Jakarta eyes top 65 global city ranking this year

Jakarta is poised to climb the global city rankings, with Deputy Governor Rano Karno expressing strong optimism that the Indonesian capital will reach the top 65 this year. This projection aligns with the provincial government's ambitious target of breaking into the top 50 global cities by 2030.

Karno highlighted the significant progress made since the current administration took office. "In the first seven months, Jakarta's city index has already improved. Initially, we were ranked 74th. After eight months of work, we rose to 71st. I am very confident that this year, perhaps by October, the index will approach 65," he stated in a CNN Indonesia TV interview.

The deputy governor stressed that the provincial government's focus extends beyond physical infrastructure to encompass the welfare of its residents. "There's no point in building skyscrapers if the people fail," Karno remarked. He pointed to a substantial reduction in slum areas as evidence of this commitment. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of slum-dwelling neighborhood units (RW kumuh) in Jakarta has decreased by approximately 50% in one year, from over 400 to 211.

Furthermore, Karno is encouraging a shift towards vertical living through the development of high-rise apartments, or 'rumah susun.' He views this as a necessary step for Jakarta's urban development, drawing parallels with Singapore's approach. "We must go vertical, to apartments. This can improve welfare, although our character is sometimes still fond of living in houses," he explained, acknowledging the cultural preference for landed homes.