JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a statement of readiness by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who expressed his willingness to help promote the capital city of the archipelago (IKN) to the international community.
According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marinves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Blair made this statement when President Jokowi received a meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 19.
"The president asked Tony Blair, and Tony Blair also happens to offer himself as well to help promote this new capital city internationally," Luhut, who was also present to accompany Jopkowi at the meeting, was quoted as saying in an official statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat via Antara.
Luhut revealed that during the meeting, Blair also had time to convey a number of ideas related to promotional strategies that the Indonesian government could carry out.
Blair said that the Indonesian government could promote to several other countries such as the United Arab Emirates and China, as well as a number of companies in the Asian region to invest in IKN.
"Earlier, the mind of Mr. Tony Blair, an entrepreneur from the--government, meaning the United Arab Emirates and China. Then earlier (Arab) Saudi with Korea (South) was a joint company," said Luhut.
Luhut added that later apart from foreign companies from Indonesia, they will also contribute to IKN development by investing there.
"Companies from Indonesia will work hand in hand in building IKN because this development is not only a building, but like the President conveyed, including to his spirit," he said.
Tony Blair a day earlier was present at a market exploration event promoting IKN's investment potential entitled "The capital city of the archipelago: New History, New Civilization" held by the IKN Authority in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).
In the event, Blair also stated his immediate willingness to echo messages about the archipelago to the wider world.
"Nusantara was built in a time of dramatic change, in terms of technology and an environment that is increasingly getting attention to be protected. Therefore, the archipelago is not only a showcase for Indonesia but also for the world. I want everyone from all parts of the world to come to the archipelago to see what the real thing can be done," said Blair at Djakarta Theater, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/10) night.
Blair further said that Nusantara is the personification and embodiment of an important spirit in determining the progress of a country.
Because according to Blair a country is not only progressing thanks to the buildings being built, through its infrastructure, markets, or the economy, but enthusiasm is an important part of the progress of a country.
"And the spirit of modern Indonesia is about innovation, opportunity, courage, and completing work. And this capital city can be a personification and a manifestation of that spirit," he said.
In addition to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, he also accompanied the President to receive Blair's arrival at the Merdeka Palace as Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.
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