NORTH PASER PENAJAM, EAST KALIMANTAN – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. The Central Kalimantan Province took part in the procession of unification of land and water at the kilometer zero-point of Nusantara State Capital in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Monday (14/3/2022). Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan Edy Pratowo also attended this activity which was directly led by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

The land and water in this procession came from certain locations in 34 provinces in Indonesia which represented the local wisdom and culture of each region. In this procession, the Governors or Deputy Governors handed over land and water from their regions to the President to be poured into one barrel that had been prepared.

The procession was coupled with the planting of trees together around the location of the unification of land and water. In this tree planting activity, the Governors or Deputy Governors planted typical trees of their respective regions. On this occasion, Deputy Governor Edy Pratowo planted the seeds of Jelutung tree (Dyera Polyphyla) as a typical tree from Bumi Tambun Bungai.

President Joko Widodo in his remarks said that this activity was the beginning of a great work. “Today, Monday, March 14, 2022, we are here together with our big dream and big work that we will soon start, namely the establishment of the Indonesian State Capital,” said the President.

At the activity which was also attended by 15 East Kalimantan Community Leaders, the President also expressed his gratitude to the Regional Heads coming from 34 Provinces. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all Governors. This is a form of our diversity and the strong unity among us in order to build the Nusantara State Capital,” he said.

In addition, the President expressed his gratitude to high state institutions, the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly, the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Indonesian Regional Leadership Council, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Audit Agency, the Judicial Commission, and all components of society who have supported the start of the establishment of the Nusantara State Capital.

The President hoped that the collaboration between the Central Government, Regional Governments, Indonesian National Armed Forces/ Indonesian National Police, private sectors, and the entire community in the establishment of the Indonesian State Capital will be very helpful so that what this nation aspires to can soon be realized.

The President also invited all elements of the nation to pray together for the guidance and blessings from the God Almighty so that the establishment of the Nusantara State Capital will run well.

Being present to accompany the President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo on this working visit were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Suharso Monoarfa, Head of Nusantara State Capital Authority Bambang Susantono, and Deputy Head of Nusantara State Capital Authority Dhony Rahajoe.

Meanwhile, accompanying the Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan Edy Pratowo were the Governor’s Expert Staff for Government, Law and Politics Herson B. Aden, Assistant for Economy and Development Leonard S. Ampung, Head of Central Kalimantan Regional Development Planning, Research and Development Province Kaspinor, Head of Central Kalimantan Food Crops and Horticulture Office Riza Rahmadi, Acting Head of the Economy Bureau Said Salim, and the Acting Head of Executive Administration Bureau Johni Sonder.

Previously, it was reported that the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government held a customary procession of land and water release to be brought to Nusantara State Capital, at the Isen Mulang Palace, Palangka Raya, Saturday (12/3/2022).

The soil samples which were taken and put together as a symbol in the customary procession of “tampung tawar” came from Bukit Batu Kasongan, Katingan Regency, the hermitage site of the National Hero Tjilik Riwut and from the Kutaringin Sultanate Complex in Pangkalan Bun, West Kotawaringin Regency; as well as from location points in other regencies/municipality throughout Central Kalimantan Province. Meanwhile, the water samples came from the confluence of the Kahayan River and Rungan River, Palangka Raya and from other location points in 11 Watersheds in Central Kalimantan Province. (ran/win/ist/transl.feb)