Inaugurating The Head And Deputy Head Of IKN, Jokowi: Good Choice And Combination

PHOTO: Screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat Youtube

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said Bambang Susantono-Dhony Rahajoe as Head and Deputy Head of the Archipelago Capital Authority (IKN) was the best choice and combination. The two figures are considered to have a capable track record.

This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo in the introduction to a limited meeting discussing IKN at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, March 10.

"Mr. Bambang, he has a track record as an ITB graduate in the field of civil infrastructure, then also in the field of urban planning, then S2, S3, experience in fields related to transportation, related to finance, then also lastly held Vice President at ADB. I think this is complete from all sides," Jokowi said, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

Jokowi is confident that the Bambang-Dhony duo will be able to work together with ministers in terms of planning, implementing development in the field and investing. Moreover, later they will be assisted by relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of PUPR and Bappenas.

"It will be very easy for the two of them to talk to Pak Harso about the planning side, then later, the Minister of Public Works, especially in the field implementation, especially for the core government areas, and also in the investment sector later with Coordinating Minister Luhut," he explained.

Jokowi believes that the construction of the Nusantara IKN will attract the interest of many parties from within and outside the country to invest. So, Bambang and Dhony were asked to move quickly.

"I hope that there will be a lot of interest in the capital city of the archipelago, both domestically and from outside. I want the two of them to work quickly, especially those related to institutions," said the former governor of DKI Jakarta.

For information, Bambang Susantono has served as Deputy Minister of Transportation for the period 2009-2014 and has served as Acting Minister of Transportation.

Prior to his appointment as Head of the IKN Authority, Bambang served as Vice President of Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Meanwhile, Dhony Rahajoe serves as Managing Director of the President Office of Sinar Mas Land and is listed as a member of the Governing Body of the Bandung Institute of Science Technology (ITSB) Foundation.