The decision to move the capital here from Jakarta, which has been Indonesia’s political and economic center since independence in 1945, is due to the city’s serious environmental and infrastructural problems, according to News Week. Jakarta, a city of over 30 million inhabitants, suffers from constant flooding, traffic congestion and rapid land subsidence. Due to […]
PENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia celebrated its 79th anniversary of independence on Saturday with a ceremony at the unfinished future capital of Nusantara. The city was supposed to ease pressure on Jakarta, but construction is behind schedule. Hundreds of officials and invited guests dressed in traditional Indonesian tribal dress gathered on a grassy […]
Widodo has rejected criticism that the event is a waste of money, calling the cost of a celebration spread across two cities more than 1,200 km apart “normal”. Vice President Maruf Amin and his successor Gibran Rakabuming Raka – Widodo’s son – will preside over an Independence Day ceremony in Jakarta attended by foreign diplomats, […]
Indonesia’s new multi-billion pound capital has descended into chaos – just days before Independence Day celebrations. Nusantara, which will become Indonesia’s future capital when completed, is due to be officially opened tomorrow as part of the August 17 celebrations, but the government has been forced to scale back its ambitious plans for the grand ceremony. […]
Rachel Mealey: Indonesia is about to reach a milestone: the first Independence Day ceremony in its new capital. But after two years of construction, the $45 billion megaproject is struggling with funding and is behind schedule. Some are wondering whether the country’s next president will see the project through. Here’s Indonesia correspondent Bill Birtles. Bill […]
