Sumadilaga is included as one of the important figures behind the IKN construction in East Kalimantan, a new capital city being built by the Indonesian government to achieve the big goal of realizing Golden Indonesia 2045.
In a conversation that took place at his office at the Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry, Sumadilaga spoke candidly with ANTARA regarding his involvement in this project that placed him in the planning sector.
While serving as the Ministry’s Director General for Human Settlements in 2019, Sumadilaga was appointed to become the coordinator for preparing plans for the construction of IKN Nusantara, such as conducting the IKN design competition.
As coordinator, he was also tasked with preparing the IKN Development Planning Task Force to focus on coordinating and controlling the IKN development planning.
After PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono formed the IKN Infrastructure Development Task Force, Sumadilaga then received the mandate as chairman of the task force.
With the IKN Infrastructure Development Task Force and the IKN Development Planning Task Force that were formed earlier, the IKN construction development began in 2021. The government also targeted to move the capital city from Jakarta to IKN starting in 2024.
At that time, the Directorate General of the PUPR Ministry worked to prepare plans for the IKN construction. The ministry decided to build the Sepakui Semoi Dam earlier since it was considered that the dam is a vital infrastructure as the main supplier of raw water for IKN.
The Sepaku Semoi Dam is designed to supply raw water to meet the needs of 2,500 liters per second, comprising two thousand liters per second being allocated for IKN Nusantara while the remaining 500 liters per second for Balikpapan City.
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New growth center
The administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin have a long-term vision and big strategy for 2045. IKN Nusantara is included in one of these big visions and strategies.
So far, most of Indonesia's economy is still focused in the western part, namely Java and Sumatra. In comparison with central and eastern Indonesia, economic growth in the western part tends to be higher.
However, President Jokowi is keen that Indonesia becomes a developed country, with a more equal distribution of economic growth. Hence, in achieving this goal, a new and massive center of growth is deemed necessary, among others, by building IKN Nusantara.
IKN Nusantara will not be designed merely as a city but also comes up with nine economic development areas. The first economic development area (WP) is the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) along with West IKN WP, South IKN WP, East IKN WP 1, East IKN WP 2, North IKN WP, Simpang Samboja WP, Kuala Samboja WP, and Muara Jawa WP.
Of the nine WPs, the current priority is the development of KIPP. Work on the area should be completed immediately to be able to start the government’s state activity in IKN Nusantara.
Sumadilaga noted that the development of IKN Nusantara is targeted to continue until 2045 and is expected to become a new center of economic growth that will spur national economic growth, especially economic equity in central and eastern Indonesia.
As a new economic growth point, IKN Nusantara will be driven by industrial sectors that are a mainstay in the future, such as the new and renewable energy sector, modern agriculture, tourism areas, and research and innovation centers.
IKN Nusantara, as a center for new economic growth, also relies on new and renewable energy and the concept of an environmentally friendly city. This aims to enable the city to be free of pollution, environmentally friendly, and sustainable in the field of energy efficiency, especially since the consumption of new and renewable energy is more efficient than fossil energy.
IKN Nusantara is also designed as an inclusive and smart city, with the infrastructure facilities designed as a model city for the development of other cities in Indonesia. The infrastructure facilities in IKN Nusantara will be using smart and up-to-date technology, such as direct drinking water available from taps and the priority of public transportation using non-fossil energy.
Moreover, IKN Nusantara will be equipped with a multi-utility tunnel (MUT) that is an infrastructure facility in the form of underground culverts that function to accommodate cable networks, water pipes, internet, and gas.
This MUT can also be used as a model that can be adopted by cities in Indonesia in the installation of cable and pipeline networks to prevent cable network installation above ground that could endanger the community.
Golden Indonesia 2045
The development of IKN Nusantara is a good opportunity to organize the city according to the theory and regulations since the development of the city begins from scratch.
With its continued development until 2045, the country is targeted to become a Golden Indonesia or achieve the new status of a developed country since IKN Nusantara’s development is not merely physical development but also a form of life and job transformation, especially in terms of the use of technology.
IKN is also a means for developing human resources to be more competitive, especially by making the most of the demographic bonus, as 68 percent of Indonesia's population is dominated by members of the productive age group.
This potential is an opportunity for Indonesians to develop their welfare and human resources. In addition, IKN has become one of the means for ushering in better change since Indonesia's independence in 1945 until 2045, or precisely a century.
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Translator: Aji Cakti, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
