Balikpapan (ANTARA) -
The president and First Lady Iriana took off to Jakarta from Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport, Balikpapan City, at 1:30 p.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time, aboard the Indonesia-1 Presidential Aircraft.
According to the Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat, President Jokowi and his entourage were sent off by acting Governor of East Kalimantan Akmal Malik, VI/Mulawarman Regional Military Commander Major General Tri Budi Utomo, East Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector Gen. Nanang Avianto, and several local military officers.
Earlier, President Jokowi began his agenda in Nusantara by attending the honorary ceremony and sacred reflection night at Kusuma Bangsa Park on Saturday (August 17).
In the morning, the president, wearing the East Kalimantan Kustim traditional clothing, presided over the Seconds to the Independence Proclamation ceremony at the State Palace, Nusantara.
The historic ceremony was attended by plenty of high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who confirmed that Nusantara will again host the Independence Day ceremony in 2025.
At the same time, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin chaired a similar ceremony in the Sambas Malay Tribe clothing from West Kalimantan. Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka was present during the ceremony.
The president then concluded his official agenda in IKN by leading the Independence Day flag-lowering ceremony at the Nusantara State Palace in the afternoon.
This year's Independence Day celebrations adopted "New Nusantara, Advanced Indonesia" as its theme, reflecting Indonesia's transition to the new capital and the upcoming transition of power on October 20 this year.
