US, China, And Japan Offer Design Plans For The New Capital City Of Indonesia

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono looks at the design of the new capital city. (Photo: Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono said three countries, namely the United States, China and Japan, offered assistance in designing the design of a new capital city.

After the meeting between the winners of the new capital competition and the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan in Jakarta, Friday January 3, Basuki said that the offer was given while still prioritizing the design of the competition.

"Basic design by the winners of the competition becomes the basis because this is Indonesian. If anyone wants to help, because there are so many, from America, Japan, China who want to help with the design," he said.

Basuki said that the meeting with the winner of the competition and the Coordinating Minister for Luhut was held because Luhut wanted to know the design of the capital city that was selected in the competition.

"Because in the past the Coordinating Minister had not participated in the meeting prior to the stipulation, he wanted to know what it was like. Then explored whether it was necessary if you wanted to improvise with foreigners, with international ones. But not a competition," he said.

During the meeting, continued Basuki, Luhut informed that there were several foreign consultants assigned by his country to assist Indonesia. The involvement of private consultants will only focus on design, but it is not yet known whether they will also be involved in funding.

"They are assigned by their countries. They are bilateral cooperation between countries," he said.

Furthermore, Basuki said that not all of these consultants would be accepted by the government. The reason is, the winner of the competition can also give consideration because they have an assessment with an experienced consultant.

He said the Indonesian government would not give reciprocity to the countries that provided the assistance. "If it's a grant, there's no (reciprocal)," he said.

Previously, the PUPR Ministry, through a team of judges, announced the winners of the contest for the design of the country's new capital city. The first best winner was won by the design idea of Nagara Rimba Nusa, while the second best winner was the design of The Infinite City.

Meanwhile, the third best winner was the Kota Seribu Galur design, while the one and two winners were respectively the Zamrud Khatulistiwa and Banua Nusantara designs.

After being announced, the winners will be invited directly to the location of the new capital for a field survey. The first, second and third winners will be merged into one team which will produce the final design.