East Kalimantan choosen as site of new Indonesian capital

The Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has announced that two regencies in East Kalimantan are to be the site of the country’s new capital city.

In a press conference on Monday morning, the Indonesian President said that North Penajam Paser regency and part of Kutai Kertanegara regency in East Kalimantan will be used to construct the new capital instead of Jakarta.

The plan to move the capital from the island of Java was first announced in April. The new capital is to act as the center of government, while Jakarta would remain the country’s business and economic center.

Widodo is betting that a new capital for the Southeast Asian nation will better spread the wealth among its 267 million citizens — and ease the pressure on overcrowded Jakarta. The move also comes because Jakarta is sinking – with some 40% of its 10 million population now living below sea level.

It also suffers from pollution.

Via The Jakarta Post

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