Indonesia's Parliament Approves Official Relocation of Capital to Nusantara, Jakarta to Become a Special Region to Balance Eastern and Western Development | WPN World People News

Indonesia's Parliament has officially approved the relocation of the capital to Nusantara in eastern Indonesia, with Jakarta set to become a special region. However, Jakarta will remain the country's economic and cultural center. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo also highlighted this issue during the G20 summit in Brazil.

Jakarta, with a population of over 10 million and potentially over 30 million when including satellite cities, faces overcrowding and economic concentration, leading to an imbalance in national development. Additionally, the city is threatened by natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis due to its geographic location. Experts predict that by 2050, nearly 95% of Jakarta will be submerged due to the long-term use of groundwater and rising sea levels. The relocation to Nusantara, 1,200 kilometers from Jakarta, aims to balance eastern and western development and accelerate economic growth in the eastern region. Despite being located on just 6.6% of the country's total land area, Java, where Jakarta is situated, contributes over 57% of Indonesia's GDP.

The Indonesian government announced the relocation plan back in 2019, with Nusantara meaning "archipelago," reflecting Indonesia's identity as an "archipelagic nation." Construction of Nusantara began in 2022 and will be carried out in five phases, with completion expected by 2045. Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, stated that President Prabowo hopes the main government and parliament buildings in the new capital will be completed within four years.

Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, a key proponent of the relocation, has repeatedly emphasized that moving the capital will help Indonesia realize its "global maritime fulcrum" strategy and become a new political symbol for the country.