VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is planning to relocate the national capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan in the first half of 2024, expert staff for the Minister of National Development Planning, Velix Vernando Wanggai, has said.

The timeline for the national capital relocation will be included in the National Capital Bill, which is currently being deliberated in the parliament, he added.

"The bill will provide the timetable for the national capital relocation. We plan the relocation to proceed in the first semester of 2024," Wanggai informed during an online public discussion on the National Capital Bill, observed from Jakarta on Tuesday.

The bill will also include basic principles of the capital's administration to ensure sustainable growth of the national capital that could advance the economy, the expert staff informed.

"As the new national capital will shift the centre of growth away from Jakarta to Kalimantan, we hope the nationwide regional development, economic growth, and connectivity will be distributed more evenly," he explained.

The bill will provide the legal basis for the acquisition of around 256 thousand hectares of land to form the national capital territory, the expert staff said.

"From the 256 thousand hectares, around 56 thousand hectares will be appropriated for the central administration zone, and another 199 thousand hectares will be reserved for further capital expansion," Wanggai informed.

The National Capital Bill will provide planning strategies, measures, and necessary regulations for the national capital, he said.

"The status, form, and administration of the national capital will be deliberated together with the House of Representatives (DPR RI) members," the expert staff added.

Regarding the new capital administration, Wanggai said that the President will appoint the national capital authority head for a single five-year term. A deputy head will also be appointed to assist the authority head, he added.

"The bill will also regulate spatial planning, which will include land, environment, disaster mitigation, security, and defense aspects. As the new capital will be an enclave inside East Kalimantan province, the spatial planning must be synchronized with the province and Kalimantan Island in general," Wanggai said.

President Joko Widodo will consult the relevant authorities about the technicalities for the new national capital relocation, including the new capital's name and the relocation timeline, he added.

The President will also consult government institutions on the relocation of national institutions, foreign embassies and offices, land transfer, and funding aspects, he said.

"The National Capital Bill will set a two-month deadline for the completion of derivative rules on the national capital relocation," Wanggai informed. (antaranews)