Riri Rahayu (Bisnis), Jakarta – Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said many investors are interested in the new capital city or IKN Nusantara project.
He made the statement during a forum on the Nusantara capital investment organized by the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) along with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
"Almost 200 people participated [in the forum]. They want to invest in IKN," Basuki said when met at the PUPR Ministry's building on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
With the high interest of foreign investors, Basuki was optimistic that the project could be mainly funded from investment instead of the state budget. The investment could depend on the type, such as road construction, drinking water, education, and hospitals.
Apart from Malaysia, the government also held similar forums with Japan. Meanwhile, the meeting with South Korea is being followed up by the formation of the feasibility study.
However, Basuki stopped short of mentioning the amount that the investors will deliver. "Perhaps in the second or third quarter of next year, the President will accompany investors to IKN because I have to prepare it first," said Basuki.
A spokesperson for the PUPR Ministry Endra Atmawidjaja said at least 183 Malaysian investors are interested in investing in the new capital city project. They are from the property, health, digital, startup, transportation, and energy sectors.
"We have consolidated the material so that it can be easily apprehended by investors," said Endra. "The important message that we convey is that the government has already started the work."