M

assive flags showing Kuwaiti national colors contrasted the bright gold décor of the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom. The choice of venue and the show of grandeur was nothing but appropriate. After all, the Kuwait Embassy has a threefold reason to celebrate.

The Kuwait Embassy did not only hold a reception to celebrate Kuwait’s Golden Jubilee, as 2011 also marks the 20th year of Kuwait’s liberation and the ascendancy of Sheikh Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the Emir of Kuwait.

“We invited a lot of people from various backgrounds — businessmen, political dignitaries, Indonesian state officials — and I’m very happy about the turnout,” said Abdullah Al-Abdulghani, the diplomatic attaché for the Embassy of the State of Kuwait.

Indeed, the ballroom and the surrounding area was crowded. Upon arrival, guests were not only greeted by Arab incenses and coffee — but also by a smorgasbord of Batik-clad Indonesian businessmen and foreign diplomatic staff clad in uniforms usually associated with the military, complete with ribbons indicating various ranks.

“I would like to take this opportunity to showcase how similar the states of Kuwait and Indonesia are. The majority of our population is Muslim, we’re brothers. In the end, I hope that Kuwait and Indonesia can forge a stronger bond, not only in terms of business, but also within the sphere of culture and politics too,” said Al-Abdulghani.