"ADB appreciates that one of the Indonesian government's justifications for moving the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan is to stimulate economic growth and development in eastern Indonesia," ADB Director for Indonesia Jiro Tominaga told ANTARA in Jakarta, Monday.
Tominaga highlighted that IKN presented a unique opportunity to utilize international best practices in urban planning, development, and financing, as well as contribute to economic development.
However, he noted that IKN will not be built in one day since several steps had to be taken to make the city livable and draw people to move there.
Each stage of development necessitates a different approach and therefore offers unique opportunities for development partners, including ADB, to contribute.
At the ADB annual meeting in Incheon, South Korea, held in 2023, ADB had inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), which among other things, emphasized joint efforts to develop IKN as a smart and sustainable forest city.
ADB has mobilized experts and conducted research to support the planning of the new city, providing advice on how to mitigate potential negative impacts of urban development, and sharing ideas on options for mobilizing the financing needed to build the city.
Earlier, the OIKN stated that community welfare must be the main priority in the development of IKN in East Kalimantan.
"Community welfare must be the main priority in urban development and decision making," Head of OIKN Bambang Susantono stated in Jakarta, Thursday (May 16).
Susantono explained that building a livable city in IKN starts by placing humans at the center.
Livable cities aim to provide a high quality of life, supported by strong governance, fair access to services, and high-quality infrastructure.
The main characteristics of a livable city include holistic urban planning, sustainable development, and the inclusion of the informal sector.
The development of IKN aims to set new standards for environmental quality and become a city that is comfortable to live in for its residents and visitors.
To achieve this, IKN will realize the two characteristics of a sustainable forest city and a livable and lovable city. One important component of a livable and lovable city is the people's relationship with their culture.
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Translator: Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak, Cindy Frishanti Oc
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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