President Jokowi to Visit Kilometer Zero as a Starting Activity in IKN

Kilometer Zero of new capital Nusantara. (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretary/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo will visit Kilometer Zero Area in the Capital City of Nusantara (IKN) in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan province, on Monday (03/14).

At the location, President Jokowi is planned to do a ritual of uniting the soils and waters of Nusantara (all regions of Indonesian islands). Head of Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono in his press statement in Balikpapan, on Sunday evening (03/13) explained that the soils and waters are brought by the Governors from their respective province.

“In the ritual, the Governors bring the soil and water from their respective province, taken from locations that have meanings according to respective local wisdom and culture. At the kilometer zero, the Governors will present it to Bapak President, and then Bapak President will pour it into a barrel that we have prepared, to unite them all from 34 provinces,” Head of Presidential Secretariat.

“On Monday morning, [the President] together with the Governors and local public figures will basically pray to Allah Swt and express their wish to have this big program run smoothly and all elements of society will give their support,” he added.

After the ritual, the President and the Governors are also scheduled to have a symbolic ceremony of planting trees adjacent to the kilometer zero monument. During the session, every Governor will plant the trees that are specifically from the respective provinces.

In the evening, President Jokowi is planned to spend the night at the IKN, and then to do the next work on the agenda in the following day.

Accompanying President Jokowi in the working visit were, among others, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Public Works and Public Housings Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of National Development Planning / Head of National Development Planning Board Suharso Monoarfa, Chairperson of the Authority of IKN Bambang Susantono, and Vice Chairperson of the Authority of IKN Dhony Rahajoe. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat/UN)(AW/LW/HD)