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THE GOVERNMENT is giving priority to domestic business actors seeking to invest in the Government Core Area of the new national capital (IKN) Nusantara, Investment Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia said in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/08), 2023.
“Over 200 (investment intentions) have been received. However, I am currently pulling the brake. Why? Because we want to prioritize domestic parties to invest in the prime zones of the IKN,” he informed after attending the 2023 Investment Service Award.
He said that the government will offer foreign investors opportunities to invest in the second and third zones of Indonesia’s future capital instead.
He noted that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier made a similar statement, adding that the head of state is seeking to prioritize domestic investors in the development of Nusantara without pushing interested foreign parties away.
“The main priority is domestic investors, while foreign investors are second in the line. That was what Mr. Jokowi meant,” he emphasized.
He then explained that the decision to prioritize domestic investors was made in the hopes of preventing assumptions that the government does not side with national business players.
The minister said he is optimistic about domestic investors being successful in developing IKN as a future forest smart city that reflects Indonesia’s abundant natural resources and the country’s resolve to preserve the environment.
Earlier, during his visit to Nusantara’s development site on November 2, 2023, President Widodo informed that the total realization of infrastructure investment in the city would reach Rp45 trillion (US$2.8 billion) by the end of the year.
From November 1 to 3, the President participated in the second phase of groundbreaking ceremonies at IKN that involved the commencement of the development of 10 projects, with an investment value of about IDR12 trillion (US$765.3 million).
The projects included hospitals, shopping centers integrated with hotels and apartments, government buildings, a conservation area for orangutans, an airport, and schools. [antaranews]
