Legislator and Executive Discuss Jakarta's Future as a Business City

The Jakarta Inquiry Committee (Pansus) held its inaugural meeting with the executive in the Multipurpose Meeting Room, Jakarta City Council (DPRD) Building, on Monday (8/15).

Jakarta can maintain the title as a business center

Jakarta DPRD Pansus Vice Chairman Jamaluddin Lamanda said the first meeting was to determine the Jakarta administration's readiness with the determination of the State Capital (IKN) to Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan.

"This is our first meeting, where we focus on discussing the revision of Law 29/2007. We ask for information on plans and developments prepared by the DPR and the administration. This law has many things that need to be maintained," he said.

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According to him, the revision needed to be done in detail and comprehensively to avoid loss or problems when it became the Law on Jakarta Specificity later. That was why the Pansus was present to provide input and recommendations in order to improve the revision of the law.

"At the next meeting, we will also ask for information from the Home Ministry," he explained.

Pansus Member from PDIP Fraction Merry Hotma argued that legal protection was essential to protect Jakarta as a business city if Jakarta was no longer the capital city. Because of that, there was a need for new legal protection to replace Law number 29/2007.

"If the central government intends to make Jakarta a business city, we must have legal protection first to protect it," he stressed.

Jakarta Bappeda Vice Head Tri Indrawan explained that the Home Ministry, as the initiator of the Jakarta Specificity Bill, was preparing the process of drafting the bill, observing the deadline for preparation and amendments.

He was optimistic that Jakarta would be ready to turn into a business city after it is no longer the capital city. It is because Jakarta has characteristics that are ready to compete with other cities.

Jakarta has also become a center for local, national, and global community activities, the main gateway for island and country trade, and a place for global innovation to grow.

"We remain optimistic that Jakarta can maintain the title as a business center because we look at the history and infrastructure of Jakarta's characteristics. Jakarta nowadays is the number one contributor to the national economy and number two in Southeast Asia," she added.

In preparation for the status change, the administration will continue to improve public services in terms of infrastructure, transportation, and the environment.