Jokowi Lays First Foundation Stone for Bank Mandiri's New Office in IKN

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi today laid the first stone for the construction of state-owned Bank Mandiri's office building in the Nusantara New Capital City (IKN) in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.

Jokowi appreciated Bank Mandiri's steps in constructing buildings for digital services. The president said that the digital ecosystem in Indonesia has great potential, as evidenced by the high number of users on Bank Mandiri's Livin' platform, which has reached 23 million.

"Once the digital ecosystem here is developed, it will attract digital nomads to live in Nusantara as this city will be different from other cities in the world," the president said in a press statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat's Press, Media and Information Office.

Jokowi stressed the importance of managing IKN so that it does not lose control like some new capitals in other countries. He emphasized the concept of Forest City and Smart City as the main basis for developing IKN as a sustainable, pollution-free city supported by electric public transportation.

In his remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, the President also spoke about the future of Indonesia and the changes that will take place once all the infrastructure development such as toll roads and airports are completed.

Today's groundbreaking ceremony was part of the fifth groundbreaking phase of the IKN development project. A series of ceremonies are scheduled to take place through Friday, March 1.

Earlier, Agung Wicaksono, deputy for financing and investment at the IKN Authority, said that this fifth groundbreaking would be joined by state-owned banks Mandiri, BRI, BNI, and regional bank Kaltimtara. The banking district will be built in the central government core area or KIPP.

State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, public broadcasting company TVRI, and universal health care agency BPJS Kesehatan will also participate in the fifth phase of groundbreaking. The laying of the first stone for the construction of a command center will also take place.

Riri Rahayu

Editor's Choice: Jokowi to Attend Fifth Phase of IKN Groundbreaking This Week

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News