The celebration of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day under President Prabowo Subianto had a unique vibe this year. The State Palace specially invited 60 small business vendors, with all their products purchased by the State Palace to be served to guests, 80 percent of whom were members of the public. Wahyu, a street vendor selling traditional kue apem cakes, expressed his gratitude and happiness for being invited, hoping for future opportunities. Another vendor, selling es doger, was overwhelmed with joy as he entered the State Palace for the first time, describing the experience as grand and festive, beyond words. This year, the Palace made a special gesture by inviting 60 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to serve 30,000 portions of food and drinks to the public free of charge at different locations around the Palace. For many visitors, the chance to get up close to the State Palace was an extraordinary experience. One attendee shared his excitement on Instagram, praising the Palace’s new openness and the balance struck by the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) between safety and hospitality. This year’s Independence Day celebration reflected a sense of unity, bringing together officials, ordinary citizens, and small street vendors in a shared space.
