Decree Delivered: Nusantara's Political Era Officially Begins in 2028
President Prabowo Signs Decree, Officially Mandating Nusantara as Indonesia's Political Capital by 2028
JAKARTA, Indonesia – In a significant move that accelerates the nation's monumental infrastructure project, President Prabowo Subianto has signed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 79 of 2025, which formally designates Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) to become Indonesia's political capital by 2028.
The decree, titled "Perpres Nomor 79 Tahun 2025 tentang Pemutakhiran Rencana Pemerintah Tahun 2025" (Update of the Government Plan for 2025), serves a dual purpose. It outlines the first phase of the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) and provides the detailed first-year implementation of the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Within this framework, the development and relocation to IKN are highlighted as a key policy intervention.
The document explicitly states the government's commitment: "The planning and development of the area, as well as the relocation to the Nusantara Capital City, are carried out as an effort to support the realization of the Nusantara Capital City becoming a political capital in the year 2028..."
This official target date provides a clear and ambitious timeline for the massive undertaking of moving the core branches of government from Jakarta to the new capital in East Kalimantan.
Key Development Targets Outlined in the Decree:
The Perpres provides specific, measurable targets for the IKN's development:
Core Area: The development will focus on a core central government zone and its immediate surroundings, covering an area of 800-850 hectares.
Infrastructure Mix: The plan mandates that 20% of the construction will be dedicated to government buildings and offices, while a significant 50% will be allocated for decent, affordable, and sustainable housing. This emphasis on housing aims to create a livable city from the outset and avoid the satellite city pitfalls of other capital relocations.
Civil Service Relocation: The decree details the phased transfer of civil servants (ASN). Initially, between 1,700 and 4,100 civil servants are slated to be assigned to IKN to establish the core administrative functions.
Housing Support: To accommodate these workers and their families, the government plans to build 476 new housing units and enhance the quality of an additional 38,504 units, ensuring a smooth transition for the pioneering government workforce.
Building on a National Vision
The article notes that the IKN project was initiated in 2022 under former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). President Jokowi framed the move as essential for achieving equitable development across the Indonesian archipelago, shifting the focus from being "Java-centric" to "Indonesia-centric."
"Betapa sangat padatnya Pulau Jawa sehingga memerlukan yang namanya pemerataan pembangunan sehingga tidak Jawasentris tapi Indonesiasentris," (How very dense Java Island is, so it requires what is called equitable development so that it is not Java-centric but Indonesia-centric) Jokowi stated in a past address.
He had previously estimated that the entire process of building and populating the new capital would take 15 to 20 years. President Prabowo's new decree significantly sharpens that vision by setting a firm, near-term deadline for its primary function: to serve as the seat of Indonesia's political government.
This regulation marks a pivotal step, transitioning the IKN from a visionary concept and ongoing construction site into a legally mandated future capital with a concrete deadline, signaling the Prabowo administration's strong commitment to seeing the project through to its completion.