The celebration of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day under President Prabowo Subianto had a unique and inclusive vibe this year. In a special gesture, around 60 small business vendors were invited to provide goods purchased by the State Palace for the guests, with 80 percent of them being members of the public. The vendors, like Wahyu selling traditional kue apem cakes, expressed their gratitude and happiness for the opportunity to be a part of the celebration. Another vendor, selling es doger, was overwhelmed with joy as he stepped into the State Palace for the first time, describing the experience as grand and festive.
The Palace invited micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to offer 30,000 portions of food and drinks free of charge to the public at three different locations within the Palace grounds. Visitors were thrilled to have a close encounter with the State Palace, an experience they found truly extraordinary. One attendee even took to Instagram to share his excitement, praising both the openness of the Palace and the security provided by the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres).
This year’s celebration symbolized a new level of openness at the Palace under President Prabowo, where officials, ordinary citizens, and small street vendors gathered together in unity. It was not just a festival for the people but a representation of inclusivity and togetherness.
