Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Groundbreaking of Office of PT Bank Mandiri in Nusantara, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, February 29, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Good afternoon,
May peace be upon us all,

Distinguished Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres), the Ministers of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Minister of Investment, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning, Minister of Trade, and also Minister of SOE;

Distinguished Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Governor of East Kalimantan and the Regent of the North Penajam Paser;

Distinguished Chairman of Financial Services Authority (OJK), Managing Director of Bank Mandiri and all directors and commissioners;

Distinguished Head of the Nusantara Authority

Ladies and Gentlemen.

For those of you who have never been to Nusantara, it feels very far away from Balikpapan to Nusantara. From Balikpapan to Nusantara now, we need 1.5 hours or 2 hours, seems very far away. But after June, once the toll road is finished, once the airport is finished, from the airport to Nusantara takes only fifteen minutes. Once the toll road is completed from Balikpapan to Nusantara, only forty five minutes. Previously, according to the plan, it needs thirty minutes but now the Minister said it needs extra fifteen minutes.

This is the future of Indonesia. If the traffic to this city is increasing, the crowd will follow. I have also told the Head of the Nusantara Authority not to lose control in managing the city. Because there are several new capitals built by other countries that I didn’t mention here, which are very busy, but it is getting out of control. There are two capital cities like that. It looks like it works, but it actually doesn’t work. So the Government must control the development of this city in accordance with the initial concept of forest city, smart city.

I am glad that Bank Mandiri will immediately start the construction of office, specifically for digital services. I acknowledge that the [number of] customers of Bank Mandiri’s app Livin’ has reached 23 million. It is a very big number. Later if it develops here, the figure could be improved.

If the digital ecosystem here has been built, it will bring in the digital nomad because this city will be different from other cities in the world; not crowded, but alive. There is no pollution because the people will use electric vehicles and electric public transportation. That’s what I have in mind. We’ll see it in practice, because sometimes plans and ideas can change depending on how strong the management is in controlling this city.

I think that’s what I want to say. Director of Bank Mandiri, how many months will it take to complete? One year. That means I’ll see it in February. I’m just watching, because I am no longer a president.

And by saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, today I declare that the groundbreaking of the PT Bank Mandiri office building in Nusantara has officially begun.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

(EST/LW)