Bappenas invites Japan to continue the development of IKN

This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.

Tempo.co - Bappenas ajak Jepang dalam pembangunan lanjutan IKN

6 March 2025

By Alifian Asmaaysi and Artha Adventy

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a record of discussion (R/D) with Indonesia's Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). This agreement pertains to a cooperation project titled “Project for Formulating Development Plans for Three Cities in the Republic of Indonesia”.

The cooperation agreement was signed by Teni Widuriyanti, the Principal Secretary of Bappenas, and Takeda Sachiko, the Chief Representative of JICA Indonesia, on Tuesday, 4 March 2025.

Teni Widuriyanti expressed that JICA is a dependable partner. She emphasised that the collaboration between Bappenas and JICA is a crucial step towards Indonesia's growth and development.

Teni explained that the development plans formulated through this cooperation will encompass not only urban planning but also the creation of dynamic ecosystems among the three cities: Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Samarinda City, and Balikpapan City.

She clarified that this development aims to elevate these three cities to world-class standards and promote sustainable economic growth and transformation.

Furthermore, Teni expressed her hope that this development plan will contribute to sustainable growth, economic transformation, and an improved quality of life. She also hopes that this project will not only benefit the new capital and its surrounding cities but also serve as a model and blueprint for urban transformation across Indonesia.

In this regard, Takeda Sachiko highlighted JICA's previous cooperation for IKN. She also emphasised the urgency of advancing this collaboration to leverage Japan's expertise and experience in urban development.

With the development of the new capital city, Sachiko conveyed that the Indonesian government emphasised the importance of broad collaboration among the three cities, referred to as “Three-City Development”. This initiative aims to complement the new capital city with Balikpapan, the economic hub of East Kalimantan Province, and Samarinda, the provincial capital.

Sachiko stated that to complement the urban functions of the new capital, IKN and the two surrounding cities must work effectively together from the planning stage through to implementation, within the framework of “Three-City Development”.

Given this situation, Sachiko affirmed that JICA supports Bappenas and other related organisations in conducting preliminary basic studies for the conceptual proposal that will underpin “Three-City Development”.

The cooperation among the three cities aims to promote complementary and sustainable development in three key areas: economic, social, and environmental. This urban development initiative will contribute to SDG Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and SDG Goal 13: Climate Action.

At the signing ceremony, Medrilzam, the Deputy for Regional Development of Bappenas, and other Bappenas officials were present. Additionally, there were online participants from the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, Samarinda City Government, and Balikpapan City Government.

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