With economic growth at 6.3% a year, Jakarta has found new strength in supporting its service industry. Jakarta aims to become an environment-friendly modern city by tapping industries that require more capital investment rather than human resource investment.
Though Jakarta faces challenges such as traffic and flooding, the government is currently working on addressing these problems.
“Jakarta has to keep up with the development of the transportation and ICT. This is the aim of our government now,” said Jakarta Deputy Governor for Industry, Trade and Transport Sutanto Soehodho.
Going beyond conventional solutions, Jakarta's government is betting on information and communications technology (ICT) to achieve its goal of creating the "Jakarta Smart City."
Through ICT technology, it also hopes to lessen, if not eliminate, the need for thousands of workers to commute to their offices for work.
At the same time, the government is focused on developing the city’s road network and public transportation.
Partnering with the private sector, Jakarta is building a mass rapid transit (MRT) system and planning to construct six new toll roads as well as a light rail system.
“To have these types of large infrastructure, you require support. You can no longer rely on government. Participation of the private sector is required. And it’s not enough to rely on the local private sector. We have to rely on foreign investment as well,” said Deputy Governor Soedhodho.
With the expertise and experience of the United States in similar infrastructure projects, Jakarta has identified American companies as ideal investors and partners for these mulitmillion flagship ventures.
