By : Anindira Putri Maheswani )*
Investment is one of the main issues that is often discussed when the construction of IKN has entered the design stage. This is due to the fact that the development of IKNs does not all use funds from the APBN, but also requires support from investors so that the construction of IKNs can continue.
Previously, Indonesian President Joko Widodo had held bilateral talks between himself and the Head of Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee on the sidelines of the APEC economic leaders meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
During the meeting, Jokowi invited Hong Kong investors to support the development of the Archipelago’s capital city in East Kalimantan as a green city.
Jokowi said Hong Kong investors could participate in developing infrastructure, transportation, green energy, digital transformation and value added industries .
In the field of trade, Jokowi considers that there is still a lot of potential for cooperation that can be developed, such as trade in fishery products, processed foods and spices.
The former Mayor of Surakarta admitted that he saw a lot of potential that could be worked on, especially with Hong Kong, to realize balanced trade cooperation. Hong Kong is considered to have potential as an entry point for exports from Indonesia to mainland China.
On the same occasion, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee congratulated Indonesia on the success of the G20 Presidency which was well received by the world. In addition, Hong Kong will also be committed to continuing to enhance cooperation with Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Potential Consul Ricky Suhendar from Hong Kong said that the government’s decision to move the capital city to IKN Nusantara would open up many opportunities for potential investors from Hong Kong.
According to him, investors from Hong Kong have an interest in investing in sectors such as transportation, housing, infrastructure, office buildings and other public facilities.
This investment opportunity seems to be in line with the bilateral economic cooperation relationship between Hong Kong and Indonesia which continues to increase amid economic uncertainty due to the food and energy crisis that is currently sweeping the world.
Data from the government shows that Hong Kong’s investment realization in Indonesia is in second place after Singapore in 2021.
Therefore, the momentum of economic recovery in Indonesia and Hong Kong must be utilized as much as possible, both by Indonesian and Hong Kong businessmen.
Apart from Hong Kong, there are also Malaysia, Japan, Australia and South Korea who are interested in investing in IKN. These countries have explored opportunities to cooperate in various sectors in East Kalimantan.
Among them are agriculture, plantation livestock, fisheries, tourism, education, health and transportation.
The investments made are not only for the construction of Nusantara IKN facilities, but also for buffer zones.
The Governor of East Kalimantan, Isran Noor, said that the construction of the IKN would continue to protect the environment by implementing a green city.
The development of IKN must of course be able to become an innovative, transformative and sustainable Smart City.
According to the plan, IKN will be built with the concept of a green city which will be combined with a city that is smart, forest, sustainable and blue.
Furthermore, IKN will also implement the utilization of renewable and low-carbon energy (solar energy, gas and others) for power and gas supply, efficient power grid and street and building lighting. In its application for energy efficiency and conservation, a green building design is needed through a circular water management system and district cooling system.
The concept that has been planned is considered very good, but in practice it must be consistently based on a green city which requires a green city, including sustainable urban planning and design, procurement of green open spaces, application of energy-friendly green buildings, integrated waste management. , the use of environmentally friendly transportation, improving the quality of urban water and developing healthy cooperation between the government, the community, and the business world known as the green community or green community.
To optimize the concept of green and forest city, this concept must be enriched with the concept of green economy or green economy which is defined as an environmentally sound economy, where economic growth and development are harmonized without destroying the environment and promoting sustainable development.
The green economy concept aims to grow the economy in a beneficial, socially just and environmentally friendly way, and promote health, safety and prosperity in the long term.
The Green Economy covers six main areas, namely sustainable transportation, renewable energy, green buildings, water management, waste management and land management.
Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Hong of course need to be maintained well, Hong Kong is one of the countries that has collaborated with Indonesia, one of which is WeLab Hong Kong which is a leading financial technology company that has invested its shares in one of the banks in Indonesia.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute