Indonesia’s unfinished new capital celebrated its first Independence Day on Saturday with a flag-raising ceremony against a backdrop of cranes and dusty construction sites.
The new city, called Nusantara, is located in the forested eastern part of Borneo and is intended as a sustainable, high-tech alternative to overcrowded and polluted Jakarta.
While some government buildings are nearing completion, much of the essential infrastructure remains unfinished.
Outgoing President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, led the ceremony, along with President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who will take office in October.
A separate ceremony was held in Jakarta, led by Vice President Maruf Amin and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
“We can see how magnificent the capital of Nusantara is,” the television event’s host, Dewi Kumala, enthused. “Not only does it show a strong cultural essence, but the Garuda Palace in Nusantara also integrates a green building concept. It is not only grand, but also beautiful.”
The ambitious $32 billion project has faced numerous challenges, including delays, land acquisition issues and a lack of enthusiasm from foreign investors.
Critics call it a “white elephant” as Jokowi seeks a lasting legacy, while environmentalists warn of a potential ecological disaster.
Jokowi has called for caution regarding the transfer of civil servants to Nusantara.
An initial group of about 1,700 government workers is expected to move in September, but the full transition could take longer, officials said.
“The plan is still for September, but we don’t want to rush it,” Jokowi said this week. “If the preparations are not complete, we may postpone it.”
The move includes the construction of 47 residential towers for civil servants, 21 of which have already been completed. A three-phase strategy is in place, including a recruitment campaign with more than 40,000 positions reserved for central government institutions in Nusantara.
Despite the challenges, Jokowi remains optimistic about the project, citing interest from foreign investors. Prabowo, his successor, has also promised to continue and accelerate the construction of Nusantara.
“Prabowo actually wants to accelerate development,” Jokowi told reporters on Wednesday.
“I told him that building Nusantara would take 10, 15, 20 years. He said, ‘That’s not fast enough; I want to get it done in four, five, six years.’ It’s up to him.”
Jubaidah, a resident whose land is being purchased for the project, did not share the enthusiasm of those attending the ceremony.
Although the government has promised her and others compensation for crops and plants, she said the amount offered was not enough to buy new land in an area where prices have risen because of the project.
“Their presence is meaningless if they ignore the situation of the people here,” she said, referring to the people affected by the project.
