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Trade minister, IKN Authority make case for Nusantara at US business forum
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ocated in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, the future national capital city (IKN), Nusantara, is set to become a super-hub equipped with industrial zones and strategic trade routes, and it is expected to contribute to the global economy in a way that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2035.
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan expressed his optimism about the prospects offered by the IKN while promoting Nusantara to American investors at the Indonesia-United States business forum at the Consulate General of Indonesia in New York, the United States, on Nov. 20.
The business forum was initiated by Urbahn Architects, a prestigious architectural firm that specializes in planning and grand design for public facilities, in collaboration with the IKN Authority.
"The development of IKN is a large project that requires investment and collaboration from various parties. Private investment is widely open in various sectors, including trade-supporting sectors such as infrastructure, transportation and logistics," minister Zulkifli Hasan stated.
The minister told investors not to hesitate to explore trade and investment opportunities in Indonesia because Indonesia's economic growth remained robust amid uncertain global economic conditions.
In the third quarter of 2023 for instance, Indonesia's economy grew by 4.94 percent annually, with inflation remaining at 2.28 percent in September 2023.
Minister Zulkifli Hasan expressed gratitude for the enthusiasm from business players at the forum and hoped for increased cooperation between Indonesia and the US. This aligns with the commitment made by Presidents Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Joe Biden to elevate the bilateral cooperation status from Strategic Partnership to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
"The Trade Ministry will continue to work with the IKN Authority and all relevant agencies to create the Nusantara National Capital based on economic equality and leverage the IKN to realize a stronger and transformative trade sector," said minister Zulkifli Hasan.
Meanwhile, director of ASEAN business development at Urbahn Architects, Rafi Haikal, expressed great enthusiasm in assisting the Trade Ministry and IKN Authority in meeting with investors in the US. Haikal said Urbahn Architects was ready to assist in the development and growth of the IKN project as expected by the Indonesian government.
"Urbahn Architects declares its readiness to bridge designers, developers and potential investors to the IKN. Urbahn Architects' involvement in the development of the IKN aims to integrate design and construction standards with architecture quality on par with New York for Indonesia's new capital," said Haikal.
Furthermore, as an alumnus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, he elaborated that Urbahn Architects had also curated 100 participants to attend the Indonesia-US Business and Investment Forum, with the hope that this participation could bridge the gap between architects and developers from Indonesia and the US.
Accompanying minister Zulkifli Hasan were director general of international trade negotiations Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono and special staffer for trade minister for international trade agreements Bara Hasibuan.
