President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, inaugurated the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train (JBHST) with the name 'Whoosh' on Monday, October 2, 2023, at Halim Station, East Jakarta.

"This Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train marks our efficient, environmentally-friendly, and integrated mass transportation modernization," Jokowi stated in his address.

This Chinese-built bullet train is designed to transport over 600 passengers between Jakarta and Bandung in West Java within just 45 minutes. The project is a part of China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

'Whoosh' is an acronym for "Waktu Hemat Operasi Optimal Sistem Hemat," which symbolizes the rapid operation of the high-speed train, as highlighted by Jokowi.

The President acknowledged that the government faced several challenges in developing this groundbreaking project but regarded them as valuable lessons.

"That's why I urge all of us not to be allergic to criticism and to remain enthusiastic about learning. Our experience in constructing infrastructure, be it toll roads, ports, airports, dams, or transportation, has provided us with valuable knowledge and expertise to achieve even better results in the future," Jokowi emphasized.

The official inauguration took place at 9:00 AM on platform three of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train Station and was attended by several prominent figures, including the First Lady, Iriana, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Communication and Information, Budi Arie, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency, Hadi Tjahjanto, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Susatyo, Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi, Acting Governor of West Java, Bey Machmudin, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Basuki Hadimuljono, President Director of Indonesian Railways (KAI), Didiek Hartantyo, President Director of KCIC, Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, and Chairul Tanjung.

The Ministry of Transportation issued the Public Railway Facility Operation Permit for JBHST on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. This was granted through Minister of Transportation Decree No. KM 114 of 2023 concerning the Public Railway Facility Operation Permit for PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (PT KCIC).

Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, expressed his satisfaction with the issuance of the operation permit, stating, "Alhamdulillah, all testing and certification components have been completed, allowing the issuance of this operation permit and the commencement of JBHST's commercial operations," as mentioned in his written statement on Sunday, October 1, 2023.