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President Joko Widodo heads to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday (December 20, 2023). ANTARA/HO-Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden - 

Voinews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo, along with a limited entourage, departed for East Kalimantan Province to inspect and launch several development projects at the development site of the new capital (IKN) Nusantara.

The Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat stated on Wednesday that Widodo departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, aboard the Indonesia-1 Presidential Aircraft for Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman International Airport, Balikpapan City.

Jaya Military Commander Major General Mohamad Hasan and Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto, among others, sent off the head of state at the air base.

Earlier, on Tuesday the president said he was scheduled to once again visit Nusantara to review projects being carried out and participate in groundbreaking ceremonies of several infrastructure construction projects.

"Yes, on Wednesday, there will be groundbreaking events for several projects that will be worked on by the private sector and the government," he remarked after officiating Otista Bridge in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday.

Widodo highlighted that all parties had expressed enthusiasm in developing various facilities in several zones in Indonesia's future capital city, including the business zone, health zone, and sports zone.

He stated that several groundbreaking events had been held and would continue to be conducted in a bid to encourage all parties to immediately initiate the construction process.

It should be noted that President Widodo has personally launched various projects in Nusantara, such as the Presidential and Vice Presidential Palace, ministerial residence, housing for civil servants and security apparatus, a national football training center, an airport, as well as several hospitals and schools.

The National Capital Authority (OIKN) stated that the next groundbreaking ceremonies in Nusantara will be held on December 20 and 21, thereby commencing the third phase of project groundbreakings in the future city.

"The third phase of groundbreaking at IKN will be carried out on December 20 and 21, 2023," OIKN spokesperson Troy Pantouw noted in a virtual press conference on investment development at IKN on Friday (December 15).

Pantouw explained that the third phase will focus on three sectors: the green sector, the non-state budget funding state institution sector, and the ecosystem to complement the national axis.

Reforestation projects, electricity-based transportation system, hotels, and hospitals, among others, will be launched in the third phase, he stated//ANT-VOI