The development of the Indonesian National Capital (IKN) continues to show significant progress, even amidst internal dynamics involving the resignation of high-ranking officials. Two recent important events confirm that the commitment to realizing IKN as a new symbol of Indonesia’s progress remains strong and unwavering.
On June 4 2024, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the construction of the Astra Biz Center and Nusantara Botanical Garden at IKN Nusantara, East Kalimantan. This event shows great support from the private sector, especially PT Astra International, in building modern facilities that support the green city, smart city, liveable city and loveable city concepts promoted by IKN.
President Jokowi in his speech expressed his high appreciation for PT Astra Internasional’s commitment to building the Astra Biz Center on an area of 3.4 hectares. This integrated service complex will provide one stop service for 11 company brands from the Astra Group, including Astra Motor, Auto2000, Astra Daihatsu, FIFGROUP, and others. In addition, the construction of the Nusantara Botanical Garden by the Nusantara Consortium with CSR funds emphasizes the real contribution of the private sector in the social and environmental development of IKN.
Astra Director, Rudy, explained that the Astra Biz Center-IKN was designed to contribute to advancing business centers and encouraging local economic growth. With a green building concept and pedestrian-oriented design, this facility will prioritize pedestrian comfort and environmental sustainability. Natural light, eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient equipment are some of the key features that will be used to ensure the building’s sustainability.
The Astra Biz Center-IKN built by Astra will prioritize meeting customer needs and providing convenience to the public regarding Astra’s four-wheeled and two-wheeled mobility products which are equipped with various supporting services.
With a two-story green building design concept, the Astra Biz Center-IKN is designed to be equipped with natural lighting, environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving equipment that pays attention to sustainability and environmental aspects that maximize the combination of greenery. Astra Biz Center-IKN also focuses on pedestrian-oriented design which prioritizes pedestrian comfort with a futuristic, inclusive design, adapting to the concept of the city of the future
On the other hand, internal dynamics occurred with the resignation of Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe from the positions of Head and Deputy Head of the IKN Authority. However, President Joko Widodo emphasized that this resignation was based on personal reasons and would not hinder the pace of IKN development.
In a question and answer session with journalists, President Jokowi stated that even though Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe resigned, the government remained committed to continuing IKN development according to plan. The President also emphasized that Bambang would be given a new assignment as a special envoy for international cooperation in order to accelerate IKN development, utilizing his experience in the international arena.
Despite changes in the leadership structure of the IKN Authority, strategic steps continue to be taken to ensure the smooth running of the project. Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono was appointed as Acting Head of the IKN Authority, while Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs, Spatial Planning and the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Raja Juli Antoni was appointed as Acting Deputy Head of the IKN Authority. This appointment shows the government’s quick steps in filling the leadership gap and ensuring the project’s sustainability.
President Jokowi also emphasized that IKN development is not only about physical infrastructure, but also includes human development. Astra, through the Astra Education Foundation – Michael D. Ruslim, is revitalizing the 020 Sepaku State Elementary School and building 11 elementary schools and 2 vocational school level schools in the IKN area. This step is expected to improve the quality of education and produce quality human resources at IKN.
It is hoped that the construction of the Astra Biz Center and the Nusantara Botanical Garden will have a positive impact on the IKN economy and environment. With a green building design concept and environmentally friendly facilities, this project will support IKN as a sustainable forest city and livable city. In addition, the involvement of the private sector in the development of infrastructure and public facilities shows strong collaboration between the government and the private sector in realizing the IKN vision.
The government’s commitment to continuing IKN development, despite the resignation of high-ranking officials, confirms that this project is a national priority that cannot be stopped. Support from the private sector such as Astra also shows that IKN is a joint project involving various stakeholders for a better future for Indonesia.
The development of IKN Nusantara continues to run smoothly, even though there are internal dynamics in the form of resignations of high-ranking officials. The inauguration of the construction of the Astra Biz Center and Nusantara Botanical Garden by President Joko Widodo shows that support from the private sector remains strong and sustainable. The resignations of Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe did not hamper the pace of development, because the government quickly took strategic steps to ensure the smooth running of the project. With strong collaboration between the government and the private sector, the development of IKN Nusantara will continue to progress towards its realization as a symbol of Indonesia’s progress and sustainability.
