President Jokowi, Professionals Discuss Indonesia’s New Capital Development Plan

INDUSTRY.co.id - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (15/04) at the State Palace in Jakarta discussed the development planning of Indonesia’s new capital with a number of professional associations.

“President of the Republic Indonesia has met with associations of professionals, particularly experts in architecture, planning, regional planning, and the environment, all of whom are experts in the engineering sector,” Minister of National Development Planning / Head of the National Development Planning Agency Suharso Monoarfa told the press after the meeting.

According to Suharso, the President carefully listened to the suggestions from the experts to be considered in developing the country’s new capital.

“In fact, the President invited the experts to take part in the new capital’s authority when it has been established. At least they can provide recommendations on all matters related to planning and development of the country’s new capital,” he said.

Suharso went on to say that the new capital will be a global city for everyone so it is normal if everyone has the same opportunity to participate to build it, including by giving ideas.

Therefore, he added, the Government is open to suggestions.

“As the President has stated, the Government will be open to all ideas. All suggestions that are addressed properly, that are constructive to build our future capital,” he remarked.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Head of the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners Hendricus Andy Simarmata said that the President allowed each association representative to voice their opinions during the meeting.

“We are a professional association in the sector of construction services. We were welcomed by the President and were given the chance to give suggestions on the capital development one by one,” he remarked,adding that his party expressed hope that there will be continuity between macro-level planning and micro-level or building-level planning.

“Therefore, the vision that the President has stated can truly be translated into a construction process that meets standards of development,” he said.

Andy also expressed hope that the new capital could set an example to the international world about how Indonesia can build its new capital by prioritizing nature, tropical rainforests, and local communities’ benefits.

“We support the speed of the process so an Advanced Indonesia must be quick, but we also must not hurry, haste, so we can truly create the capital we all love,” he said, while underscoring the importance of a measured process in implementing the development planning made by the Government.

For the record, seven associations joined the meeting, including the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners, the Indonesian Institute of Urban Designers, the Indonesian Society of Landscape Architects, the Indonesian Institute of Architects, the Indonesian Environmental Experts Association, the Green Building Council Indonesia, and the Institution of Engineers Indonesia.

President Jokowi on 26 August 2019 announced that the two regencies in East Kalimantan province, North Penajam Paser regency and part of Kutai Kertanegara regency, were to be the site of country’s new capital.

The new capital is to become the center of government, while Jakarta will remain Indonesia’s business and economic center. (FID/UN) (DH/EP)