The 3rd Indonesia-Japan Forest Talk (IJFT-3)

In 2024, Indonesia will formally move its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in Kalimantan and it is targeted that the celebration of the 79th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence will be conducted in Nusantara. In 2025, Indonesia, led by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, will be participating in the WORLD EXPO 2025 OSAKA entitled “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. In this event, Ibu Kota Negara (IKN) Nusantara may be an option to be displayed to represent the future face of Indonesia. Nusantara, the new Capital of Indonesia, is designed as a model for forest and island-based future city representing the transformation and advancement of Indonesian Civilization.

The Capital City Nusantara has a vision of being a world city for everything that is built and managed to: (1) become a sustainable city in the world; (2) be as a driver of the Indonesian economy in the future; and (3) become a symbol of national identity, the diversity of the Indonesian nation based on Pancasila and the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia 1945. What is meant by "sustainable city in the world" is a city that manages resources efficiently and provide services effectively, especially in utilizing efficient water resources and energy, sustainably managing waste, integrating modes of transportation, providing livable and healthy environment, and synergizing natural and built environment. The sustainable city of Nusantara also means city in the forest, a city ensuring sustainability of the environment with a minimum of 75% (seventy five percent) green areas, as well as applying a sustainable master plan concept for balancing natural ecosystem, built-up area, and harmonious social system.

Nusantara is also designed as "the driver of the Indonesian economy in the future" where it is defined as a city that is progressive, innovative, and competitive in terms of technology, architecture, urban planning, and society. The development of Nusantara establishes an economic strategy superhubs associated with spatial strategy for beyond current potential, ensuring productive synergies between workforce, infrastructure, resources, and networks, and maximizing employment opportunities for the entire population of the city. In addition, Nusantara is designed to embody identity, social characters, unity, and the greatness of the nation that reflects the uniqueness of Indonesia.

The question is, what does it means by forest city of Nusantara? Do we share similar views over this term? How can Japanese Stakeholders support the Development of Nusantara? To answer the questions, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo in collaboration with MIDORI Forestry Association, University of Tsukuba, Sumitomo Forestry Co. Ltd., University of Brawijaya and Arena-Pac, is organizing the 3rdIndonesia-Japan  Forest Talk (IJFT-3) entitled “Moving Forward with the Concept of Smart and Sustainable Forest City for Nusantara”.