STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. The government is preparing to host its official 2024 Independence Day celebrations in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, in August, as President Jokowi hopes to have portions of the planned new capital up and running later in the year.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, State Secretariat secretary Setya Utama said the government had held its first meeting on the topic.
Presidential Secretariat head Heru Budi Hartono, who will chair the committee for this year’s celebrations, said he had formed divisions within the committee to prepare for different aspects of the programming.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi met with Chinese Transportation Minister Li Xiaopeng in Beijing City to discuss opportunities to increase bilateral cooperation in the transportation sector. Budi said the Jakarta–Bandung Whoosh high-speed rail was a form of commitment to bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Regarding the construction of an automated rail transit (ART) in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Budi said that he had carried out investigations with the Chinese side, especially through the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). He conveyed the Indonesian government’s desire to use an autonomous train set from CRRC for operations at IKN.
Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) Chair Bambang Susantono said Northern Illinois University (NIU) in the United States was interested in building a postgraduate campus at IKN. NIU President Lisa C. Freeman conveyed the university’s desire to be part of the development of Nusantara.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo flew to East Kalimantan to inaugurate a number of infrastructure projects at the planned new capital Nusantara, including the construction of a Rp 940 billion (US$62 million) mosque.
The mosque, which can accommodate 61,000 worshipers, will be constructed in the complex designated for places of worship for all faiths in the country. The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority plans to also build a church and cathedral, and Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese temples on the site.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed hope that the construction of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) Office Complex in Nusantara would bolster investors’ trust in the development of the new capital city (IKN). “I hope that the development of the LPS Office Complex in IKN will further shoot up the trust of the people, especially business players and investors,” he said during the groundbreaking for the complex in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, followed online on YouTube.
President Jokowi expressed optimism about Indonesia holding its 79th Independence anniversary ceremony at the new capital (IKN) Nusantara on Aug. 17 this year. He made the statement at the National Axis, IKN, East Kalimantan, after inspecting and launching the development of several infrastructures.
The head of state said that the government has continued to make progress in developing Nusantara, as evidenced by the increasing number of business players parking their capital in projects at IKN, including the Jambuluwuk Nusantara Hotel.
The Indonesian government remains steadfast in its commitment to establishing an eco-friendly National Capital City (IKN), focusing on sustainable practices. A pivotal step in this direction involves the implementation of Solar Power Plants (PLTS) with a substantial 50-megawatt (MW) capacity.
This solar facility is slated for construction on a 100-hectare expanse in the Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan. Envisioned to contribute 10% of the electricity requirements for IKN Nusantara, the PLTS represents a significant leap toward a greener metropolis.
