Indonesia announces name of new capital

This aerial picture taken by Tribun Kaltim on July 31, 2019 shows the area around Samboja, Kutai Kartanegara, one of two locations proposed by the government for Indonesia's new capital. Photo: AFP TRIBUN KALTIM Fachmi RACHMAN Indonesia Minister announces the name of a new national capital in eastern Kalimantan

The planned new capital of Indonesia in eastern Kalimantan will be named Nusantara, according to National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa on Monday. The name Nusantara, meaning archipelago in Indonesian, was instructed and confirmed by the president, said Mr Monoarfa.

I received confirmation and direct orders from the president on Friday.

He said the new capital is Nusantara and that the special committee for the establishment of the new capital was set up at a meeting with a special committee on the subject of the new capital.

He said that the reason is because Nusantara has been known for a long time. It is simple and iconic in the world, and describes our archipelago, the Republic of Indonesia. He said that we all agree with the name Nusantara.

Some members of the meeting said that the name Nusantara could be confusing because it is a word used to describe the country. There were some people who suggested referring to the new capital as the special administration nusantara in order to avoid confusion.

This is not simple. The Minister said that they had consulted linguists and historians and submitted 80 suggested names to the president, including Negara Jaya glorious country Nusantara Jaya glorious archipelago and Nusa Karya homeland creation. It is not yet known whether the new capital will be a province or a city, but the meeting said it should be equivalent to the provincial level.

In the year 2019 President Joko Widodo announced that the country's capital would move from megacity Jakarta to the remote regency of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan province.

Since most of the economic activity in the country is centred in Java, the move is deemed necessary to save sinking and congested Jakarta and develop Kalimantan as well as the eastern part of Indonesia.

The construction of the 466 trillion rupiah US $32 billion new capital project was scheduled to start in 2020. The COVID 19 pandemic forced authorities to put the project on hold.

The discussion about the new capital continued last year, and the renowned Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta was announced as the designer of the state palace.

In his Instagram account earlier this month, Mr. Nuarta said that Mr Widodo has approved the final design, inspired by the country's emblem mythological bird Garuda.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono visited the new capital site this month to inspect the preparations for the construction.

The draft law of the new capital is expected to be passed by the parliament this month, so construction can begin and the relocation can begin in 2024.