President Jokowi To IKN Next Week Inaugurates A Number Of Projects

Curator of the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) Ridwan Kamil conveyed a press statement (ANTARA/Yashinta Difa)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is planning to return to visit the capital city of Nusantara (IKN) next week, to inaugurate a number of infrastructure projects.

"Probably next week because there are 10-12 projects that will groundbreaking again," said IKN curator Ridwan Kamil after a limited meeting with President Jokowi at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 12.

The inauguration of infrastructure projects such as hotels and apartments by the President next week, according to Ridwan, shows the enthusiasm of the private sector in investing in IKN development.

"If you say it's only an APBN project, right. In fact, the groundbreaking is investment funds from the private sector. Indicating that belief exists. Moreover, toll roads and airports are also progressing, so later people can go to IKN directly through their own airports," said the former Governor of West Java who also works as an architect.

As the curator who was mandated by the President to evaluate all physical development at IKN, Ridwan assessed that the entire process of building the new capital city of Indonesia will run on schedule, namely the first phase is completed before the commemoration of the 79th Indonesian Independence Day next year.

"So it is hoped that on August 17, 2024, the National Asymptomatic Areas, ministry offices, presidential offices, and presidential palaces will also be completed," he said.

The man who is familiarly called Kang Emil said that at IKN, a tribute would be built to the heroes of the proclamation, in the form of statues of Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta as symbols of the father of the Indonesian nation.

In addition, unlike the Presidential Palace building in Jakarta with a colonial concept, the Presidential Palace in IKN will fully carry Indonesian culture.

"We are very rich in sources of inspiration, so the palace should not be like this, which is Western culture. Later the Presidential Palace (at IKN) will be colored by folklore, batik from all over the archipelago, various ornaments, folkklore... everything that displays our wealth storefronts in the form of architecture," said Ridwan.

"We will be very proud to have a place built by the nation itself, displaying our extraordinary cultural diversity," he added.