MoFA and UNIDO promote international cooperation in support of IKN development

Joint Press Release

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic Indonesia and United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Jakarta 12 August 2024 - Indonesia is actively developing its new capital city, IKN, as a symbol of national unity and progress. As a new hub for economic growth, IKN is envisioned to be a green, smart, inclusive and sustainable city. To achieve this vision, Indonesia needs to manage IKN  growth carefully to ensure it truly grows and avoids common urban problems, such as congestion, overpopulation, and pollution.

In support of this goal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organise the Bridge for Cities Workshop themed “Cities of Tomorrow: Collaborative Strategies for New Cities” at Fairmont, Jakarta, on 12 August 2024. UNIDO is a UN agency that focuses on sustainable industrial capacity building.

The workshop features 17 international and Indonesian speakers. With 70 participants from various ministries, universities, NGOs, research institutes, and other stakeholders, the event focuses on three key issues in urban development: (i) economic growth and productivity, (ii) environmentally friendly development, and (iii) innovative financing.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Ambassador Tri Tharyat, Director General for Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “The development of IKN requires close collaboration with various parties, including international cooperation, to attract investment and gain knowledge, experience, and best practices in urban development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to strengthen international cooperation to support the development of IKN.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Jie Zhao, Chief of the Regional Coordination Bureau for Asia-Pacific at UNIDO, commended Indonesia for the visionary and well-planned development of IKN. Ms. Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, expressed her readiness to collaborate in mobilizing urban development funding through blended financing schemes, as demonstrated in the Indonesia-UN partnership for funding programs that empower women and youth.

The Head of the Regional Infrastructure Development Agency of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, representing the Acting Head of IKN, highlighted the achievements and rapid progress in IKN’s infrastructure development, including the completion of the Garuda Palace and the Pulau Balang bridge. One of the speakers, Mr Alfonso Vegara from Fundación Metrópoli, Spain, suggested that Indonesia optimize the potential of Balikpapan and Samarinda, particularly in providing skilled labour to accelerate IKN’s growth and achieve economic integration.

The collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNIDO in this workshop serves as a strategic starting point that could lead to further, tangible, and impactful collaboration in both IKN's development and joint efforts to address urbanization challenges. In the near future, Indonesia will share its experiences in developing IKN with other countries at the Bridge for Cities event at UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, in October 2024.

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Source:

• Directorate of Trade, Industry, Commodities and Intellectual Property, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Country Office in Indonesia