Nusantara Aims to Transform Indonesia’s Bureaucracy

RRI.CO.ID, Nusantara - Otorita Ibu Kota Nusantara is positioning Indonesia’s future capital as more than just a new administrative center. It is being shaped as a pilot site for a new model of government designed for the future.

Speaking in Nusantara on Friday, 13 February 2026, The Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, Rini Widyantini, outlined an ambitious vision for bureaucratic reform. She said the new capital must lead the transformation of how the state operates.

The public lecture was attended by civil servants already assigned to Nusantara, including officials from multiple ministries and state institutions. Among them were representatives from Bank Indonesia, highlighting cross-institutional involvement in building the new capital.

Rini stressed that Nusantara is not merely about relocating government offices from Jakarta. Instead, she described it as a strategic opportunity to redesign governance systems, decision-making processes, and public service standards.

“We are not just constructing buildings; we are building a future generation. Nusantara is about redesigning how the state works, how bureaucracy serves the public, and how decisions are made with integrity,” Rini said.

She emphasized the importance of strengthening civil service management and embedding a new work culture from the ground up. According to her, integrity and collaboration must become the foundation of governance in the future capital.

Secretary of the Nusantara Authority, Bimo Adi Nursanthyasto, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. “Her guidance gives us the energy to collaborate and innovate across ministries, setting a new standard for public service,” he said.

Nusantara, officially known as Ibu Kota Nusantara, is located in East Kalimantan and is envisioned as a smart, sustainable city. The government sees it as a symbol of Indonesia’s long-term development strategy and institutional modernization.

During her visit, Rini reviewed key infrastructure projects supporting the emerging administrative hub. These included civil servant housing, a state hospital, the presidential palace complex, and education facilities designed to serve future generations.

Officials on site acknowledged that building a new capital also means shaping a new institutional mindset. Bimo added that early civil servants in Nusantara are expected to become pioneers of a more agile and digitally driven bureaucracy.

Observers note that Indonesia’s bureaucratic reform has long been a work in progress. By turning Nusantara into a “proof-of-concept zone”, the government hopes to accelerate governance innovation and set standards that could be replicated nationwide.

If successful, Nusantara could offer a model for other developing nations seeking administrative reform. From this new capital, Indonesia aims to project a governance system that is transparent, collaborative, and future-ready.