President Prabowo Subianto Welcomes President El-Sisi for State Visit at Merdeka Palace
President Prabowo Subianto Sunday (10/11) welcomed President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Merdeka Palace in Jakarta for a state visit.
The official welcoming ceremony marked the start of the two leaders’ meeting agenda.
The ceremonial welcome began as President El-Sisi’s motorcade approached the National Monument area. Seventeen motorcycle units and 80 cavalry personnel led the procession, while 65 cavalry personnel followed behind, escorting the procession to the Presidential Palace Compound.
Thousands of students and members of the public lined the National Monument area, waving Indonesian and Egyptian flags to welcome President El-Sisi. Rows of students added to the festive atmosphere as his motorcade passed through the Pertamina gate and entered the grounds of the Merdeka Palace.
President El-Sisi waved to the students from inside his vehicle. Three traditional Indonesian performances added to the warm welcome in the National Monument area: the Enggang Dance from East Kalimantan, the Piring (Plate) Dance from West Sumatra, and Reog Ponorogo from East Java.
Upon arriving at Merdeka Palace, President El-Sisi was personally welcomed directly by President Prabowo. Subianto. The welcome also featured a performance of the Tandok Dance in the palace courtyard, a traditional Toba Batak dance presented to welcome honored guests.
The two heads of state then took part in the official welcoming ceremony, which included an inspection of the honor guard. A 21-gun salute accompanied the playing of both countries’ national anthems in honor of the visiting head of state.
Following the welcome ceremony, President Prabowo Subianto and President El-Sisi proceeded to the Credentials Room at the Merdeka Palace to pose for a joint photograph and sign the guest book.
The two leaders then held a tête-à-tête meeting, followed by a bilateral meeting with their respective delegations to discuss ways to strengthen relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Egypt.
The state visit also included the signing and exchange of a number of memorandum of understanding and cooperation outcomes, followed by a joint press statement by the two leaders. The program at the Presidential Palace complex then continued with a state luncheon at the State Palace.
The visit also reciprocated President Prabowo Subianto’s visits to Egypt in 2024 and 2025. The meeting in Jakarta continued the dialogue between the two heads of state and provided an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Egypt across various fields.(BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (EST/MEP)
