THE ROAD TO NUSANTARA: Process, Challenges, and Opportunities

ISEAS – BRIN JOINT HYBRID CONFERENCE

About the Conference

After many years of discourse, the Indonesian government has decided to relocate the capital city from Jakarta to Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan. Due to its numerous socioeconomic and environmental urban problems, Jakarta is deemed to be unsuitable as the country’s future capital city. The new capital city, named Nusantara, is considered to be less exposed to natural disasters, and is strategically located in the country’s geographical centre. Relocating the capital city to East Kalimantan is perceived as a political strategy to redirect the government’s attention to other regions outside Java, create a new symbol of national identity and arguably promote national unity. Additionally, this will attract investment to new areas and to achieve equitable regional development in the country. Nevertheless, despite the above-perceived benefits, there are scepticism if the government can realise the project as it has imagined.

The new capital, Nusantara, will be a massive project supported by various policy decisions at the national and sub-national levels. With the current administration having less than two years in its term to prepare the legal and policy foundation and basic infrastructure for this historic relocation, questions remain on the feasibility and continuity of the ambitious project. There is a risk that the new government in 2024 may no longer support or even change the new capital project. Moreover, the project has not yet been able to draw interest from foreign investors. This Conference will explore the complex process of realising the Nusantara project and discuss the challenges and opportunities that could arise during the government’s transition period. The project’s potential impact on the broader region makes it a relevant topic for Southeast Asian policymakers and scholars of today.

This event is co-organised by the Indonesia Studies Programme at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS), Singapore, and the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities (IPSH), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia.

This conference is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

For further details, please refer to the programme and bio here (updated 25 October).

Registration

This two-day Conference will be delivered both online and on-site at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Attending the Event In-person at ISEAS

To join the event in-person at ISEAS, please register via the ISEAS mobile app, available on iOS and Android via the Apple or Play store. Search “ISEAS” to find or scan this QR code.

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Seating capacity is limited. Do register early to avoid disappointment.

Attending the Event Virtually via Webinar

To join the event virtually at the specified date and time using your internet devices, please register via the following links to receive your unique login link for the webinar via the zoom platform.

Day 1 (Thursday, 27 October 2022) – Please register here.

Day 2 (Friday, 28 October 2022) – Please register here.

Date

Oct 27 - 28 2022
Expired!

Location

ISEAS Seminar Room 1 & 2 / Webinar