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A capital idea, a chicken and an egg
The head of the authority tasked with planning Indonesia's new capital offers insights into the culture of his organization as well as the challenges, opportunities and excitement surrounding the most ambitious project in the country.
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IKN Authority head Bambang Susantono speaks to The Jakarta Post on Feb. 14. (IKN Authority/-)
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em>Ambitions for the country’s planned new capital extend far beyond the city's borders. The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) aims to be a model for Indonesia’s development and a blueprint for urban planners around the world on how to harmonize modern lifestyles with environmental sustainability. But none of that will come to fruition unless enough investors get involved.
Addressing their concerns is the prime responsibility of the IKN Authority, whose chief, Bambang Susantono, spoke to The Jakarta Post's Aditya Hadi and Mark Lempp on Tuesday about the chicken and egg conundrum and his task of being a visionary and a realist at the same time.
Below are excerpts from the interview, conducted at the authority's Jakarta offices, which have the flair of a young tech firm.
Question: Could you tell us about the idea behind this open-plan office area?
Answer: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo mentioned the new capital of Nusantara as the place for new ways of working, living and learning. We tried our best to start it all.
Some of my friends said this organization was like a start-up. I said yes. We're a start-up for municipal government, a new organization that will be able to face the challenges of the future.
As a new body, how does the IKN Authority manage its budget?
