A new capital city emerges from the ground

Overpopulation, pollution, rising waters and seismic risks have forced Indonesian President Joko Widodo to rethink the location of his capital city of Jakarta. Indeed, after years of hesitation, a site has been chosen in the east of the island of Borneo, in the middle of the rainforest, with coal mines and natural gas just a few kilometres away. The relocation, protected from natural disasters, is considered urgent and could already begin in 2024. The costs are estimated at 36.6 billion dollars, 19% of which will be financed by the Indonesian government. The name chosen for this new capital, which could be built in ten years’ time is Nusantara, meaning “archipelago” in Indonesian, reflecting the country’s geography.