We will encourage (the projects) and we will strive to provide a better investment ecosystem.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry has discussed cooperation in infrastructure development at the new Indonesian capital (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan province with Prince Abdul Qawi of Brunei Darussalam.

In a statement issued on Friday, secretary general of the PUPR Ministry Zainal Fatah said that the ministry is open to exploring potential collaboration with the Brunei delegation under the government-business cooperation (PPP) scheme, both for government-initiated and non-government-initiated projects.

"We are very open to accepting investors from Brunei Darussalam to support the IKN development. Currently, we are preparing basic infrastructure (for the IKN), which is targeted to be completed in the first semester of 2023," he informed.

One potential cooperation could be in the application of new technological innovations to support environmental sustainability during the construction of Indonesia’s future capital.

The PUPR Ministry started the construction of basic infrastructure at IKN, including toll roads, national roads, raw water supply facilities, as well as houses for IKN construction workers in early September 2022.

During their meeting, the ministry’s secretary general apprised the Brunei delegation of several other infrastructure projects with large investment potential under the PPP scheme.

At least 14 projects, such as the construction of the Spuur Karawang apartment, are in the preparation stage. The total estimated cost of the 14 projects is Rp130 trillion.

Meanwhile, 16 other projects, which were also introduced to the delegation, have entered the transaction stage and are worth Rp201.68 trillion.

The projects include the establishment of the Bintang Bano Dam Mini-Hydro Power Plant (PLTM) in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province and the Ir. H Juanda Regional Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) in Jakarta and West Java province.

Fatah said he expects the meeting with the Brunei delegation to strengthen the well-established bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

“In the future, we can communicate more intensively with the (Indonesian and Brunei) ambassadors about what (projects) we might be able to carry out together. We will encourage (the projects) and we will strive to provide a better investment ecosystem,” he added.

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Translator: Aji Cakti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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