Jakarta, 7 September 2023 – The gala dinner, part of the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023 in Jakarta, was held in spectacular fashion, with a light show in the middle of the capital's skyscrapers.
The welcoming ceremony for the state guests was held in the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) City Forest which is located in the GBK Stadium Complex Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (6 September 2023).
The event was attended by all ASEAN Summit attendees, including ASEAN heads of state and government, as well as strategic partners, including officials from international organizations.
However, the gala dinner is more than just an extravagant event; it also places a high priority on the quality and safety of the food. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited the venue on Friday (September 1, 2023) in advance to inspect the preparations.
Accompanying the President were Ministers of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of SOE Erick Thohir, and Minister of Communications and Informatics Budie Arie Setiadi.
Also present in the entourage were Chief of the National Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatics Nezar Patria, and Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono. Wishnutama Kusubandio, the event conceptor for the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023, was also seen in the entourage. Wishnutama has also been entrusted with the task of conceptualizing the G20 Summit gala dinner in Jimbaran, Bali on 14 November 2022.
President Jokowi explored the venue accompanied by Chief Strategy Officer of Plataran Group Anandita Makes Adoe. The Head of State examined the stage set, table set for the delegations during the gala dinner, and the event rundown.
The former Mayor of Solo also visited the Melati Glasshouse, which is a part of the gala dinner venue.
Here, the President listened to the explanation from Arnold Poernomo, the chef coordinator for the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023 gala dinner.
According to the judge of the famous cooking competition MasterChef Indonesia, the menu served will be themed Nusantara The Forest.
The menu consists of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The menus include andaliman crab from North Sumatra as the appetizer and soy sauce meat from Java as the main course. For dessert, the guests were served Nusantara Urban Forest as a menu from the Nusantara Capital (IKN).
At the Melati Glasshouse, which can accommodate 200 guests, President Jokowi also tasted the appetizer, entrée, main course, and dessert that will be served at the gala dinner.
The purpose of President Jokowi’s visit is to ensure the best service possible for the state guests. (Anton Setiawan/Elvira Inda Sari)
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For further information, please contact the following:
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: President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo enjoy the performances at the 43rd ASEAN Summit Gala Dinner at Plataran City Forest, GBK Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (6 September 2023). Media Center for the ASEAN Summit 2023/Agus Suparto/pras.