Jakarta, 2 September 2023 – In the next few days, Indonesia will hold a grand regional event, the 43rd Summit of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2023, at the Jakarta Convention Center, 5-7 September 2023.
The Indonesian Government continues to make preparations for the successful hosting of the meetings of heads of state and heads of government as well as leaders of strategic partner countries for the regional organization formed on 8 August 1967.
After hosting it five times, the last being on 9-11 May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, Nusa Tenggara, this time, Indonesia will hold the event in Jakarta. The previous four meetings were held in Nusa Dua, Bali, namely in 1976, 2003, 2005 and 2011.
As the host, Indonesia intends to make a deep impression on invited state guests, while introducing the nation's archipelagic cultural wealth through this opportunity.
One of the ways is the gala dinner for heads of state and VVIP guests to be held at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) City Forest on Wednesday (6 September) evening. The location is in the GBK Stadium Complex area, Senayan.
Yozua Makes from the Plataran Group confirmed this as the party requested by the Ministry of State Secretary through the GBK Complex Management Center (PPKGBK) to help manage the 4.5-hectare green area.
"Yes, it's true. We were notified by the government a few months ago. The GBK City Forest will be the venue for the state dinner for VVIP guests and delegates participating in the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023. President Joko Widodo himself decided the location and we were asked to prepare the venue and other supporting facilities such as the kitchen, the main dining room, and several other places from the GBK City Forest for the gala dinner," said Yozua when contacted on Saturday (2 September).
The founder of Plataran Group and all staff members do not have the detailed information on the event because it it entirely managed by the 43rd ASEAN Summit committee. "That’s s not our domain. We hope to provide the best for VVIP guests and all gala dinner participants as form of our participation as Indonesians to assist in the smooth running of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023," he said.
Quoting the statement of the Secretary to Minister of State Secretary Setya Utama made in the Ministry of Communication and Informatics online discussion event, Forum Merdeka Barat 9 (FMB 9), Friday (25 August), the GBK City Forest is one of two locations outside the Jakarta Convention Center arena hosting the main activities of the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023. Another location is Taman Mini Indonesia Indah for the Spouse Program event.
Satya revealed that traffic engineering will also be carried out to support the smooth running of the gala dinner event, by partially closing Jenderal Sudirman Road from the Semanggi Bridge to the Senayan Roundabout when the event takes place. Nevertheless, his side continues to ensure that public’s mobility remains undisrupted.
The management of GBK City Forest constitutes an effort made by the Ministry of State Secretariat as the owner of the GBK Stadium Complex in 2016 to restore the function of the commercial area around the 295 ha sports area as a green conservation area. Initially, the GBK City Forest was a golf course at the Senayan Golf Driving Range.
Several rare plants are grown in the GBK City Forest, such as baobab (Adansonia digitata), of which the original habitat is Africa. Then ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), also known as ironwood, originates from the Borneo island. There is also an ebony tree (Diospyros celebica bakh) from Sulawesi. Also planted there are pink tabebuya, pomegranate, jakaranda, kuri, buni, pule, kepel, and other trees.
Apart from trees, the GBK City Forest area also has a jogging track, an amphitheater for arts performances such as music concerts, an open basketball sports arena, and the Majapahit Monument with five pillars symbolizing Pancasila. A pool with dancing fountains also adorns the artificial forest and can accommodate up to 2,000 people. There is also a meeting room with glass walls and a roof called the Melati Glass House.
Through attractive lighting management, the atmosphere of the GBK City Forest at night gives an exotic appearance to counterbalance the sparkling lights from the skyscrapers around the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), right across from the GBK City Forest. (Anton Setiawan/Donna/TR/Elvira/PR)
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For more information, please contact:
Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).
Get more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023
Photo caption: Several visitors walk in the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) area, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (25 August). GBK managers carry out a motorized vehicle-free policy from 5 AM-10 PM local time on 25 August to 3 September to support the activities of the FIBA basketball world championship and the ASEAN Summit. BETWEEN PHOTOS/M Risyal Hidayat/foc