Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the Groundbreaking of BRI Office Building, at Nusantara Capital, N. Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, February 29, 2024
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
This indicates that investment interest in the new capital of Nusantara continues to grow and there are many who are waiting. We just need to organize where the land is clear and clean and determine the area in order to expedite the formation of this ecosystem so that the city becomes lively.
If those who are waiting are given priority and others are not, the ecosystem will not be built properly. And I see optimism after the election last time so we won’t wait anymore and we’ll immediately organize its groundbreaking, but it will indeed be in line with the ecosystem we want to build.
Today, for the financial cluster, for the financial industry cluster that is laying its first stone. I want to show this maybe. It’s already quite crowded here if we look at what has been done so far. The points are already quite crowded. The palace is here. But what’s even more crowded is actually in the west of IKN. It’s just that the points are not shown here yet. But this will be the busiest in the next 2-3 months. Here is already full.
Journalist:
Excuse me, Pak President. What are the preparations for August 17th [celebration] in IKN like so far?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
Ask Minister of Public Works. Ask Head of the IKN Authority. There’s no problem.
Journalist:
Will it be here this year, Sir?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
Yes, so there’s no physical problem until today. The event has also been planned, in terms of capacities, the number of events. It’s already been detailed. It was almost final in January.
Journalist:
How about the preparation for the relocation of civil servants, Sir?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
Civil servants will be relocated gradually because we have to prepare supporting facilities such as housing which is the most important and schools for their children who are relocated here; hospitals if someone gets sick for example. So, all this needs to be managed. It’s not easy. This is what we are preparing. But as I mentioned earlier, we estimate that within 10 years. This city will already be a lively city, inhabited by many of our people.
Journalist:
Will you be working here together with Pak Bas in June, Sir?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
Pak Basuki.
Journalist:
Not you, Sir?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
In June.
Journalist:
When will you, Sir?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
July. I’m waiting for the airport to be completed; the toll road to be completed. Once the toll road has been completed, the airport will be completed.
Journalist:
For tomorrow’s agenda, Sir, after visiting IKN, is there any further agenda?
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo):
Yes, tomorrow we will still have groundbreaking for some of the buildings we want to build so that the ecosystem can be connected immediately. (AS/EP)