Tony Blair Praises Jokowi regarding IKN: Previously, It's an Ambitious Dream, Now Realized

Executive Chairman Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Tony Blair (first from the left) at the MoU with OIKN. Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - Former British Prime Minister (PM) Tony Blair praised the National Capital Project or IKN Nusantara which was started under the leadership of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Tony admitted that he and Jokowi had met since last year. At that time, they discussed moving the capital city of Jakarta to the archipelago.

"About a year ago I was present at Jakarta City Hall with President Jokowi. At that time, it was a dream, a beautiful dream, an ambitious dream, but still a dream. Currently, under the extraordinary efforts of the Archipelago Capital Authority and Bambang (Head of OIKN) is a reality," he told journalists in Jakarta, quoted Thursday, October 19.

He added that now this dream is starting to come true. The reason is that IKN has begun to be formed and built. Tony has even asked several people who visited IKN and all of them expressed being very impressed by the progress, look, and feel of the entire project.

"This project is very big and important because it is part of the marker for a new Indonesia. Indonesia under President Jokowi's leadership in recent years has become one of the most significant countries in the world," said Tony.

According to Tony, the development of IKN was driven by Jokowi's own vision and mission. The former British PM assessed that Jokowi encouraged IKN according to his vision of not only becoming the nation's capital, but also as a symbol of world change.

"So what really impressed me from the start of this project was the feeling that this project was not just offering something to Indonesia, but offering something to the world," he said.

Furthermore, said Tony, there are two things that are an important part of the archipelago, namely that IKN itself is located in an area of Indonesia that is beautiful and rich in biodiversity.

Apart from that, another important thing is that IKN will be a sign of modern life, how life can be done in a sustainable way, and protect the environment.