President Affirms IKN Has A Forest City Concept, Not Concrete

President Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the concept of building the capital city of the archipelago (IKN) is forest city or forest city, not a concrete city.

"I want to convey that IKN is an example of a future city that is built with plans and concepts for the future. The concept is forest city, so forest city is not a concrete city," Jokowi said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 13.

The concept is to create an environmentally friendly and sustainable city, emphasizing the importance of green space and natural ecosystems in the midst of urban development.

In his directive, the Head of State said that all regional heads could plan and create development concepts in their respective regions.

"I think in all provinces, regencies and cities we can plan and conceptualize what city it wants to be. I have said many times, in California (US), a city specifically for golf only, there are 37 golf clubs there, only that there is nothing else," said Jokowi.

He also gave an example of the City of High Point in North Carolina, AS, dubbed the "city of furniture".

"It's only specifically for furniture cities, anywhere but furniture. We actually have great strength in Jepara. The Regent of Jepara is there? You can conceptualize design from the start, although it's not finished, maybe in one regent or two regent periods, but the planning must be there and details, which are ripe there," said Jokow.

Jokowi said, IKN also carries the smart city concept, where all activities will be supported by technology.

"Indeed, the momentum is right, the changes in this era are right. This is the time, both digital technology and other technologies so that this will become a livable city, a city that is comfortable to live in. I think all the provinces we have, all districts and cities that we have should go there," he concluded.