The proposal was submitted and approved in earlier meetings, with the proviso that the number of foreign supervisors will be kept at a minimum, he informed.
"If there are one or two (foreign supervisors) who can control and monitor to ensure the project's quality will be good, why not?" he asked after visiting Menteng Pulo Market in South Jakarta on Thursday.
The President also clarified that the deployment of foreign supervisors for the new capital project is not a tactic to attract foreign investment.
"No, not at all. They are there only to increase our quality level," he affirmed.
Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he was compelled to employ foreigners to supervise the new capital project.
At a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Budget Commission on June 9, 2023, the coordinating minister said that their employment is meant to ensure the quality of the new capital’s development.
"Hence, I informed Mr. President that, for the supervision job, we are, reluctantly, employing foreign nationals to ensure the project quality. We want to prevent the presidential palace development to complete with sub-par quality," he stated.
Pandjaitan, who is also heading the Nusantara city investment acceleration task force, said he has identified the development plan, incentive scheme, business model, and status of land in the new capital that will be offered to potential investors.
He added that communication with countries that have expressed their intention to contribute to the new capital’s development, such as the United Arab Emirates, China, and several Arab countries, is also currently on.
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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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