Nusantara Is the Name of Indonesia's New Capital

TheIndonesia.id - The Minister of National Development Planning has announced the name of Indonesia’s new capital which will be located in East Kalimantan.

Suharso Monoarfa said Nusantara has been chosen by President Joko Widodo to become the name of the new capital, which is still in development.

“I’ve just received confirmation from Mr. President on Friday that the name of the capital will be Nusantara,” Monoarfa said on Monday, January 17, as reported by Antara.

According to the Minister, Nusantara was selected because it’s a widely recognizable name, nationally and globally, and has been associated with Indonesia for a long time. The word, which means archipelago, is also considered to be the perfect representation of the archipelagic Indonesia with its rich diversity.

Indonesia is moving ahead with the grand plan to move its capital from Jakarta to North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara regencies in East Kalimantan province. The plan was announced in 2019, and President Widodo cited overpopulation in Jakarta as one of the main considerations behind the decision.

“The burdens on Jakarta and Java island in terms of population density, traffic, and air and water pollution must be solved immediately,” Jokowi said in August 2019.

On Monday, the President said the new capital will not only be home to government complex, but it’s also set to become a center of innovation.

“It’s not merely a city with government offices, but we want to build a new smart metropolis that can become a global talent magnet and center of innovation,” Jokowi said during a virtual event.

In the occasion, he also reaffirmed the vision to accelerate and encourage the development of green economy in Indonesia through the appointment of new capital.

“This is a momentum to build a healthy, efficient, productive, and well-planned city where people can cycle or walk to reach their destination. It will be a zero emission city that provides world-class security and health service as well as education,” the President explained.