Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Indonesia Plans to Relocate its Capital, Any Brain Waves?


Tue 30 Apr 2019 | 09:00 PM
Norhan Mahmoud

Indonesian President Joko Widodo directed ministers to map out a plan for relocating the administrative capital- Bye Bye Jakarta.

The project is estimated to cost about $33 billion, and private sector is more than welcome to join in. The move includes ministries, governmental bodies and the parliament.

Yet, both the central bank and the trade and investment functions will remain in congested Jakarta, which by 2030 will become one of the world’s most five populous cities.

The relocation has been debated for years, but now it is a priority for the development of the country.

Mr. Widodo earmarks a “visionary” development for Indonesia. And that’s why he decided to move out of sinking “Java” as in the future the city will not be able to endure the current “environment, water and traffic” burdens.

The relocation area has not been agreed upon, yet Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that the government mulls over heading east.

Indonesia is not the first country to prompt such a move. Brazil, South Korea and Australia had all been there.

That being said, critics have one question hanging for an answer; is this move logical and urgent for Indonesia right now?