China's Role in Building Indonesia's New Capital City in the Borneo Jungle
Chinese investors clearing land for Nusantara, the US$1.6 billion infrastructure project to relocate Indonesia's seat of government
Auf einen Blick
- Indonesia is building a new capital city, Nusantara (IKN), in the Borneo jungle with significant Chinese investment.
- Chinese firms are clearing land and constructing roads, tunnels, and mass transit systems worth a combined 55 trillion rupiah (US$1.57 billion), transforming the ecological area that currently houses endangered sun bears.
KI-generierte Zusammenfassung
Warum es wichtig ist
Indonesia announced plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Borneo in 2019, citing Jakarta's sinking infrastructure and flooding issues. The project, known as Nusantara or IKN (Ibu Kota Nusantara), aims to house the seat of government for the 287 million-person archipelago.
After an hour's drive through the jungle of Borneo, you reach more jungle. Your rental van from the Balikpapan city airport shakes precariously, navigating a partial bridge washout. A roadside sign admonishes against poaching the endangered sun bears. Welcome to Ibu Kota Nusantara, known locally as just Nusantara or IKN. Eventually, if all goes according to plan, it will be a brand new city housing the 287 million-person archipelago's seat of government. For now, it is still a jungle. But investors from China are clearing away a lot of that land to build the capital. Without them, the flora and fauna would keep a firm grip on the area. Chinese firms are also taking part in road and tunnel construction work worth 27 trillion rupiah (US$1.57 billion) and mass transit projects for 28 trillion rupiah, according to data compiled by Asia-Pacific Economics.
Offene Fragen
- What specific Chinese companies are involved in the construction?
- What environmental mitigation measures are being implemented?
- What is the timeline for government agencies to relocate?
