Motivation for Moving Indonesia’s Capital City

Moving the nation’s capital is a strategic step taken by various countries with various backgrounds and motivations. Indonesia, with its various challenges and potential, also sees the need to move the capital city as an important step in realizing inclusive and equitable economic growth, as well as a reflection of national identity and a picture of Indonesia’s future.
In planning a new capital city, Indonesia took lessons from several countries that have taken similar steps, with a focus on green, environmentally friendly city planning, as well as efficient placement and management strategies.
The main motivation for moving the capital city is to realize more inclusive and equitable economic growth. Currently, Jakarta as the capital city is facing various challenges such as severe traffic jams, air pollution, flooding, and high population density.
By moving the capital, it is hoped that it can reduce pressure on Jakarta and at the same time encourage economic development in other regions. It is hoped that this step will create new centers of economic growth, reduce disparities between regions, and encourage more equitable development throughout Indonesia.
Apart from that, moving the capital city also has socio-cultural motivations. The new capital city was designed to reflect Indonesia’s national identity and future vision. As a symbol of transformation and modernization, the new capital is expected to strengthen national identity, promote cultural diversity, and become an icon of pride for all Indonesian people.
In designing a new capital city, Indonesia learned from the experience of several countries that have successfully moved their capital cities. Here are some important lessons learned:
First, green and environmentally friendly city planning. Countries such as Brazil with Brasilia and South Korea with Sejong have demonstrated the importance of green and environmentally friendly urban planning.
In Brasilia, around 50% of the area is allocated for green open space. Sejong was also designed with a green city concept that integrates natural landscapes and topographic structures. Indonesia plans to follow this lead by allocating large green open spaces in the new capital to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment.
Second, strategic location. Placing the new capital not too far from the existing city which is already developing is a strategy adopted from planning for Islamabad in Pakistan.
This is important so that the construction of a new capital city can utilize existing infrastructure, reduce development costs, and accelerate integration with already developing economic centers. Thus, Indonesia plans to place the new capital city in a strategic location and easily accessible from other big cities.
Third, the formation of an authority body. Australia’s experience with the city of Canberra shows the importance of establishing a dedicated authority to manage the planning, development and construction of a new capital city.
This agency plays an important role in ensuring that the development process runs according to the master plan that has been determined, speeding up decision making, and coordinating various aspects of development. Indonesia also plans to establish a similar authority body to ensure that the construction of the new capital city can run effectively and efficiently.
Source: Bappenas