According to an official press release posted on the website of The President of The Republic of Indonesia, President Jokowi conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk Office Building in the new capital of Nusantara on Thursday (29/2/24,) marking an important step in developing infrastructure and digital services in IKN.
In his speech, the president talked about Indonesia’s future and the changes that will occur after infrastructure development such as toll roads and airports is completed. The President emphasized that travel time from Balikpapan to the capital will be greatly reduced once this is done.
“Please look at it after June, once the toll road is finished, once the airport is finished, from the airport to here, it’s only 15 minutes. And once the toll road is finished, it will take 45 minutes from Balikpapan to here,” he said.
The President also spoke of the importance of managing IKN so that it does not lose control like several new capitals in other countries. He emphasized the concepts of a “forest city” and a “smart city” as the main foundations for developing IKN as a city that is sustainable, pollution-free, and supported by electricity-based public transportation.
The President also appreciated Bank Mandiri’s steps to start construction on buildings for digital services, considering the huge potential of the digital ecosystem in Indonesia, which can be seen, among other things, from the number of users of Bank Mandiri’s Livin’ platform which has reached 23 million people. The President hopes that this development will support the growth of the digital ecosystem and attract “digital nomads” from various parts of the world to live in the capital city of the archipelago.
“If the digital ecosystem here is built, it will bring digital nomads to live in this archipelago because this city will be different from other cities in the world. “It’s not crowded but lively, there’s no pollution because everyone uses electric vehicles and electric public transportation,” he explained.
Also accompanying the President on this occasion were Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/ Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/ Head of the National Land Agency Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Head of the IKN Authority Bambang Susantono.
Also present were Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council Wiranto, Head of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority Mahendra Siregar, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, Acting East Kalimantan Governor Akmal Malik, Acting Regent of North Penajam Paser Makmur Marbun, Curator of IKN Development Ridwan Kamil, and the Main Director of Bank Mandiri Darmawan Junaidi.
Source: The President of The Republic of Indonesia website
Image BPMI Setpres/ Muchlis Jr
