North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, ABIM (26/7/2023) – 13 journalists from various Japanese media were accompanied by the Japanese Embassy for Indonesia and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Indonesia to the Nusantara Capital Region (IKN), on Tuesday (7/25).
The visit, according to Danis H. Sumadilaga, head of the IKN Infrastructure Development Implementation Task Force, was intended to allow Japanese media to directly view and collect information on the progress of IKN development in order to stimulate Japanese private sector participation in IKN development.
“IKN is expected to be built with 70% to 80% of investment funds.” “With this media visit, we hope to demonstrate the Indonesian government’s commitment to developing IKN and convince the Japanese private sector to invest in IKN,” Danis explained.
Danis stated that Indonesia collaborated with Japan for the creation of IKN through JICA, specifically by bringing in Japanese experts/engineers/architects for quality assurance to guarantee the work met international standards.
“Now we are focusing on exploring the potential for cooperation with Japan related to investment,” he said.
The Japanese media group visited the Sepaku Semoi Dam, whose construction progress has reached 93% and is targeted for impounding in August 2023. At the same time, they saw the 100% completed Intake Sepaku and the IPA land funded by a grant from the South Korean government which is currently in the DED process.
Furthermore, the group visited the IKN Zero Point, the Construction Workers’ Residence, and the _Pandang_ Tower on _Jalan Sumbu Kebangsaan Barat_ to see the progress of the construction of the Presidential Palace Area.
anis also ensures that the development of the IKN still pays attention to environmental sustainability, according to the forest city concept. “The PUPR Ministry and the Army Retired Association (PPAD) will start planting 42,000 trees in the IKN area in the next 2-3 weeks,” he said.
Nine Japanese media attended this visit, namely Kyodo, JIJI, Neikkei, Yomiuri, Ms. Yamazaki Y, Asahi, NHK, NNA, and the Jakarta Shimbun. Also present were Head of BWS Kalimantan IV Yosiandi Radi and Head of BPPW East Kalimantan Rozali Indra Saputra.(ABIM)