Indonesia’s New Capital, โNusantara, Faces slowdown Under Prabowo
Nusantara, Indonesia – Indonesia’s ambitious new capital city, Nusantara, is experiencing a slowdown in progress as President Prabowo Subianto appears to be cooling on the project championed by his predecessor, Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Theโค futuristic city, intended to replace Jakarta, โขremains largely half-built andโข sparsely populated, โขdespite notable initialโฃ investment.
Construction began in 2022, aiming to create aโ technologically advanced and lasting urban centerโ on the island of Borneo. As of August 14, 2025, Nusantara features three โฃfunctioning hospitals,โ coffee shops, a toll road connecting โขtoโ Balikpapan city, and an airport awaiting commercial flight approval. A planned shopping mall andโค cinema remain unbuilt.A statue of Indonesia’s โfirst president, Sukarno, created โby sculptor Nyoman โNuarta, stands atโ Kusuma Bangsa Park alongside โNuarta’s ‘wing’ sculptures.the presidential palace, modeled after the Garuda bird, is a โkey attraction โคfor the limited number of tourists visitingโค the site.
Though, โbusinessesโ are struggling with low โfoot traffic.Abduh Rajab, a 57-year-old snack seller, โreportedโ a 60โข percent drop in earnings compared to โthe Jokowi era, whenโ construction โฃactivity brought aโ steady stream of workers and โคvisitors. “My earnings have dropped considerably, by almost 60โ per cent. But I have to stay optimistic. โขI hope the construction will continue,” he said.
City employee Helena, 45, acknowledgedโฃ her apartment building is unfinished but emphasized its comfort and adequate facilities.”Andโ the facilities โขwe โget are more than enough,” sheโค told AFP.
Political analyst Dedi said Prabowo is highly likely to prioritize policies like free meals for children and pregnant women,suggesting IKN will โnot see rapid development. “That means IKN will not see โฃbreakneck โdevelopment anytime soon,” he stated. “Without strong momentum, it risks drifting into โwhite elephant โterritory.”
Tourist โRonald Telaumbanua, 38, from Sulawesi โisland, โฃexpressed enthusiasm, stating, “I amโข happy andโข proud… IKN โขis really cool.”
The project’s future remains uncertain as Prabowo’s administration recalibrates itsโค prioritiesโ forโค theโฃ nation.