Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Director of Global World Bank's Global Water Global Practice, Saroj Kumar Jha, visited the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Head of IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, said Saroj Kumar and his team came to see the development of IKN directly.

During the visit, Saroj Kumar and the World Bank team reviewed the Sepaku Semoi Dam, flood control in the Watershed Area (DAS) of Sanggai 1A in the Core Government Center (KIPP), and the Palace area. Basuki said the visit by the World Bank team was an important opportunity for the IKN Authority to demonstrate firsthand the principles of the new capital's development. Moreover, the World Bank is one of the international partners.

"This is an important opportunity to demonstrate how development principles in harmony with nature are applied in IKN," said Basuki Hadimuljono, Sunday, June 8, 2025, as quoted from a written statement.

Saroj Kumar expressed his impression of the IKN development plan. According to him, an approach that combines construction and nature harmoniously is being implemented in the development project. He also encourages various parties to visit, invest, and establish partnerships with IKN.

"I hope the World Bank will become a partner as Nusantara City grows to become the world's most modern capital," said Saroj Kumar.

Looking at the planning timeline, the development of IKN will be implemented in 5 stages, from 2022 to 2045. The development that began during President Jokowi's administration is estimated to require a budget of Rp466 trillion. The sustainability of this project was questioned because President Prabowo Subianto did not discuss IKN in his state address after his inauguration at the MPR Building on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

However, recently, Basuki Hadimuljono admitted to receiving instructions from Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka regarding the continuation of the project. The instructions were given when Gibran visited IKN on May 28-29, 2025.

"According to him, (the development of IKN) should not be delayed. The quality must also be maintained," said Basuki Hadimuljono in IKN, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, quoted by Tempo from a video documentation by the IKN Public Relations.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2015585/why-did-the-world-bank-visit-indonesias-nusantara-capital-cit