"We already have in place the design for the new presidential palace, but we still await President Jokowi's instruction to commence the construction work," Hadimuljono remarked while observing the area designated as the future capital in Sepaku, North Penajam Paser District, East Kalimantan, on Thursday (Jan 6, 2021).
Apart from Hadimuljono, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and North Penajam Paser District head Abdul Gafur Mas'ud were also part of the entourage to visit the site of the new national capital.
During the visit, the entourage observed areas designated for the new presidential palace, government office buildings, and the road grid in the new capital.
The entourage also visited the Semoi Dam construction site and attended a ceremony at Balang Island bridge in Sepaku that connects the future capital with Balikpapan, the closest major city to the new capital area.
Hadimuljono reiterated his commitment to be heedful of the development of the capital periphery apart from focusing on the physical and structural construction of the new national capital.
By ensuring the development of regions surrounding the new capital, the peripheral regions will be advantaged by the new national capital in East Kalimantan, he affirmed.
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Meanwhile, Indrawati highlighted the need to conduct an on-site observation in areas designated as the new capital to observe the progress in construction and determine the requisite budget for the mega project.
The visit will also allow the ministry to provide inputs, especially on matters relevant to the financial and budget aspects, pertaining to deliberation on the National Capital Bill, she stated.
"We will also take into account prevailing laws and the national fiscal capacity in conceiving the construction stages of the new capital city," Indrawati noted.
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Translator: M Ghofar, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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