Pramono inaugurates Permanent MGMAC Secretariat at Jakarta City Hall
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo inaugurated the permanent secretariat of the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC) at Jakarta City Hall.
The decision to designate Jakarta as the permanent MGMAC secretariat followed a lobbying process initiated in 2023.
“Finally, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration designated Jakarta as the permanent secretariat,” said Pramono at City Hall on Thursday.
He stated that this inauguration represents a significant asset for Jakarta in advancing as a global city following the relocation of Indonesia’s capital to IKN.
Furthermore, this position is strategic as Jakarta already possesses robust infrastructure and serves as the location for the ASEAN headquarters.
He remarked that Jakarta’s future will resemble New York, which remains a centre for international activities despite no longer being the national capital.
“Once the capital has fully moved to IKN, Jakarta will be like New York. Many international organisations operate there, and that becomes its strength,” Pramono said.
He emphasised that Law No. 2/2024 on the Special Province of Jakarta opens vast opportunities for the city to develop as a national economic centre as well as a global city.
By becoming the permanent secretariat, Pramono noted, all preparations for MGMAC meetings, including those ahead of this year’s gathering in Manila, will be centralised in Jakarta.
“This gives the impression that Jakarta truly must become a global city without abandoning its role as the national economic centre,” said Pramono.
Jakarta was officially designated as the permanent MGMAC secretariat in August 2025. Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has been entrusted to lead the Governing Board alongside the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri TPr. Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
This decision was agreed upon by 10 ASEAN governors and mayors in the 2025 MGMAC Communique in Kuala Lumpur on 13 August 2025.
Since its establishment in 2013, MGMAC has strengthened collaboration among ASEAN cities but lacked a permanent secretariat. Jakarta was selected as the permanent secretariat due to its role as the initiator of MGMAC and as the host of the ASEAN headquarters.