Jokowi optimistic of IKN hotels' construction concluding before Aug 17

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed optimism that the work to construct several hotels currently underway in the new capital (IKN) Nusantara would be completed prior to Indonesia's 79th Independence Anniversary on August 17, 2024.

"Later, in August, we will hold an independence anniversary ceremony at IKN. The question is where will our guests stay? I believe one hotel, or two, will have completed construction," he remarked during the groundbreaking for the Jambuluwuk Nusantara Hotel, East Kalimantan, on Wednesday.

The groundbreaking ceremony was followed online via the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel in Jakarta. President Jokowi noted that guests for the ceremony could stay at hotels in Balikpapan City, as the government has almost completed the construction of 47 kilometers of toll road connecting the city to Nusantara.

However, he suggested that it would be better if the guests could spend the night in the future capital city. In his speech, Jokowi stated that the Jambuluwuk Nusantara Hotel is being developed as a five-star hotel with 200 rooms, at a total value of investment of around Rp300 billion (US$19 million).

"Jambuluwuk will be yet another hotel to operate in IKN and increase the number of hotel rooms available, thereby facilitating Nusantara's visitors to get accommodation," he stated.

The president expressed belief that the Jambuluwuk Nusantara Hotel would contribute to the growth of Nusantara as well as its surrounding regions. He remarked that the consistent progress made in Nusantara's development is expected to rope in more investment.

"We have been holding groundbreakings for various projects every month in IKN. Hence, I believe no investors should hesitate to place their capital here," he remarked.

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He then invited potential investors to make the most of various incentives and types of convenience offered by the government at Nusantara's development site.

Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Hadi Tjahjanto, State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, and Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) Bambang Susantono, among others, accompanied President Jokowi.