Danantara targets December groundbreakings for smart cities

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's State-Owned Enterprises Regulatory Agency (BP BUMN) and sovereign wealth fund, Danantara aim to break ground in December on three sites for 12 planned smart-city developments.

"We must make every project an Indonesian icon, which means getting the master plan and architects right," BP BUMN head and Danantara Chief Operating Officer Dony Oskaria said in a statement here Thursday.​​​​​​​

Dony is accelerating preparations for the 12 developments, including land preparation, team formation and master-plan drafting, to move the projects toward construction.

He emphasized that developing future cities requires strong organizational structures, capable execution teams and experienced professionals.

The scale of investment and complexity far exceed those of ordinary commercial developments, requiring clear project management structures from planning through construction.

"Each project will have its own management structure because the investment is substantial. We are building cities, not hotels," Dony said.

Master planning will initially focus on three locations: Walini, Batang and Medan. Other areas, including Tuban and Subang, are also being considered for development.

Dony said the developments must meet high quality standards and become national landmarks. The master plans must be carefully prepared with qualified experts and architects, including internationally recognized urban planners.

The goal is to create modern developments distinguished by high-quality planning and design. "We need top experts at the planning level and strong teams to execute the projects," Dony said.

The 12 smart-city developments are designed as integrated urban areas combining housing, universities, hospitals, shopping centers and well-planned urban infrastructure.

They will also feature modern urban designs, integrated infrastructure and better-organized utility systems.

Through PT Kota Masa Depan Indonesia, BP BUMN and Danantara aim to create modern urban centers that support industrial development, investment and new economic activity.

The developments are expected to become new national landmarks while stimulating economic growth across different regions.

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Translator: Putu IS, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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