Minister Lahadalia Prioritizes Local Investment for IKN Nusantara

Kalimantan – The Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia revealed on Wednesday that the government is giving priority to domestic business actirs seeking to invest in the Government Core Area of IKN Nusantara. 

"So, over 200 (investment intentions) have been received. However, I'm currently pulling the brake. Why? because we want to prioritize local 
parties to invest in the IKN Nusantara," the Minister informed after attending the 2023 Investment Service Award. 

The minister highlighted that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) made a similiar statement, adding that the Head of State is seeking to prioritize local investors in the development of IKN Nusantara without pushing interested foreign parties away. 

"The main priority is domestic investors, while investors are second in the line. That was President Joko Widodo meant,"

Furthermore, the Minister explained that the decision to prioritize domestic investors was made in the hopes of preventing assumptions that the government does not side with national business players.

Also, Minister Lahadalia said he is optimistic about domestic investors being successful in developing IKN as a future forest smart city that reflects Indonesia's abundant natural resources and the country's resolve to preserve the environment.

Earlier, during his visit to Nusantara's development site on November 2, 2023, President Widodo informed that the total realization of infrastructure investment in the city would reach IDR 45 trillion by the end of the year.

From November 1 to 3, the President participated in the second phase of groundbreaking ceremonies at IKN that involved the commencement of the development of 10 projects, with an investment value of about IDR 12 trillion. 

The projects included hospitals, shopping centers integrated with hotels and apartments, government buildings, a conservation area for orangutans, an airport, and schools, as quoted from Antara site.