Jokowi To The Boss Of Ciputra Group: How Many Hectares Of Investment In IKN?

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo 'collects' Ciputra Group officials about their commitment to invest in the development of the capital city of the archipelago (IKN) on the sidelines of a market exploration event in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 18 evening.

The request was directed by President Jokowi to Managing Director of Ciputra Group and Director of PT Ciputra Development Tbk, Budiarsa Sastrawinata, who was present at a market exploration event held by the IKN Authority with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

"I think everything has been conveyed, but I want a real commitment. I haven't heard from Ciputra Group, Pak Budiarsa, how many hectares?" asked the President when he started the closing statement, reported by Antara.

The President's question was greeted with laughter from entrepreneurs and investors who were present at the Djakarta Theater rice center, before Budiarsa said 300 hectares.

"Yes? 300 hectares, correct sir?" asked the President confirming.

"Yes, maybe this is the first one, but 300 hectares are also very wide. As long as it starts, Pak Budiarsa."

The President then continued a similar "todongan" to other entrepreneurs at random with the key question "How many hectares? When did you build it?"

The President even emphasized that he really likes real things and does not mind if there are entrepreneurs who only invest one hectare in IKN as long as there is clarity to start the realization of investment and physical development.

The reason is that the President emphasized that he personally and his staff in the government want investments to quickly begin their realization in IKN.

"Not from the government, after all, KAI has started. We have started the dam for water starting last year. We have started the road infrastructure. We have also built housing for workers, we have also started. Now I am waiting for investment, from investors, from the private sector, when?" Jokowi said.

Previously, when giving the opening statement, the President reminded that his party wanted to instill the spirit of a culture of working together in IKN development so that only 20 percent of the budget from the government/APBN and the remaining 80 percent were sourced from non-governmental investments.

The President also repeated his belief that if all parties work together, on August 17, 2024, the Indonesian nation will be able to celebrate the 79th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia at IKN Nusantara.

"So once again, what is clear is that in August 2024, we want IKN to become a modern city that lives and we will celebrate the 79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence in the courtyard of the IKN Palace," concluded Jokowi.

Also attending the event were Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Head of IKN Authority Bambang Susatyo, Deputy Head of IKN Authority Dhony Rahajoe, and Chairman of Kadin Arsjad Rasjid.

British former Prime Minister Tony Blair has also been appointed advisor to the IKN development project.