Brodjonegoro could not specify the new location for the capital city, despite rumors that it would be moved to Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta has borne a heavy burden, not only as the capital city but also as the countrys financial and business center, Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro stated.
"The burden on Jakarta is already too high, as it has served as the center for everything. All parties should have realized that our economic growth could not rely solely on Jakarta. We need to have distribution of new growth centers," Brodjonegoro said here, Tuesday.
To date, Jakarta has served as the center for governance, finance, and business in the country.
President Joko Widodo has urged Bappenas to conduct a thorough and comprehensive study on the plan to move the capital city from Jakarta in a bid to reduce the burden.
The agency is still evaluating the plan to relocate the capital city to another city outside Java Island, which have a wider and suitable space.
However, Brodjonegoro could not specify the new location for the capital city, despite rumors that it would be moved to Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan.
He admitted that some cities have the potential to be selected as the new capital city, including Palangka Raya, an idea that had emerged since the era of first president Soekarno in the 1950s.
Brodjonegoro said a Bappenas team has analyzed the criteria of the location, its readiness, and space availability, as well as the funding source for the development of the new capital city.
The plan to move the capital city has emerged with the need to establish new economic centers.
Java Island was viewed as dominating Indonesias economic activities, and most of them were concentrated in Jakarta and its surrounding areas in Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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