The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) reported that the 2024 budget for the 79th Indonesian Independence Day (HUT RI) ceremony in the new capital city (IKN) reached Rp87 billion.
"Compared to last year in Jakarta, it was Rp53 billion," said the Director General of Budget at Kemenkeu, Isa Rachmatarwata, in an online APBN KiTa press conference on Tuesday (August 13, 2024).
The budget increased by approximately 64% from the actual budget for the RI Anniversary celebrations in Jakarta last year.
Isa explained that this increase in budget allocation was driven by the procurement of ceremonial equipment not yet available in IKN. Furthermore, it was also used for physical facilities and hospitality for guests.
"Hospitality costs are also quite significant compared to Jakarta, mainly perhaps because the location lacks sufficient infrastructure for this," he said.
Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the budget for the RI Anniversary celebrations in IKN this year is still considered reasonable because it was held in two locations: Jakarta and IKN.
"This is due to the transition, resulting in celebrations in two locations. I think the budget is normal, reasonable, and it's also under the State Secretariat," Jokowi said in Jakarta, as reported by Katadata on Friday (August 9, 2024).