W Kalimantan Gains Benefit from Capital City Relocation: Governor

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji said his province would gain optimum benefits from President Joko Widodo's decision to relocate Indonesia's capital city from Jakarta to the island of Kalimantan.

The capital city relocation would accelerate development in the island, and by considering their geographical proximities, the provinces of West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan could be the most appropriate candidates, he said on Sunday.

Sutarmidji said West Kalimantan's geographical position is closer to Jakarta while East Kalimantan is closer to the eastern parts of Indonesia.

However, due to its better infrastructure facilities, East Kalimantan has a great opportunity to be chosen as the location for the new capital city because it is perceived to be more ready than any other province, he said.

Apart from which province would be selected, West Kalimantan would gain optimum benefits from this capital city relocation owing to the existence of Kijing International Port, Governor Sutarmidji said.

He argued that the seaport could support the inflow and outflow of goods for the new capital city, he said.

Regarding this capital city relocation, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had officially announced his decision in a state address that he delivered before members of parliament and VIP guests on Friday.

The new capital city would not only be a symbol and an identity of the country, but it would also represent the progress of the nation. Moving the capital city would also increase the equity and equality of the country's economic development, he said.

"This move is for 'Indonesia Maju' (Onward Indonesia) Vision. Long live Indonesia," he conveyed in his state address.

Jokowi, however, has yet to announce the definitive location of this Indonesia's new capital. In early August, Jokowi said he would inform it after all comprehensive studies on its relocation had been completed, and problems related to it had been resolved.

The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has pegged the total cost to move the capital city to reach nearly Rp466 trillion. "Of the total cost of Rp466 trillion, the required state budget is only some Rp30.6 trillion," Brodjonegoro remarked on June 15, 2019.

ANTARA