The Government Is Optimistic That The Transfer Of IKN Will Make The Economy In Eastern Indonesia's Region More Evenly

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo's visit to the capital city of the archipelago (IKN) in Penajam Pasar Utara, East Kalimanta, today is said to provide optimism for the transition to the capital city.

Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga is optimistic that the transfer of IKN can increase equitable economic turnover, especially in eastern Indonesia.

"Symbolically, the distance between the center and Eastern Indonesia will be closer. Substantively too. The central affordability and attention to Eastern Indonesia will certainly be greater. This is a breath of fresh air for people outside Java and Eastern Indonesia," said Jerry in his statement, Thursday, February 23.

Jerry sees the potential for the development of commodity, mining and agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors to become large after the capital city officially moves from Jakarta to the archipelago.

Judging from the geographical position, according to Jerry, President Jokowi's idea to move the location of the capital Nusantara to make affordability to all parts of Indonesia better.

"Symbolically, the distance between the center and Eastern Indonesia will be closer. Substantively too. The affordability and central attention to Eastern Indonesia will certainly be greater. This is a breath of fresh air for people outside Java and Eastern Indonesia," said Jerry.

For information, the Indonesian government is building an IKN which will become Indonesia's new capital city to replace Jakarta. IKN will carry a city with a modern concept, smart city, and an environmentally friendly city. The construction of this new capital city is expected to be completed in its entirety by 2045.

The government is preparing 47 "power" apartments for residences for around 16,900 State Civil Apparatus (ASN) and Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldiers in the capital city of the archipelago (IKN).

The construction of these apartments is planned to be built in June - July 2023 and is targeted for completion in January 2024 with a total budget value of IDR 9.4 trillion.

In addition to housing, the government is also working on the construction of a 40 km toll road from Balikpapan to the IKN area which is targeted for completion by the end of 2024.

With the toll road, said Jokowi, travel time from Balikpapan to the IKN Core Area can be reached with 30 minutes. The toll road is also the first connectivity infrastructure built by the government in IKN.