Indonesian president plans to start working from new capital city next month

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday said he plans to start working from the new capital city, called Nusantara, next month.

Joko confirmed his plan after inspecting the Nusantara State Palace on Wednesday, according to the Jakarta Globe daily.

"I am very optimistic about the office. We're just waiting for one thing, water in July," he was quoted as saying.

He said that 80% infrastructure work of the first phase of the $32 billion capital city has been completed.

According to the Jakarta Post, another daily, the Indonesian president seeks to reassure the public that the development of his legacy project remains on track despite the surprise resignation of the top two officials of the new capital’s project management agency.

The head and deputy head of the body overseeing the planned new capital unexpectedly resigned earlier this week.

Joko, however, said the resignation of Bambang Susantono, head of the Nusantara Capital Authority Body (OIKN), and his deputy Dhony Rahajoe would not deter foreign investors' interest in Nusantara.

"It does not (affect foreign investors)," he said.

Joko was in Nusantara this week, where he inaugurated several projects and checked on the new presidential palace in an apparent attempt to appease concerns about the future of the new capital, according to the Jakarta Post.

Speaking to reporters at the construction site of the new palace, Joko appeared confident that he would move to Nusantara as early as next month once clean water is available in government buildings.

Presently, the president is awaiting confirmation regarding the water supply in the Nusantara area from the Sepaku Semoi Dam.

On Tuesday, he officially inaugurated the dam. With a capacity of 16 million cubic meters, it is expected to provide potable water to Nusantara and neighboring Balikpapan at a rate of up to 500 liters per second.

Joko plans to commemorate Indonesia’s Independence Day on Aug. 17 in Nusantara.

"The arrangements for Independence Day are almost complete; there are no issues. We thoroughly checked everything from the venue locations to the order of the ceremonies, and everything went smoothly. Therefore, by mid-July, the construction here will be ready, and we will start preparing for August 17," he said.