Erick Thohir Meets Tony Blair, Masayoshi to Discuss New Capital

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir has reportedly met with members of the steering committee of the new capital city, Tony Blair and Masayoshi Son. Erick announced the meeting through his Instagram social media today, January 31.

“I have got the valuable experience to discuss the construction plan of the new capital with Tony Blair and Masayoshi Son,” Erick wrote the photo caption.

He shared two photos on his account; the first was him with the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the second one was him standing between Blair and Masayoshi, the CEO of Japan-based telecommunication firm Softbank.

Erick added he drew inspirations from the discussion, saying that the fresh ideas would be executed in the construction project of the new administration center in East Kalimantan.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan earlier announced that the government decided to tap Blair as a member of the steering committee overseeing the construction of Indonesia’s new capital. Blair has also confirmed his willingness. 

Meanwhile, Luhut said Softbank was interested in investing in the project with intial figures reaching US$100 billion. He opined that Japan offered huge investment considering a US$25 billion capital was enough since the construction had been ongoing.

Luhut added he had been keeping in touch with Masayoshi via phone calls and teleconferences to canvass the planned investment. 

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA