Monday, 09 January 2023 | 19:18
Arsito Hidayatullah
The handover of Letters of Intent (LoI) from Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in the development of Nusantara Capital, witnessed by both Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and President Joko Widodo, in Bogor Palace, Monday, January 9th, 2023. [ANTARA/Gilang Galiartha]

TheIndonesia.id - President Joko Widodo together with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim observed the handover of Letters of Intent (LoI) from Malaysian entrepreneurs to invest in the development of Nusantara, the new capital of Indonesia.

Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz handed over the LoI to Nusantara Capital Authority Head Bambang Susantono at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Monday, January 9th, 2023, as reported by Antara.

In the joint press statement after the handover ceremony, Jokowi --popular name of Joko Widodo-- said he welcomed Malaysian investors which are keen to invest in the development of Nusantara City.

"The 11 Letters of Intent signed by Malaysian private sectors and handed over to the Nusantara Capital Authority are in the electronic, healthcare, waste management, construction, and property aspects," the Indonesian President noted in the joint press statement, as observed from the Presidential Secretariat YouTube channel.

He noted that before issuing the letter to proceed, the Nusantara Capital Authority would assess the investment proposals from Malaysian investors.

Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim said that the LoI to invest in the development of Nusantara City is a positive and aggressive step for Malaysian investors.

Ibrahim also noted that the development of Indonesia's new capital in Kalimantan would bolster the economy in Malaysia's region of Sabah and Sarawak that shared borders with Indonesian provinces on the island.

"There is Malaysia's interest [in Kalimantan island], particularly in Sabah and Sarawak regions. Its proximity [from the new capital] and economic importance will be essential," he emphasized.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said he was lauded by colleagues in Sabah and Sarawak for Indonesia's bold decision to relocate its capital to Kalimantan.

"I told him [Jokowi] that Mr President's huge initiative promotes more than what I could do for Sabah and Sarawak," Ibrahim stated.

Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that Malaysia would continue to adopt a positive approach to development of the new capital Nusantara, as it could as well benefit Malaysia, particularly Sabah and Sarawak.