Indonesian President Joko Widodo confirmed on Thursday (August 8) that the country’s capital will probably be moved to the island of Borneo from sinking and crowded Jakarta.
“The capital of our country will be moved to the island of Kalimantan. The location may be in Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan or South Kalimantan,” Joko said on Twitter, using the Indonesian name for Borneo.
“All aspects are being carefully analyzed to ensure that the decision is consistent with our national vision for the next 10, 50, 100 years,” he said.
The city of Palangkaraya and the world near the oil-rich Balikpapan were regarded as the likely location for the brand new capital.
Experts say that unlike other parts of Indonesia, most of Borneo will not be vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The government wants to start out moving to the brand new capital by 2024, when Joko’s second five-year term ends. National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjegoro said earlier this 12 months that such a move could cost as much as $33 billion (S$45.61 billion).
The financing will include allowing developers to administer government-owned properties in Jakarta in exchange for helping construct a future latest city, he said.
The greater Jakarta area, which incorporates satellite cities, is home to 30 million people. The government said economic losses from traffic jams in town are estimated at $7 billion a 12 months
