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South Kalimantan offers safety, welcoming society for new capital
During a discussion in Banjarbaru recently, South Kalimantan Governor Sahbirin Noor said he was optimistic the province fulfilled the criteria for the future capital city. It is in the center of the nation and is relatively free from natural disasters, he said.
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Early start: Morning activities at the Lok Baintan floating market on the Martapura River, Banjar regency, South Kalimantan. (JP/Syofiardi Bachyul Jb)
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wenty-year-old Ivania Ananta was excited upon hearing in April that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had decided to push ahead with a plan to select a new capital city outside Java.
At least three locations across Kalimantan have been touted as the strongest candidates for the new capital, one of which is Tanah Bumbu regency in South Kalimantan — located around five hours by car from the provincial capital of Banjarmasin.
“Finally, Kalimantan is in the spotlight. Our government has been Java-centric for too long. If the capital is relocated [to Kalimantan], I think it will be a very good opportunity, especially to level the development here,” said Ivania, who has spent most of her life in Banjarmasin.
The government has given serious consideration to moving the capital city off Java to address development gaps in the country, among other issues.
Read also: 'It's final,' minister says of capital relocation
National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro previously said the relocation would serve as a symbolic gesture to address the inequalities facing the archipelagic nation.
According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in 2018, the country’s economic activity was concentrated in Java, with its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) reaching 58.48 percent at the time. Meanwhile, Kalimantan only contributed 8.2 percent to the national economy, according to the data.
