Economic growth in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, has shown positive trends in tandem with the construction and development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area.
Based on an economic impact study conducted through the Funding Scheme Implementation Support Facility (PPSP), the region—which is the closest to the IKN—has experienced a significant increase in economic activity.
Pungky Widiaryanto, Director of Macro Planning at the IKN Authority, explained that the IKN is designed not only as a new administrative center but also as a driving force for national and regional economic growth.
The influx of investment, infrastructure development, and increased economic activity have created various business opportunities and jobs for the local community.
Study results indicate that economic growth in Penajam Paser Utara Regency has increased by approximately 19.9 percent compared to conditions prior to the start of IKN construction.
Additionally, the poverty rate in the region has decreased by about 0.45 percent, reflecting the positive impact of development on community welfare.
The same study indicates that Balikpapan serves as the primary gateway for investment into the IKN, while Samarinda and Kutai Kartanegara are also reaping economic benefits from the development of the new capital city.
To broaden the impact of development, the IKN Authority continues to promote regional collaboration through the Greater Nusantara concept, which connects the IKN with key surrounding regions.
This collaboration encompasses the development of transportation, logistics, the workforce, and public services, as well as the strengthening of mutually integrated regional economies.
According to Pungky, the areas surrounding the IKN play a strategic role as providers of labor, residential zones, urban service centers, logistics hubs, industrial zones, and integral parts of the economic supply chain.
Through the development of an integrated metropolitan area, the benefits of IKN development are expected to be felt more broadly and sustainably by communities throughout the surrounding regions.