Jakarta, Aug. 24 -- Indonesia must be bold in developing its villages if it wants to stand on equal footing with major nations, Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman said on Sunday.

Speaking at the briefing and send-off of the Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) in Jakarta, Sulaiman stressed that true national progress begins at the village level.

"If we want to be on par with big nations, we must be brave to develop from the villages, open new frontiers, and strengthen the people's economy," he stated.

He noted that developed countries are not only defined by advanced technology and large capital, but also by human resources equipped with innovation, collaboration, and the willingness to reach remote areas.

As examples, he c...