However, Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka expressed uncertainty over when the development will proceed, as he awaited the green light from the Home Affairs Ministry.
Raka explained that despite the grant being directed for Surakarta, its disbursal should proceed through the Home Affairs Ministry.
"(The fund will first go to) the Home Affairs Ministry before we receive it. We already hold the details according to the proposals, or (for the) Keraton, or others," the mayor noted here on Tuesday.
Some infrastructure developments funded through the grant, such as the renovation of the residents' houses and other minor projects, are expected to complete this year, he noted.
He remarked that other projects are expected to be completed next year.
Meanwhile, Raka clarified that the proposed Cultural Centre and a new hospital development in the city, which will also have the UAE funding, are not funded by the US$15-million grant.
"We had discussed it yesterday and just wait for the update. In principle, our cooperation with the UAE will continue and not stop at this point," the mayor affirmed.
Earlier, on Monday (April 10), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroei, and other officials attended the Zayed Humanitarian Day event in the city.
During the event to commemorate the founding father and first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Mazroei signed a memorandum of understanding with Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.
Al Mazroei also spent time with Jokowi to perform the Tarawih prayer at the newly opened Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
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Translator: Aris Wasita, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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