Jokowi's Final Push: Nusantara's Slow March to Completion

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will spend his final weeks in the planned new capital, Nusantara, despite setbacks in its development. The project has faced delays and funding issues. Jokowi emphasized that relocation involves changing mindsets and working patterns. Doubts linger as president-elect Prabowo Subianto prepares to take office.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is set to spend his final weeks in the planned new capital, Nusantara, amid significant challenges facing the $32 billion megaproject. The massive undertaking on Borneo island has encountered construction delays, land issues, and insufficient foreign investments.

Top officials overseeing the development resigned in June, and Jokowi acknowledged on Thursday that completing Nusantara could take up to two decades. "It could take 10, 15, or even 20 years," he told military and police officials. He emphasized that the move signifies more than just a change of location—it involves adopting new mindsets and work patterns.

The parliament approved the capital's relocation in 2022 to alleviate strain on Jakarta. However, with president-elect Prabowo Subianto's inauguration looming on October 20, doubts about Nusantara's future persist. Prabowo, while committed to Jokowi's policies, aims to prioritize his own $28 billion nutrition program for Indonesian schoolchildren.

Jokowi disclosed that Prabowo has pledged to expedite the construction. Located about 1,200 km from Jakarta, Nusantara recently completed its presidential palace and first hotel, with ongoing projects including state officials' housing, an airport, and toll roads. Jokowi's upcoming second cabinet meeting in Nusantara may reveal new investments.

(With inputs from agencies.)