TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan expressed optimism that Indonesia's new capital, the National Capital Nusantara (IKN), located in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, could become a super hub equipped with industrial areas and strategic trade routes. IKN will also contribute to the world economy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2035.

The claim was made while he was promoting IKN to American investors during the Indonesia-US business forum held at the Indonesian Consulate General in New York on November 20th.

The business forum was initiated by Urbahn Architects, a prestigious architectural firm that specializes in planning and grand design for public facilities in collaboration with the National Capital Nusantara Authority (OIKN).

"The construction of IKN is a large project that requires investment and collaboration from various parties. Private investment is very widely welcome in various sectors, including sectors that are actively supporting Indonesia’s trade such as infrastructure, transportation, and logistics," said Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

The Minister assured the investors, emphasizing the favorable investment and trade opportunities in Indonesia, underpinned by the nation's robust economic growth amid uncertain global economic conditions. In the third quarter of 2023, Indonesia recorded an annual economic growth rate of 4.94 percent (YoY), with inflation remaining stable at 2.28 percent in September 2023.

Minister Zulkifli Hasan also expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic response from the business community at the forum and hoped to foster even stronger Indonesia-US cooperation. This commitment aligns with the agreement reached between President Joko Widodo and US President Joe Biden to elevate their countries' relationship from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

"The Ministry of Trade will also work continuously with the IKN Authority and all related agencies, in creating a National Capital of the Archipelago that is based on economic equality, and creating a stronger and more transformative trade sector through IKN," he said.

Rafi Haikal, Director of ASEAN Business Development at Urbahn Architects, shared his enthusiasm for assisting the Ministry of Trade and the OIKN in engaging with US investors. The young Indonesian architect, who has embarked on his career in New York, asserted Urbahn Architects' readiness to contribute to the construction and development of IKN, as envisioned by the Indonesian government.

"Urbahn Architects expressed its readiness to bridge designers, developers, and potential investors to IKN. Urbahn Architects' involvement in the construction of IKN aims to integrate design and construction standards with New York-level architectural quality for Indonesia's new capital city," explained Haikal.

Furthermore, Haikal, an alumnus of the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, highlighted Urbahn Architects' role in curating a group of 100 participants to attend the Indonesia-US Business and Investment Forum, underscoring their mission to connect the architecture market with developers from both Indonesia and the United States.

Accompanying Minister Zulkifli Hasan at the event were Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, the Director General of International Trade Negotiations, and Bara Hasibuan, Special Staff of the Minister of Trade for International Trade Agreements.

INFO TEMPO