President Jokowi Spends the Night at IKN and Bonds with Ministers Over Dinner and Music

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spent the night in the National Capital Region (IKN) of the Archipelago, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province.

The head of state spent the night after laying the first stone or groundbreaking a number of banking infrastructure on Thursday (29/2/2024).

Quoted from the official statement from the Presidential Secretariat, President Jokowi left the cabin where he was spending the night to join the ministers who were gathering at around 19.45 WITA.

In attendance were Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, and Head IKN Authority Bambang Susantono.

Also read: Showing the IKN map, Jokowi explains that the Indonesian archipelago is starting to become densely developed

Also present were Chairman of President Wiranto’s Advisory Council, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, and IKN Development Curator Ridwan Kamil.

They chatted warmly while eating the dishes served, from barbecue to durian fruit.

“Mr (President) asked for fried rice and fried eggs. You also asked for tea and palm sugar coffee,” said Claudio, the President’s cook.

The dinner felt even warmer and more intimate with the accompaniment of music. Minister Basuki appeared playing drums, together with the TNI Commander who played guitar.

Meanwhile, Minister Bahlil sang the song “Titip Rindu Buat Ayah” by Ebiet G. Ade which added warmth to Thursday night.

Also read: Jokowi inspects the grounds for the 79th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony at IKN, here’s what it looks like

President Jokowi and his ministers seemed to be enjoying the evening and unwinding after a day of carrying out a number of work agendas at IKN.

Ridwan Kamil said that President Jokowi always looked very cheerful when he spent the night at IKN.

“What does this indicate? The atmosphere, there is a spirit of optimism about seeing dreams come true, the glamping is also in the middle of the forest, if there are lots of trees the oxygen decreases, it becomes more relaxed. Accompanied by entertaining people too, there is Mr. Bahlil, there is Mr. Erick, “Sometimes I like to be funny too, it turns out it’s expensive,” said Ridwan Kamil as reported by a press release from the Presidential Secretariat.

“It’s true that managing a country is hard, but there must be moments of relaxation. You often laugh out loud, it’s extraordinary. So I think this is a historical event in my memory,” he said again.

Also read: Jokowi: After the Election, Investors Will Not Wait to Invest in IKN

Not only relaxing, the President and the ministers also held light discussions about IKN development.

Previously, on Thursday, President Jokowi started activities in Bontang City, East Kalimantan by inaugurating an ammonium nitrate factory.

After that, Jokowi headed to the IKN area and carried out a groundbreaking of the offices of BNI bank, Mandiri bank and BRI international microfinance center.

Apart from that, the Head of State and ministers also inspected the construction of the Presidential Palace at IKN along with the field that will be used for the Republic of Indonesia’s 79th Anniversary ceremony there.

Also read: Jokowi will have an office at IKN if the toll road and airport are finished

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2024-02-29 23:17:00


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