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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Rebecca Ratcliffe South-east Asia correspondent

Indonesia names new capital Nusantara, replacing sinking Jakarta

Vehicles are caught in a congestion during a rush hour in Jakarta, Indonesia
Vehicles are caught in congestion during rush hour in Jakarta, Indonesia. A new capital called Nusantara hopes to alleviate some of Jakarta’s woes. Photograph: Achmad Ibrahim/AP

Indonesia plans to name its new capital Nusantara, which translates as “archipelago”, when government offices are relocated to the province of East Kalimantan from Jakarta, on the island of Java.

President Joko Widodo first announced the plan to move Indonesia’s capital in 2019, in an effort to relieve the huge environmental challenges facing Jakarta, and to redistribute wealth. The move has been delayed due to the pandemic, but could go ahead in 2024.

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