Indonesia celebrated its 80th Independence Day under President Prabowo Subianto with a unique atmosphere this year. The State Palace specially invited about 60 small business vendors, where all their products were purchased by the Palace and served to guests, with 80 percent of them being members of the public. The vendors, such as Wahyu selling traditional kue apem cakes, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, hoping to be invited again in the future. Another vendor, selling es doger, was overwhelmed with joy as he stepped foot inside the State Palace for the first time, describing the experience as grand and festive. In a special gesture, 60 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were invited to serve 30,000 portions of food and drinks for free to the public at different locations within the Palace premises. This rare opportunity allowed visitors to witness the Palace up close and experience its grandeur. Attendees shared their excitement on social media, praising the Palace’s new openness under President Prabowo. This year’s Independence Day celebration was not only a festival for the people but also symbolized unity as officials, ordinary citizens, and small vendors came together in a shared space of celebration.
Dari Apem Cakes ke Es Doger: Small Vendors Taste Freedom
