Indonesia is planning to move its capital from Jakarta in Java to a new city in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The move is in part to relieve pressure on traffic-clogged Jakarta, which is sinking, polluted and crowded. A new capital city would also be a way of symbolically centralising the government, which is seen as being too Java-centric.
The idea of moving the capital has been around since independence, with president Soekarno (1945-1967) planning to move the capital to Palangkaraya in Kalimantan. President Yudhoyono (2004-2014) also floated the idea.
The latest push to move the capital was proposed by President Jokowi shortly after winning his second term in 2019. Indonesian presidents can only serve two terms, and this costly and difficult project would have been too controversial to run as a first-term election policy.
A number of locations were short-listed, including Palangkaraya in Kalimantan (president Soekarno’s original choice). Kalimantan was the preferred region as it’s close to the geographical centre of Indonesia.
The chosen location is an area split between North Penajam Paser Regency and Kutai Kartanegara Regency in East Kalimantan. This is roughly between Balikpapan and Samarinda.
It’s worth noting that’s it’s the capital that is moving, not the whole of Jakarta, as if it was possible to somehow relocate a city of 10 million+ people. Running alongside the news of the new capital has been news articles of how Jakarta is sinking into the sea, and it is being abandoned. While it’s true that the city is sinking, and rising sea levels will also cause chaos, Jakarta is still planning for the future and it’s projected to be the world’s largest city.
Work was supposed to start on the new city in 2020, but then COVID-19 happened. At this point it is unclear what the future of the new capital is. Jokowi is president until 2024, so he will have until then to execute this legacy-defining project.
New Capital City Of Indonesia Map
This map shows the approximate location of where the new capital will be. The map also includes the geographical centre of Indonesia and the extreme points of Indonesia.
[Map of new capital of Indonesia.]
[Location of new capital in Kalimantan (via @jokowi).]
Links And Resources
Nagara Rimba Nusa, Ibu Kota Negara Indonesia – Winning concept design by urbanplus.
News Archive
2021
Indonesia continues to develop new capital after COVID-19 vaccination – [23/01/21]
“Indonesia remains committed to developing a new capital city in East Kalimantan province, which will start after the national vaccination program scheduled for completion in March 2022.”
2020
Building a capital city from scratch – [21/10/20]
“Indonesia has a grand plan to move its capital city from Jakarta before the region becomes uninhabitable.”
Indonesia’s new capital city project put on hold – [11/09/20]
“The government has postponed the plan to build Indonesia’s new capital city in East Kalimantan as the country switched its priorities to mitigating the coronavirus pandemic, an official has said.”
New Indonesian capital one year on: Land demand cools amid COVID-19, but speculators still hover – [30/08/20]
Indonesia hopes development of new capital will restart next year, investors still keen: Planning minister – [27/08/20]
Can Indonesia still build its new capital city? – [26/08/20]
Indonesia puts $33 billion move of capital city on hold to tackle pandemic – [19/08/20]
As the virus ravages Indonesia’s economy, will the new capital be shelved? – [17/07/20]
“As Covid-19 continues to rage through Indonesia, how will the faltering economy and the reallocation of funds towards virus relief impact the country’s grand $33 billion plan to relocate its capital to East Kalimantan?”
Indonesia’s new capital in the jungle project on the ropes – [17/07/20]
“Joko Widodo’s dream of being the Indonesian President who finally builds a new national capital is in doubt, with officials saying the timing of the project is to be “evaluated in the future”.”
Indonesia pushes ahead with US$33 billion new capital city despite sputtering, pandemic-hit economy – [01/07/20]
Indonesia to start construction of new capital city next year – [25/06/20]
“Despite the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government is slated to begin construction of the new capital city in North Penajam Paser regency, East Kalimantan, as scheduled in 2021.”
Turkish contractors ready to build Indonesia’s new capital – [24/06/20]
Building Indonesia’s new capital – [22/05/20]
“Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo’s announcement last August that a new capital would be built in East Kalimantan has been widely met with scepticism. While this scepticism is warranted, some of the project’s potential upsides are being overlooked by both outsiders and the government.”
China showing interest in capital city project says ambassador – [20/05/20
“The Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun on Tuesday said that he had previously met with the China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co Ltd deputy president, Hu Peng, in talks of future involvements in Indonesia’s future capital city development.”
Can Indonesia build a ‘green’ capital in a biodiversity hotspot? – [05/06/20]
“The government is talking the eco talk, but given its history of damaging megaprojects, deforestation and new coal power are real risks.”
Indonesia’s new capital in the Bornean jungle on hold amid COVID-19 crisis – [15/04/20]
Lessons from Brasilia: on the empty modernity of Indonesia’s new capital – [14/04/20]
Indonesia creates a new capital bonanza – [14/04/20]
“President Joko Widodo is planning southeast Asia’s biggest infrastructure project in building his new capital city in remote Kalimantan; it promises to be a party for bankers – but first they will have to negotiate some quirky local characters.”
Why isn’t Indonesia seeking China’s funding for its new capital? – [03/04/20]
“Indonesia prefers to partner with other countries, not China, in building its new capital city. That’s a wake-up call for Beijing.”
The many reasons to move Indonesia’s capital – [27/03/20]
“There are a variety of rationales put forward for the decision to relocate the capital, some more prominently articulated than others.”
Exclusive: Indonesia considers 2032 Olympics bid for new capital city with SoftBank’s help – [10/03/20]
“Indonesian President Joko Widodo is weighing an audacious 2032 Olympics bid centered on the country’s not-yet-built new capital and is in early talks with SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son and other investors for support, sources said.”
Indonesia’s new capital city will be master-planned by AECOM, McKinsey & Company, Nikken Sekkei – [09/03/20]
‘Soft groundbreaking’ for Indonesia’s new capital may kick off in July: Bappenas – [26/02/20]
“A “soft groundbreaking” and early construction on Indonesia’s new capital city in East Kalimantan may take place in July, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) announced on Wednesday.”
Denmark offers green solutions for new Indonesian capital as Jakarta is sinking into the ground – [24/02/20]
Joko Widodo says Indonesia’s new capital city in East Kalimantan is inspired by Canberra – [19/02/20]
Let’s make Indonesia’s new capital Canberra’s sister city – [11/02/20]
Universities will shift or be built in new capital – [01/02/20]
Moving a capital city to the jungle – [24/01/20]
“Indonesia is moving its capital from flood-prone Jakarta to a remote rainforest.”
New capital city to contribute little to Indonesia’s economic growth: Indef – [22/01/20]
“Indonesia’s new capital city will only contribute an additional 0.02 of a percentage point to the country’s economic growth, and the impact will also be short lived, according to Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) research.”
The problem with Indonesia’s new capital – [21/01/20]
“Can they build a new city without exporting Jakarta’s problems and creating more environmental problems?”
As Jakarta sinks, a new futuristic capital city will be built on Borneo – [20/01/20]
A green, sustainable new Indonesian capital city? – [18/01/20]
Indonesia taps Tony Blair and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince for advice on new capital city – [15/01/20]
Masayoshi Son rushes to Indonesia with plans for a ‘smart capital’ – [10/01/20]
“CEO says he wants to bring ‘a lot of artificial intelligence’ to jungle city.”
Report identifies tycoons controlling site of new Indonesian capital – [06/01/20]
“The site of the new capital on the island of Borneo is home to 162 existing concessions, most of them for coal mining, according to a report from a coalition of NGOs.”
2019
Indonesia picks winning design for its new capital – [27/12/19]
‘Forest Archipelago’ wins design contest for new Indonesia capital – [23/12/19]
“Government will use entry as a basis for the Borneo site’s development plan.”
Pemenang I – Sayembara Gagasan Desain Kawasan Ibu Kota Negara – [23/12/19]
Video (in Indonesian) from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing of the Nagara Rimba Nusa design.
‘Nagara Rimba Nusa’ announced as winner of new capital city design contest – [23/12/19]
“The Public Works and Housing Ministry has announced the “Nagara Rimba Nusa” design as the winner of the design contest for the country’s new capital city in East Kalimantan The design, created by architecture and urban design studio URBAN+, beat 755 other contestants to win a prize of Rp 2 billion (US$142,963).”
Jokowi’s curious plan for Indonesia’s capital – [19/11/19]
“The Indonesian president’s scheme to move the capital won’t fix Jakarta – or the government.”
Investing in Indonesia’s new capital may come with a reputational cost – [30/10/19]
“The ecological impacts of building a new city, pressures on natural resources and the relocation of indigenous groups could all set alarm bells ringing for investors. Here, we examine some of the risks and opportunities that could shape the success of this new development, alongside the implications for investors and operators.”
Where China fits in Jokowi’s plan for Indonesia’s US$33 billion new capital city – [19/10/19]
Wanted: Designs for Indonesia’s new smart, green capital city – [03/10/19]
“Public Works and Housing Ministry has officially opened a design contest for the country’s new capital city in the eastern part of Borneo, offering a total prize worth Rp 5 billion (US$353,490) for five winners who can outline the best concept for a “smart, forest city”.”
Indonesia’s new capital will be an environmental disaster – and yet another protected rainforest will be destroyed – [03/09/19]
“The government brands the new capital as a sustainable project, despite parts of the city taking up protected space. But it’ll just repeat mistakes made in Jakarta unless it drastically changes its approach.”
Why Indonesia’s capital move has environmentalists worried – [27/08/19]
Why is Indonesia moving its capital city? Everything you need to know – [27/08/19]
“Jakarta will be replaced by a yet-to-be-built city in Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo.”
Indonesia announces site of capital city to replace sinking Jakarta – [26/08/19]
Indonesia picks Borneo for new capital amid Jakarta gridlock – [26/08/19]
Indonesia picks Borneo island as site of new capital – [26/08/19]
A capital city in the jungle? It’s not a crazy idea – [18/08/19]
“Indonesia’s plan to move the government out of Jakarta could fuel corruption and degrade the environment – but the country needs it.”
Joko Widodo secures second term as Indonesia’s president – [21/05/19]
2018
Time for the Indonesian government to decide whether Jakarta sinks or swims – [15/02/18]
Will Jakarta no longer be Indonesia’s capital? – [23/01/18]
“Talk of relocating the Indonesian capital is just that – talk.”
Indonesia moves forward on plans to relocate capital – [10/01/18]
2017
Would moving Indonesia’s capital work? – [27/07/17]
“Experts say relocating the seat of government will not solve Jakarta’s overpopulation problem, as many people might not want to leave.”
Study on new Indonesian capital revives old debate – [ 11/07/17]
“Some say move will ease Jakarta’s urban woes, while others want govt to stay put.”
Government dusts off plans to move capital to ease Jakarta congestion – [13/04/17]
“President Joko Widodo, who is better known as Jokowi, and his vice president, Jusuf Kalla, have directed the National Development and Planning Agency (Bappenas) to develop a feasibility study on the proposed move.”
Indonesia studies new sites for capital city – [10/04/17]
“National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) head Bambang Brodjonegoro said Monday that the government was determined to move the Indonesian capital out of Java. He said Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan was one of the options.”
Indonesia to begin moving capital city ‘in 2018 or 2019’ – [04/07/17]
“The government’s planning board has not said where the new capital will be located, but say they are leaning toward the island of Borneo.”
2014
Joko Widodo wins Indonesia presidential election – [22/07/14]
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