By Ananda Teresia
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first cabinet meeting in his planned new capital Nusantara on Monday, as the outgoing leader sought to reassure investors that his $32 billion megaproject remains on schedule before he steps down in October this year.
Years after announcing its flagship infrastructure project to ease the burden on congested, dilapidated and overcrowded Jakarta, Nusantara faced numerous problems, including construction delays and a lack of foreign investment.
Jokowi, as the president is known, was preparing to leave office after serving the maximum two-term limit, telling his ministers that the new capital marks a historic new chapter for the country.
“The new capital of Nusantara is a canvas on which we can shape the future. Not every country has the opportunity or ability to build a new capital from scratch,” he said from the eagle-shaped new state palace.
Nusantara will be built in a forest area on the island of Borneo, about 1,200 kilometers from the current capital Jakarta.
The location is of strategic importance and would promote balanced development in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Jokowi said, adding that the country’s population and economic activity have long been dominated by the island of Java, which accounts for 58 percent of GDP.
Almost all 34 cabinet ministers attended Monday’s meeting, including Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who will take office on October 20.
Via live stream from a room with metallic blue walls, the president and cabinet ministers discussed the development of Nusantara and the transition to the next government.
Jokowi expressed confidence that foreign investment would come and that future President Prabowo would remain committed to the project.
“At least I will continue it and, if possible, finish it,” Prabowo told reporters before the meeting.
“We are aware that building new cities is not a quick job, but a long and difficult one.”
(Written by Kate Lamb; edited by Michael Perry)
