DEPUTY MINISTER FAHRI HAMZAH DISCUSSES CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN ESG-BASED WORKER HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT UNIVERSITAS BATAM

BATAM – Deputy Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas of the Republic of Indonesia, Fahri Hamzah, S.E., delivered a public lecture titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-Based Worker Housing Development” at Rumengan Hall, Universitas Batam, on Friday, October 16, 2026. The event provided a platform to discuss the challenges and opportunities in providing adequate housing for workers while promoting sustainable residential development.

The public lecture was part of a series of activities organized by Universitas Batam and was accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universitas Batam and The HUD Institute. Fahri Hamzah’s presence was expected to broaden the academic community’s understanding of housing and settlement issues and their connection to national development.

In his presentation, Fahri Hamzah discussed the challenges and opportunities in worker housing development, particularly the need to provide adequate housing that supports community welfare. The discussion also highlighted the importance of applying the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach to housing development, encompassing environmental sustainability, social well-being, and good governance.

The event continued with a discussion and question-and-answer session, giving participants the opportunity to exchange perspectives and deepen their understanding of worker housing issues. The forum also served as a platform for dialogue between the government and academia to explore opportunities for housing development that aligns with community needs and regional development priorities.

Prior to the public lecture, Rector of Universitas Batam, Prof. Dr. Ir. Samsul Rizal, M.Eng., IPU., ASEAN Eng., delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of sustainable economic growth and adequate housing provision. He expressed his hope that the government’s three-million-homes program could be implemented successfully. He also noted that Universitas Batam’s Master’s Program in Regional Planning could contribute through research and the identification of suitable areas to support well-targeted housing development that takes environmental considerations into account.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Board of Experts of The HUD Institute, Muhammad Joni, S.H., M.H., expressed his appreciation for the event as a platform for exchanging ideas and strengthening collaboration to improve community welfare. He also emphasized that fulfilling the right to adequate housing is an important part of national development.

On the occasion, Fahri Hamzah also expressed his appreciation for the collaboration between Universitas Batam and The HUD Institute. He hoped that this partnership would help establish Universitas Batam as a center for housing and urban studies in Batam and the Riau Islands, enabling the university to contribute through research, the development of ideas, and policy recommendations that support adequate housing provision and sustainable urban development.

Through this public lecture, Universitas Batam hopes that the insights shared by the Deputy Minister will enrich students’ and the academic community’s understanding of housing policy challenges, particularly those related to ESG-based worker housing. The event also reinforces the university’s role as a strategic partner in supporting the planning of adequate, inclusive, and sustainable residential areas.