Indonesian President Joko Widodo celebrated a momentous occasion as he laid the foundation stone for a state mosque with a capacity for 61,000 worshipers in the prospective capital, Nusantara. This was reported by the Indonesian news agency Antara.
President Widodo, quoted by the agency, shared, "The Minister of Religious Affairs has confirmed that the state mosque will have the capacity for 61,000 worshippers." The president noted that the project is expected to cost 940 billion Indonesian rupiah ($60 million), and will be completed by the end of 2024.
"I envision this mosque as a beacon, setting an example for national mosques globally. It should stand as a testament to the uniqueness of Indonesia, showcasing the exclusivity that defines the capital of the archipelago," Widodo emphasized.
The decision to relocate the capital from Jakarta, initially announced in 2019, aimed to establish the megacity on the island of Kalimantan by 2024, with a substantial budget of almost $32 billion. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a temporary suspension of the project. In a January 2022 announcement, President Widodo unveiled the name of the new capital, Nusantara, translating to "archipelago."
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Based on materials from TASS