A new administrative capital in Egypt to replace Cairo, the new town of Diamniadio to relieve traffic congestion in Dakar, Senegal: all over the world, the trend is to duplicate the existing infrastructure. breathing fresh air into overcrowded metropolises. Indonesia is no exception. JakartaOvercrowded, over-polluted and regularly submerged by floods, the city is becoming less and less liveable for its 30 million inhabitants. Worse still, built on marshland, the capital is sinking below sea level as a result of the over-exploitation of groundwater, due to excessive and often illegal pumping. A situation that climate change is only set to accelerate.
As a result, in early 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed the relocation of the administrative capital of the country. And not just a few dozen kilometres from the old one, as Malaysia had done with Petrajaya, near Kuala Lumpur, but on another island, Borneo, more than 1,500 kilometres away. Farewell to Java: the presidential palace, parliament and ministries are preparing to leave for the province of East Kalimantanin the city of Nusantara, which is still under construction. Nusantara, or "archipelago" in ancient Javanese, symbolises the establishment of political power at the centre of this nation of 17,000 islands, rather than in its western part.
Known by the diminutive name of IKN - for Ibu Kota Negara, "the national capital" in Indonesian - the future metropolis will be located between two major towns, Balikpapan and Samarindaboth of which have airports. New roads, regional trains: a large number of infrastructures will link "IKN" to these two major centres. Estimated at over 30 billion euros, the project should culminate in the inauguration of the new presidential palace on a key date: 17 August 2024. This is the date of independence in 1945 for a country which, since the first presidency of Soekarno, had been thinking about finding a new home for its capital, inherited from Dutch colonisation. Brazil was going to do it with Brasilia. Indonesia was also considering it, already in Borneo, with the Palangka Raya new town project, without Jakarta seeing itself dethroned by the weight of its economy.
Business in Jakarta, political power in Nusantara
Will the Indonesian President's wishes be fulfilled when, before the end of his second term in office, he unveils his new palace, the shape of which is reminiscent of the garudathe country's mythical bird? In any case, the bulldozers have been busy clearing the area. Critics may argue that the deforestation of this natural area. The authorities, for their part, are emphasising their desire to create a green city, leaving plenty of room for nature. A future metropolis converted to renewable energies and soft mobility, where residents will be able to travel by bicycle or public transport, far from the Dantesque traffic jams of Jakarta.
Quoted by New York TimesDeden Rukmana, Director of the Community Planning Department at Alabama A&M University, explained that although, as an urban planner, the project could give rise to a certain amount of scepticism, it was not a project that could be accepted by the general public, "As Indonesians, we have to prove to ourselves that we can become a model for the world with the construction of this new capital, which promotes sustainability and growth." . " A great work by the Indonesian nation" as summed up by its main promoter, Joko Widodo.
However, we will have to wait several years to see Nusantara come into its ownThe various phases of the project will run until 2045 and will include the emergence of clusters focusing on clean tech, sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals and education. But this destination in the making is already attracting interest from the world of tourism. The Marriott group has just announced the opening of three hotels in Indonesia's new capital, in partnership with local developer PT. Pakuwon Jati Tbk.
Among the three brands selected, Four Points by Sheraton will have the privilege of hostinglaunch the Nusantara hotel offer with a 300-room hotel featuring an outdoor swimming pool and reception areas. The more upmarket Westin brand will bring 200 rooms and suites to the city, as well as a host of services for travellers, including three restaurants and three bars, meeting and reception areas, a swimming pool and fitness facilities. Finally, lifestyle brand Tribute Portfolio is also involved in the project, with a 150-room and suite hotel with restaurant, bar and outdoor pool.
