Jakarta. Indonesian shopping mall operators are banking on a nationwide Independence Day discount program to revive sales during the current low season following the end of the long school holidays.

The Indonesia Shopping Festival (ISF) 2025 was launched on Thursday in conjunction with the country’s 80th Independence Day celebrations, offering discounts of up to 80 percent at malls across the nation.

The festival aims to stimulate consumer spending after a post-holiday slowdown, said Alphonzus Widjaja, Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Association (APPBI).

“At present, the retail industry is entering its second low season. The first came after the Eid al-Fitr holidays in April, but was cushioned by government stimulus and promotions from businesses,” Alphonzus said during the launch event at Mall Nusantara Semanggi in Jakarta.

Government incentives earlier this year included discounts on toll road fares, as well as reduced air and train ticket prices, which he said provided some relief for the retail sector.

According to Alphonzus, the ISF 2025 is designed not only to celebrate Indonesia’s independence but also to help retailers weather the seasonal dip in sales. “We hope the festival can sustain retail momentum during this second low season,” he said.

The promotional program will run until the end of the year as part of a strategy to bridge the gap before the next major shopping period -- the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“We will continue running promotional programs until the next peak season. In retail, the first peak is during Ramadan, and the second is at Christmas and New Year,” Alphonzus explained.

He added that APPBI has presented the program to the government through the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs to seek official support.

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