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.
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 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.
