Nine days before handing over the presidency to successor Prabowo Subianto, Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated the Istana Negara (State Palace) in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on Friday, cementing the centerpiece of his administration's flagship infrastructure legacy in East Kalimantan. Accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and senior cabinet ministers, the outgoing leader signed a commemorative marble inscription on the palace grounds in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP).
During the ceremony, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono formally presented the state with Electronic Management Rights Certificate No. 1, covering the 56.87-hectare presidential complex. Designed by renowned Balinese sculptor I Nyoman Nuarta, the newly inaugurated Istana Negara will serve as the official residence and ceremonial reception hall of the Indonesian head of state, while the soaring bird-shaped Garuda Palace rising immediately behind it will function as the daily presidential office.
Milestone Achievement Ahead of Presidential Transition
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the ceremonial halls, Joko Widodo explained that he chose to inaugurate the Istana Negara first because construction on that section of the complex had reached 100 percent completion, whereas the iconic bronze-and-steel Garuda Palace still requires approximately one additional month of finishing work. He emphasized that the formal handover of the land title ensures full legal certainty over state assets as ministries gradually relocate staff from Jakarta.
Launched under the 2022 Capital City Law to relieve chronic congestion, land subsidence, and flooding in Jakarta while redistributing economic growth beyond Java, the $32 billion Nusantara project has transformed forestry tracts in Penajam Paser Utara into a sprawling construction hub. Over the past two years, workers have completed ministerial housing towers, key toll road links to Balikpapan, water treatment plants, and a nearby training center funded in cooperation with FIFA.
“Today we officially inaugurate the State Palace in the Nusantara Capital City as a monumental symbol of Indonesia's capability to build a green, smart, and sovereign future capital.” — Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia
Continuity Under Incoming President Prabowo Subianto
The inauguration carries significant political weight as Indonesia prepares for the October 20 swearing-in of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Joko Widodo's eldest son. Although Nusantara will only formally assume legal status as the national capital once a presidential decree is signed, Widodo has indicated that he will leave the timing of that decree to Prabowo's incoming administration so that all legislative and judicial buildings are ready.
Prabowo has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to continuing the multi-decade relocation effort, prioritizing the construction of parliament buildings, the Supreme Court complex, and private-sector commercial districts over the next five years. Alongside the palace inauguration, Widodo also opened the Nusantara Mayapada Hospital and witnessed the groundbreaking of several mixed-use retail and educational facilities aimed at making the forest city livable for thousands of civil servants scheduled to transfer in 2026 and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did President Joko Widodo inaugurate in Nusantara?
President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated the Istana Negara (State Palace) and received the electronic land certificate for the 56-hectare presidential complex in East Kalimantan.
Why wasn't the Garuda Palace inaugurated at the same time?
Officials stated that while the Istana Negara is fully ready, the neighboring Garuda Palace presidential office still requires roughly one more month of interior and facade completion.
Comments (0)
Log in to join the discussion.