New Delhi – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will grace the 76th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, on Sunday (26/1) as Chief Guest.

Prabowo in his remarks when attending a dinner invitation at the state residence of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, located in New Delhi, India, on Friday (25/1) evening, expressed his deep appreciation for the invitation and warm welcome from the Indian government.

Prabowo highlighted that this moment repeated the history when Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, was also the Chief Guest on the first Indian Republic Day in 1950.

‘I am truly honoured because on your [India’s] first Republic Day, the guest of honour, the chief guest, was also the President of the Republic of Indonesia, our first President, and the proclaimer of our independence, Mr Sukarno. This is truly a great honour,’ Prabowo said.

‘This means that I am following in the footsteps of the founding father of the Republic of Indonesia. I must tell you all that this meeting, this visit, although it is very short, only four days, but I consider it very productive,’ he continued.

A contingent of marching bands and 352 TNI personnel from Indonesia will participate in the parade at Kartavya Path. This is the first time an Indonesian contingent has taken part in a national day parade abroad.

Prabowo’s visit to Delhi was also filled with the signing and renewal of five MoUs in various fields, including health, traditional medicine, digital development, culture, and maritime security. (RR)