4-6-2024 (JAKARTA) In a move aimed at quelling mounting concerns surrounding Indonesia’s ambitious new capital project, President Joko Widodo has embarked on a high-stakes visit to East Kalimantan, where he sought to reassure the nation that the grand vision for Nusantara remains firmly on track. This bold display of confidence comes just a day after the shocking resignation of the leaders spearheading the project’s oversight body.
Addressing an event in Balikpapan, the closest port of call to the upcoming capital Nusantara, Widodo underscored that the new city is still “in the development process” and reiterated his commitment to establishing “the greenest capital in the world.” His words carried a sense of unwavering determination, seeking to dispel any doubts that may have arisen in the wake of the recent leadership upheaval.
“As much as Nusantara will be filled with buildings, it will also be filled with green spaces,” the President declared, painting a vivid picture of a city designed to strike a harmonious balance between urban development and environmental sustainability. “The city will be designed to include city parks as well.”
Widodo’s vision for Nusantara is one of a “dream city of the future,” a smart, creative, and liveable metropolis that sets new standards for urban living. “It will be a smart city, a creative city, which is liveable,” he emphasised, underscoring the ambitious goals that have been set for this monumental undertaking.
The President’s comments in Balikpapan, a mere two-hour drive from the site of Nusantara, came on the heels of the startling news that broke on June 3 regarding the resignations of the head and deputy head of the new capital project. In an Instagram post later that day, Widodo sought to allay fears, asserting that “the development of IKN will continue according to the shared vision that has been established,” using the initials of the city’s full name – Ibu Kota Nusantara.
On June 3, Indonesia’s presidential office announced that Widodo had accepted the resignations of Bambang Susantono, a former official at the Asian Development Bank who was leading the project, and his deputy, Dhony Rahajoe, an architect and former real estate developer. State Secretary Pratikno, who goes by one name, revealed that Bambang has been assigned a new role to assist the President in “strengthening international cooperation” to build the new city, though details of this position remain scarce.
In the wake of these departures, Widodo wasted no time in appointing Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono as the acting head of the Nusantara Authority and Vice-Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning, Raja Juli Antoni, as his deputy. While the President has yet to provide explicit reasons for the departure of Bambang and Dhony, the move has undoubtedly raised questions about the status of the $32 billion (£25 billion) project.
Undeterred by the challenges, Widodo is expected to make the journey to Nusantara on June 4 to inaugurate several key projects, including schools, while celebrations for Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 17 are being planned within the confines of the fledgeling capital. This symbolic gesture serves as a powerful affirmation of the government’s commitment to turning the dream of Nusantara into a tangible reality.
