Former VAT Minister Claims IKN Was the Dream of the Previous President

2023-12-08 18:00:22

Former Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas 2016-2019, Bambang Brodjonegoro, said that building the National Capital (IKN) was the dream of the previous Indonesian president which is now being realized by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He said that previously President Soekarno wanted to move the capital to Palangkaraya. Then President Soeharto planned to move the center of government to Jonggol. “And it turns out that these two ideas were never realized even though there were rumors and movements such as land speculation and so on. When I became Bappenas minister in 2017, I also just found out that the idea of ​​moving the capital had been conveyed by Pak Jokowi to his predecessor, Pak Andrinof,” said Bambang in a discussion entitled, IKN, Bridges of the Present and Future which took place at the Advanced Indonesia Media Center, Jakarta, Thursday (7/12/2023). Also read: Bahlil reveals that foreign investors will enter IKN after August 17 2024. Bappenas then conducted research in Kalimantan by considering three provinces: Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan before finally choosing Central Kalimantan as the new IKN. “By comparing the three provinces and finally the location chosen was Penajam and expanded to part of Kutai,” said Bambang. Also read: The contents of the DKJ Bill could change. Jokowi chose Kalimantan based on Bappenas research considering the risk of natural disasters, where Kalimantan is the smallest. Especially related to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Second, because the position of Kalimantan, which has become the location for IKN, is in central Indonesia. “So we want to make the Republic of Indonesia more intact, more compact and the capital city is in the middle and can become a new growth center outside Java,” explained Bambang. IKN is also expected to reduce disparities between the island of Java and outside Java. Based on the data he has, Bambang said that 80% of the Indonesian economy is Java, Sumatra and Bali. The rest, such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua and others, only contribute 20% of the country’s economy. “Our task is how IKN can help the 20% economy increase. In our 2045 scenario, if now western and eastern Indonesia are 80-20, the target in 2045 is 75-25. It may still look unequal, but we are trying to reduce inequality. IKN can “is one of the drivers of efforts to increase eastern Indonesia’s economic share from 20% to 25% in 2045,” said Bambang. (RO/Z-7)

Former Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas 2016-2019, Bambang Brodjonegoro, said that building the National Capital (IKN) was the dream of the previous Indonesian president which is now being realized by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

He said that previously President Soekarno wanted to move the capital to Palangkaraya. Then President Soeharto planned to move the center of government to Jonggol.

“And it turns out that these two ideas were never realized even though there were rumors and movements such as land speculation and so on. When I became Bappenas minister in 2017, I also just found out that the idea of ​​moving the capital had been conveyed by Pak Jokowi to his predecessor, Pak Andrinof,” said Bambang in a discussion entitled, IKN, Bridges of the Present and Future which took place at the Advanced Indonesia Media Center, Jakarta, Thursday (7/12/2023).

Read also: Bahlil said that foreign investors will enter IKN after August 17 2024

Bappenas then conducted research in Kalimantan by considering three provinces: Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan before finally choosing Central Kalimantan as the new IKN.

“By comparing the three provinces and finally the location chosen was Penajam and expanded to part of Kutai,” said Bambang.

Read also: The contents of the DKJ Bill may change

Jokowi chose Kalimantan based on Bappenas research considering the risk of natural disasters where Kalimantan is the smallest. Especially related to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Second, because the position of Kalimantan, which has become the location for IKN, is in central Indonesia.

“So we want to make the Republic of Indonesia more intact, more compact and the capital city is in the middle and can become a new growth center outside Java,” explained Bambang.

IKN is also expected to reduce disparities between the island of Java and outside Java. Based on the data he has, Bambang said that 80% of the Indonesian economy is Java, Sumatra and Bali. The rest, such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua and others, only contribute 20% of the country’s economy.

“Our task is how IKN can help the 20% economy increase. In our 2045 scenario, if now western and eastern Indonesia are 80-20, the target in 2045 is 75-25. It may still look unequal, but we are trying to reduce inequality. IKN can “is one of the drivers of efforts to increase eastern Indonesia’s economic share from 20% to 25% in 2045,” said Bambang. (RO/Z-7)