Jakarta Uses 499th Anniversary as Gateway to Five-Century Transformation

The 499th anniversary of Jakarta marks the beginning of the city’s journey towards its five-century milestone in 2027. For the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, this moment is not merely an annual celebration, but also a gateway to strengthen the direction of the city’s transformation.

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, stated that the government views Jakarta’s current position as a critical phase. He said the period leading up to the city’s 500th year is an opportunity to prepare the foundations for sustainable development.

“We are preparing a century-long transition, and I am grateful to be in this century and in this position,” he said during the CNN Indonesia Forward event on Friday (26/6).

For Rano, his position alongside Governor Pramono Anung in this transitional period is no ordinary coincidence. Both feel they bear a special responsibility to bridge the old era with Jakarta’s new century.

He stressed that his administration is not coming in with entirely new programmes. Instead, the main focus is on completing what previous Jakarta leaders have pioneered.

“We don’t have new programmes, we are only continuing what the previous governors did,” Rano said.

This approach is reflected in several ongoing programmes, ranging from river normalisation and strengthening public transport to perfecting supporting infrastructure in strategic areas. The government believes that continuity is a crucial part of maintaining the direction of development.

Rano emphasised that urban problems cannot be solved in a short time. Therefore, every programme must be continued so that the benefits can be felt by the community gradually.

According to him, the city’s transformation must also address the classic problem of flooding, which remains unresolved. Jakarta is crossed by 13 rivers and faces three sources of water threats every year.

“If flooding occurs in three areas—rising sea levels, local rainfall, and water sent from upstream—it will definitely flood. That is certain,” he added.

River normalisation has been a cross-generational task for Jakarta’s leaders, from the era of Joko Widodo and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to the present. Rano stressed that his administration is not opening new rivers but is instead completing the long-running normalisation efforts.

Beyond physical development, the government is also placing the improvement of citizens’ quality of life as part of the city’s transformation. Improvements in education, health services, public spaces, and digital services are seen as the foundation for preparing Jakarta for the future.

Rano noted that urban development is not solely about presenting new infrastructure. The quality of human resources remains the main factor in supporting Jakarta’s position as a global city.

He added that the 499th anniversary is also a momentum to evaluate development achievements each year. The government wants to ensure that the targets set can be achieved gradually according to the city’s needs and budgetary capacity.

Rano assessed that Jakarta’s development must proceed consistently without neglecting ongoing work. In this way, each programme can complement one another towards long-term goals.

“Jakarta cannot be built instantly in a five-year project,” he stressed.

Approaching its five-century mark, the government is also beginning to prepare various agendas that will fill the journey towards 2027. Rano said the 499th anniversary is the starting point for introducing the direction of development that will be continued in the following years.

For him, the commemoration of Jakarta’s anniversary is not just a historical record, but also an opportunity to build a shared commitment to face the city’s future. Therefore, the public is expected to participate in maintaining public spaces, the environment, and all development results.

The 499th anniversary celebrations will be centred at the HI Roundabout on 27 and 28 May 2026, with road closures from the afternoon until late at night. The accompanying Jakarta Fair is targeted to generate eight trillion rupiah for small and medium enterprises.

“What is this for? To convey to the people of Jakarta that this is not just about festivity, but that this city belongs to all of us,” he said.

This message aligns with the ‘Jaga Jakarta’ tagline promoted by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government ahead of the city’s five-century mark. Rano reminded that urban security cannot be solely the burden of the authorities without citizens’ awareness to maintain cleanliness and order.

Therefore, he hopes that the transformation starting from the 499th anniversary can have a real impact during his and Pramono’s term in office.

“In the four to five years that we have, hopefully we can deliver that,” Rano concluded.