Pramono Inaugurates Permanent Secretariat for ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung inaugurated the permanent secretariat of the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC) at Jakarta City Hall. This inauguration is regarded as a major asset for Jakarta to advance as a global city following the relocation of Indonesia’s capital to IKN.

In his speech delivered at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday (2/4/2026), Pramono revealed that the decision to designate Jakarta as the permanent MGMAC secretariat followed a lobbying process that began in 2023.

“Finally, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration designated Jakarta as the permanent secretariat,” Pramono stated.

According to Pramono, this position is strategic because Jakarta already possesses adequate infrastructure and serves as the location of the ASEAN office. He noted that Jakarta’s future will resemble New York’s, remaining a centre for international activities even after ceasing to be 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,” he explained.

He affirmed that Law No. 2/2024 and Law 115 open vast opportunities for Jakarta to develop as a national economic centre as well as a global city. Therefore, he urged MGMAC managers to adopt a modern outlook aligned with international standards.

“The way of thinking, social interactions, and so on must represent Jakarta as a global city,” he said.

Pramono explained that as the permanent secretariat, all preparations for MGMAC meetings, including those ahead of this year’s gathering in Manila, will be centralised in Jakarta.

“This provides the nuance that Jakarta must truly become a global city without abandoning its role as the national economic centre,” he stated.

For context, 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.

It is worth noting that since its establishment in 2013, MGMAC has strengthened collaboration among ASEAN cities but lacked a permanent secretariat. Jakarta was selected due to its role as the initiator of MGMAC and as the host of the ASEAN headquarters.