Jakarta – The future capital city (IKN), Nusantara, has been envisioned as a futuristic metropolis for Indonesia’s young generation, according to Danis H. Sumadilaga, head of Nusantara’s infrastructure development at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).
“We hope that our younger generation can contribute and collaborate to accommodate innovation in the three areas designated for growth, from the health, energy, and economic sectors,” Sumadilaga said on Tuesday during a webinar on “Unleashing Global Urban and Rural Digitalization Potential.”
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced on August 18, 2022, the relocation of Indonesia’s capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
The President’s decision to relocate the capital city was influenced by various factors, including population distribution, encouraging economic growth outside of Java, and addressing the clean water source crisis on Java Island.
The decision to relocate the capital city was also influenced by the rapid pace of land conversion in Java, the concentrated urbanization in Jakarta, and the high degree of economic losses in Jakarta.
“In Jakarta, we’re talking about water, traffic, and ground subsidence,” Sumadilaga remarked.
The administration is attempting to create a three-city ecosystem by relocating the capital city. As a result of the collaboration of the triangle cities of Samarinda, Balikpapan, and IKN Nusantara, IKN is expected to be a catalyst for future economic development in East Kalimantan.
While IKN will be the heart of government and green innovation, Samarinda, as East Kalimantan’s historical center, will be the base for energy sector revitalization, and Balikpapan, as the muscle, will be the core of downstream oil and gas industry development and logistics.
According to him, IKN Nusantara aspires to be the most sustainable city, a symbol of national identity, and a driving force in Indonesia’s economy in the future.
IKN is also intended to be the capital city’s hub in the future, with a smart city system that is connected with harmony, he added.
“IKN is not just a smart city, but it is also a modern place with world-class infrastructure,” Sumadilaga said.
