REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BADUNG -- National Development Planning Minister concurrently Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro is targeting to complete the assessment on moving the capital from Jakarta to outside Java Island this year.

Bambang stated that some cities have the potential to become the new Indonesian capital, one of them being Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, he stated in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, this Monday.

"It should be outside Java (for other candidates). This should be done instead of creating a new speculation," he noted after attending the Regional Workshop on Country Safeguard System with Asian Development Bank.

"This year clearly," he noted when questioned on the timeline for the assessment on moving the capital.

Bambang said the Bappenas team is currently evaluating the location's criteria and will later analyze the availability of land and ultimately the monetary aspects to develop the new capital. 

"We continue to update President Joko Widodo regularly," he remarked.

With regard to Palangkaraya as a potential city to become the new capital, Bambang said the city was also recommended by the first Indonesian President Soekarno.

"Yes, it is one of the prospective cities because President Soekarno had even said so," he added.

According to literature, Soekarno had even suggested that the capital could be moved to Palangkaraya in around the 1950s. He had also visited the city, which is located in the heart of Indonesia, to observe the development.

On a previous occasion, Bambang said the plan to move the capital has surfaced again due to the requirement of creating a new economical center.

According to Bambang, Java Island had contributed significantly to Indonesia's economy. Especially in Jabodetabek -- Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi -- where the economic activities are concentrated or also in Jakarta itself and are not spread across all segments.

"Hence, the need arose to make a new economic center outside Java Island," he stated in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung.

If the plan goes through, the burden on Jakarta, which serves as both a government and business centre, could be reduced.

Even if the burden was reduced, Bambang expressed confidence that in case the capital is moved from Jakarta, the business center would still remain in that city.

"Although the country's capital is moved from Jakarta, it would still serve as the main business center in Indonesia," he noted.

Bambang also revealed that the plan to move the capital could be implemented if supported by a political decision.

"I am not in the position to decide if that would be the new capital, as it is a political decision. We only highlight the importance of moving the capital outside Java Island," he added.

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