
They can contribute to the country’s economic development. They can also support technological progress.
The benefits of dual citizenship have been felt by many other countries. One of them is India. India has an Overseas Citizenship scheme. Diasporas can contribute back to India through:
They can do this without renouncing their new citizenship. The policy also helps improve economic relations. It can foster bilateral relations more effectively.
The dual citizenship discourse has existed since 2016. That year, President Joko Widodo dismissed Arcandra Tahar from his position as Minister of Energy and Mines. He had citizenship in Indonesia and the United States. The incident sparked a national discussion. Many called for citizenship law reforms that fit global needs and realities.
“Dual citizenship can be a new breakthrough for Indonesia, especially in utilizing its global network and expertise. This policy offers a more inclusive national development framework, which embraces and engages diverse capabilities of communities, both from within and outside the country,” Cotdemiey added.
The economic impact of dual citizenship is not limited to individuals. Licensing dual citizenship could boost Indonesia’s attractiveness as a global investment destination.
The Indonesian diaspora living abroad can hoist foreign direct investment. Mainly, they will prefer to invest in their home country if they can maintain legal ties.
“The existence of dual citizenship allows Indonesian expatriates to maintain their origins and connect Indonesia with the global market. Investment and expertise from the diaspora will play an important role in shaping a strong and rapidly growing economic landscape for Indonesians,” he concluded.
Citizenship Invest is a leading advisory firm. It specialises in Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI) solutions. With more than 16 years of experience, Citizenship Invest has successfully assisted more than 20,000 clients from 85 countries. It helps them navigate the complexities of CBI and RBI programs.
Licensed by several governments to process CBI programs, the company is committed to providing customized services. It aims to meet the unique needs of each client. With global operations and deep program knowledge, Citizenship Invest offers comprehensive support throughout the investment process.
Translated from Indonesian to English.
