TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will start groundbreaking the development of a VVIP Airport in Nusantara State Capital or IKN in Penajan Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, on November 1, 2023. The government hopes that officiating this airport's development will boost the number of investors financing IKN.

"So people can directly enter [IKN]," said PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono when met at Merdeka Palace on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Jokowi visited IKN at the end of last month to directly inspect the development of Indonesia's new state capital. During his inspection, the president inaugurated a number of development projects, including Hotel Nusantara and the groundbreaking for PSSI's National Training Center, as well as a hospital.

IKN Authority will conduct the groundbreaking for the projects in IKN on November 1, involving around ten companies. IKN Authority Communication Expert Troy Pantouw, however, did not explain further which companies are set to attend the groundbreaking event. He cited yet-to-be-finalized MoUs and technical issues as reasons for the discretion.

"Around 10 companies [will participate]," he said when met in his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

Despite this fact, Troy confirmed the attendance of one company, the Mayapada Hospital. He also explained the extent of companies set to conduct the groundbreaking of IKN's second phase development.

"Includes companies dealing with health, education, leisure, shops, financing, and others," he concluded.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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