Bahlil Lahadalia Emphasizes IKN Development is Worth the Memory Today, July 21, 2022

JAKARTA - Today's memory, four years ago, July 21, 2022, the Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, was firm that the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) was a dead price. The development is considered to continue.

Previously, President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) desire to move the capital from Jakarta to outside Java was irresistible. He felt that Jakarta was no longer worthy of being the capital. The main problem was Jakarta's dense and congested traffic.

There is no doubt about Jakarta's existence as the capital of Indonesia. This condition is because Jakarta is not only strategic, but also has a major contribution in the history of the Indonesian nation's journey. Many historical events have taken place in Jakarta, from the Youth Pledge to the Proclamation of Independence.

As a result, Jakarta, which was once considered a collection of villages, turned into a metropolitan city. The status of the Capital then made the economic turnover grow rapidly. However, this progress certainly brought problems.

Jakarta is starting to feel crowded and congested. Not to mention the poor air quality with the threatening flood disaster. This list makes President Jokowi think that Jakarta is no longer suitable for carrying the status of the capital of Indonesia.

Jokowi's desire to move the capital to outside Java is getting more serious. He then designated Penajam Paser Timur, East Kalimantan as the location of the new capital. In short, the location was then named IKN.

Jokowi wants to build IKN as a symbol of national progress. He considers IKN as a symbol of economic equality. Jokowi also appointed officials who will later become the Head of the IKN Authority at the ministerial level. As a result, Jokowi did not forget to ask for the blessing of the people of Indonesia.

"So the programs that exist are certainly not only building the physical once again. We also want to build social cohesion, want to build a dynamic community, a vibrant one, so that once again this will be a city for all, city for all."

"We ask for the support of all levels of society to jointly build this Nusantara city. The goal is for IKN to become a city that is once again inclusive, green, smart, and sustainable," said Bambang as quoted by the menpan.go.id page, March 11, 2022.

The optimism that President Jokowi has rolled out does not make IKN free from criticism. Many consider Jokowi to be too self-imposed and not a few who predict that IKN will be stalled. The narrative is because the funds spent for IKN are too large.

The government is considered to have failed to attract investors from various countries. This narrative then made Bahlil speak up to dispel criticism on July 21, 2022. The Minister of Investment considered that the IKN Development was a dead price and must continue to run.

Bahlil also dismissed the notion that IKN was a lonely investor. Investors are already there. In fact, many countries have expressed their interest in investing in IKN. Bahlil asked all Indonesians to believe and support the development of IKN.

"I want to say that the investments that will enter IKN, those countries already exist. But we can't talk every day about this country, this country (want to invest). It's like nonsense, that's it. Believe me. Investments in IKN already exist, for example UAE, Korea, Taiwan, China, many," said Bahlil as quoted by the ANTARA website, July 21, 2022.