Pramono Courts Investment and Urban Cooperation in New York

NEW YORK — Jakartaweekly.com. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung used his participation in the 2026 Urban 20 (U20) Mayors Summit in New York to highlight Jakarta’s economic performance and investment opportunities, while a subsequent bilateral meeting with New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani focused on approaches to major urban challenges.

The U20 Mayors Summit is being held in New York from September 19 to 21, bringing together more than 25 mayors and senior city leaders representing 34 cities across G20 countries.

New York and Los Angeles are serving as co-chairs of this year’s U20, which is convened by C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Over three days, city leaders are discussing practical approaches to rising housing costs, climate change and migration, alongside issues including affordable housing, energy costs, employment, extreme heat and flooding.

The summit is also expected to conclude with the ratification of a communique outlining a shared agenda for city action, which will then be presented to representatives of national governments, the United Nations and other international organizations.

Opening the summit, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said cities were facing common pressures despite their different locations.

“This weekend, we are bringing over 25 mayors together to confront the challenges and opportunities before all of us. Working families across the globe are being squeezed by rents that rise faster than paychecks, energy bills that spike every summer and heat waves that can turn an uncomfortable apartment into a dangerous one,” Mamdani said.

“At a time of division and retreat, our cities are choosing cooperation.”

Jakarta Pitches US$7 Billion in Projects

At the U20 Mayoral Plenary at Civic Hall on September 19, Pramono presented Jakarta’s economic performance to city leaders from around the world.

He said Jakarta’s economy grew 5.52% in the second quarter of 2026, while inflation remained at 2.5%. According to Pramono, the stability contributed to investment inflows of US$10.5 billion during the first six months of the year.

“Amid a world facing various economic challenges, Jakarta continues to record strong economic growth,” Pramono said.

The governor also used the international forum to promote investment opportunities in Jakarta, saying the city has 37 urban development projects with potential investment value of approximately US$7 billion.

“We invite city partners, businesses and global partners not only to invest in Jakarta, but also to work together to build the future of our city,” he said.

Jakarta and New York Discuss Urban Challenges

On September 20, Pramono held a bilateral meeting with Mamdani at Civic Hall. The two leaders exchanged experiences on challenges facing major cities, including public transportation, flooding, air pollution and urban infrastructure financing.

Mamdani specifically asked about Jakarta’s approach to congestion and public transportation.

Pramono highlighted the development of Transjabodetabek, which is intended to strengthen connectivity between Jakarta and surrounding areas while reducing the number of private vehicles entering the capital.

“Every day, more than four million people travel in and out of Jakarta, particularly during peak hours. Through Transjabodetabek, we want to reduce congestion and the volume of vehicles entering Jakarta while strengthening regional connectivity,” Pramono said.

He also highlighted Jakarta’s free public transportation services for 15 categories of residents, including senior citizens, people with disabilities, KJP scholarship recipients and KJMU scholarship recipients.

Flood management was another focus of the meeting. Pramono outlined Jakarta’s efforts to strengthen flood-control infrastructure, reduce groundwater use to address land subsidence and develop the Giant Sea Wall.

“Like New York, one of Jakarta’s challenges is flooding. That is why we continue to strengthen flood-control infrastructure, reduce groundwater use to address land subsidence, and develop the Giant Sea Wall,” he said.

Jakarta Bond Proposal

The two mayors also discussed Jakarta’s plan to issue a municipal bond, known as the Jakarta Bond, to support urban infrastructure financing.

Mamdani welcomed the proposal and offered an exchange of knowledge between the financial teams of New York and Jakarta.

“I am very enthusiastic and supportive of Jakarta’s plan to issue municipal bonds. New York has also used bonds to finance infrastructure, including waste treatment and various public facilities,” Mamdani said.

He added that New York was prepared to send its financial team to share experience with the Jakarta provincial government on the preparation and process of issuing municipal bonds.

The meeting took place as the U20 summit brought together city leaders to exchange approaches to urban challenges and develop a shared agenda for city-level action.

The U20 Summit also opens a week of city-focused climate leadership in New York during Climate Week NYC, running from September 20 to 27. C40 mayors are expected to continue discussions on extreme heat, weather resilience, clean air and sustainable housing ahead of COP31.

For Jakarta and New York, the bilateral meeting provided an opportunity to compare approaches to transportation, flooding, climate resilience and infrastructure financing while exploring areas for further cooperation.