VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the development of IKN Nusantara capital city in East Kalimantan is currently the largest project in the world.

"Currently, the largest project in the world is the IKN Nusantara in Indonesia," Jokowi remarked at the 2023 National Conference of the Association of Real Estate Companies Indonesia (REI) here on Wednesday.

Jokowi noted that the Indonesian government aims to open new economic centers by building IKN on the island of Kalimantan.

According to the president, 34 thousand hectares of land in IKN can currently be purchased.

"(About) 34 thousand hectares of land can be purchased. They are not free. How much do they cost? Ask the Head of the IKN Authority. This is an opportunity," Jokowi remarked.

Citing the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data, the head of state noted that Indonesia's economic growth was recorded at 5.17 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the second quarter of 2023.

This growth is indicative of Indonesia's maintained economic growth of above five percent for seven consecutive quarters.

Jokowi remarked that among the Group of Twenty (G20) member countries, only Indonesia, India, and China were able to clock an economic growth of above five percent.

"The G20 countries that grew above five percent were only Indonesia, India, and China," he stated.

Furthermore, Jokowi urged the REI to strengthen its collaboration with the government.

The president is keen that the REI help the government in providing healthy and decent housing for people in need of it.

The head of state reminded of the need to take into account social and environmental impacts in the development of housing or other types of property.

"This is important. (For instance), a residential area development must not make a well of a nearby village dry up. Please heed these things and also prepare the waste (handling) in residential areas," Jokowi emphasized. (Antaranews)