VP Gibran inspects ongoing development of Nusantara capital city

 Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, accompanied by Second Lady Selvi Ananda, visited the country’s future capital Nusantara (IKN) in East Kalimantan Province to inspect progress in public infrastructure and facilities development.

According to a statement cited here, the two-day visit aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction for optimal monitoring to ensure that Nusantara’s development proceeds in an integrated and inclusive manner while prioritizing public service.

Gibran departed for the new capital aboard a presidential Boeing aircraft operated by the Indonesian Air Force from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on Tuesday at 9:50 a.m. local time, arriving at Nusantara International Airport around two hours later.

Upon arrival, the entourage was welcomed by Head of the IKN Authority (OIKN) Basuki Hadimuljono, East Kalimantan Governor Rudy Mas'ud, Commander of the IV/Mulawarman Military Region Command Major General Krido Pramono, and East Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Endar Priantoro.

The vice president is scheduled to begin his official agenda with firsthand reviews of construction at several key sites, including the IKN State Mosque, the Plaza of Harmony, the IKN Basilica, and the Vice Presidential Palace.

Plans for Wednesday (December 31) include visits to the IKN Education Area, the construction site of legislative and judicial institution buildings, and a market in Sepaku, North Penajam Paser District.

Through the visit, Gibran reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to maintaining continuous supervision of Nusantara’s development as an environmentally friendly future seat of government that embodies the nation’s harmony in religious and cultural diversity.

Also accompanying the vice president were Deputy Minister of Public Works Diana Kusumastuti, Acting Vice Presidential Secretary Al Muktabar, and Vice Presidential Special Staff Member Achmad Adhitya.

Indonesia’s plan to relocate its capital city was initiated during the administration of the seventh president, Joko Widodo, who argued that the move was necessary to promote more balanced national development beyond the long-standing Java-centric model.

President Prabowo has assured that his government would carry on the construction of Nusantara, aiming to declare it as the capital for political affairs by 2028.

To support that target, the government is preparing to begin the second phase of development, which will focus on the construction of key infrastructure and facilities for judicial and legislative institutions and is scheduled to run through 2029.