Jakarta, 4 March 2025: ERIA successfully hosted the final workshop on ‘Developing a Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Ecosystem in Nusantara Capital City (IKN)’ at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta. This event followed up on the first workshop held in December 2024 in Balikpapan and brought together key stakeholders to discuss findings and recommendations from economic studies on Nusantara, with a focus on economic transformation, regional connectivity, and human capital development.

Key Highlights

Opening Remarks and Strategic Insights

• Dr Fauziah Zen, Senior Economist at ERIA and project lead for ERIA’s support to Nusantara, opened the workshop by emphasising the significance of these studies as key inputs for the Nusantara Sustainable Economic Transformation Roadmap.
• Dr Agung Wicaksono, Deputy of Funding and Investment at the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), outlined Nusantara’s economic development strategy, supporting regulations, and its alignment with Indonesia’s national development agenda. He also shared updates on ongoing investments and highlighted early private-sector contributions, illustrating the emerging economic foundation of Nusantara.

Key Research Findings

The workshop featured presentations from experts leading economic studies on Nusantara:

1. Macroeconomic Framework for Economic Transformation

• Dr Cita Wigjoseptina and her team from PT Daya Makara UI presented their recommendations on the macroeconomic framework for Nusantara’s transformation, identifying the region’s economic potential and key development stages to position Nusantara as an economic Superhub.

2. Regional Connectivity

• Led by Dr M.H. Yudhistira from the Institute of Economic and Social Research (LPEM) FEB UI, this study examines the connectivity needs to support Nusantara’s role as a Superhub.
• Dr Rafiq Idris of Universiti Malaysia Sabah expanded the scope of analysis to include East Malaysia and the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), underscoring the region’s broader economic linkages.

3. Human Capital Development

• Conducted in collaboration with the Demographic Institute (LD) FEB UI and led by Dr I Dewa G.K. Wisana, this study explores labour migration patterns in Kalimantan, analysing push-and-pull factors, policy interventions, and the taxonomy of skills essential to support Nusantara’s development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Next Steps

The workshop fostered dynamic discussions with active participation from key ministries, institutions, and regional governments, including:

• OIKN
• Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas)
• Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development
• Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government
• Dr Riatu M. Qibthiyyah, Special Economic Advisor to the Minister, Bappenas
• Tri Dewi Virgiyanti, Expert Staff to the Minister for Equity and Regional Development, Bappenas

These stakeholders provided valuable recommendations on aligning Nusantara’s development plans with Indonesia’s national strategies, the current administration’s priorities, and the needs of surrounding regions.

Following this workshop, the economic studies will be finalised, and the findings refined to provide actionable recommendations for the Nusantara Sustainable Economic Transformation Roadmap, currently being developed by OIKN.