Past Event

Indonesia’s New Capital City: Opportunities and Challenges

Join us for a discussion on Indonesia’s plan to build a New Capital City and green urban development needs

Past Event in

March 20, 2023 from 9:00 - 10:30 AM (US Eastern)

March 20, 2023 from 8:00 - 9:30 PM (Asia/Jakarta)

RSVP for the Event

  • March 20, 2023
  • 9:00 - 10:30 AM (US Eastern)

Event Took Place

  • March 20, 2023
  • 9:00 - 10:30 AM (US Eastern)

Jakarta is one of the world’s largest and most congested cities, and is vulnerable to sea level rise and other impacts of climate change. President Jokowi has announced Indonesia’s plan to build a New Capital City, “Nusantara”, in East Kalimantan. This ambitious plan, now under way, aims to build a smart, green, and sustainable New Capital City that would spread out growth, development, and employment by creating new and dispersed development in Kalimantan while emphasizing green-oriented solutions, and housing, education, financial technology, and health-care components. How to do all these is the challenge.

USINDO and the Stimson Center Southeast Asia Forum are pleased to present a timely and authoritative program on Indonesia’s New Capital City, “Nusantara”, featuring Special Guest Dr. Bambang Susantono, Chairman of the Nusantara National Capital Authority.

The United States-Indonesia Society’s mission is strengthening mutual understanding between the United States and Indonesia, enhancing the bilateral relationship, and deepening the U.S.-Indonesia Strategic Partnership. We implement our mission through public discussions in each country and long-term bi-national programs in the education, legislative, and other sectors.

A light breakfast will be served at 8:30am.

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Bambang Susantono, Chairman, Nusantara National Capital Authority, Republic of Indonesia

Bambung Susantono was inaugurated as Chairman of Nusantara National Capital Authority by Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo in March 2022. The Authority is in charge of planning and constructing Indonesia’s new capital, as well as overseeing the government’s transition to the new city and eventually becoming its administrator. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Susantono was Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) between 2015-2022.

Featured Speakers

Deden Rukmana, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Community and Regional Planning, Alabama A&M University

Dr. Deden Rukmana is a professor and the chairperson of the Department of Community and Regional Planning at Alabama A&M University. He received his Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University and completed master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and Bandung Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Alabama A&M University, he taught at Savannah State University for twelve years. He also has eight years of experience as urban planner in Indonesia.

Kathleen (Kate) Bartram, Senior Manager and Operations Lead, International Development Group

Kathleen (Kate) Bartram is a Senior Manager and Operations Lead for the International Development Group-implemented USAID Indo-Pacific Opportunity Project (IPOP), Feed the Future Bangladesh Improving Trade and Business Enabling Environment Activity, and Food Security Service Center Project. Kate has over 14 years of experience in public health and economic development. She holds an MSc in Forced Migration from the University of Oxford and a B.A. in Psychology from George Mason University.

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