Indonesia Morning News For August 10

Indonesia issues e-commerce road map
The roadmap is expected to be issued at the end of this year and would not only regulate technology, but also cover issues such as logistics, cyber securities, taxation, human resources development and consumer protection.
– The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s Strongest Brands Are 8% More Valuable Than Last Year
The strongest Indonesian brands have responded to rising consumer confidence and spending power by delivering quality products and services, purpose-led innovation and an exceptional experience – all factors that grow brand value.
– Business Insider

Indonesia resumes ore exports in policy reversal
The move comes after the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry in January partially lifted a three-year ban on the export of raw minerals.
– Nikkei Asian Review

Forbidden Fruit: Indonesia Palm Oil Plantations Boost Security to Stop Thieves
Palm prices have jumped over 15 percent in the last few months, boosting the temptation for individuals or small-scale criminal gangs to steal fruit to sell to middlemen in the world’s biggest producer of the tropical oil.
– Jakarta Globe

Garuda Indonesia Explains US$283.8 Million Loses
He explained that in three months during the second quarter, the company plans to issue cost factors related to the cost of Tax Amnesty and also the cost of legal cases in Australia because each requires USD $138 million and USD $8 million.
– Tempo (EN)

RPT-Vale Indonesia struggles to find nickel smelter partners after rule change: CEO
Nickel producer Vale Indonesia said Indonesia’s recent policy shift to allow ore exports is helping keep global prices of the metal low, and complicating efforts to establish partnerships for new smelter investments.
– Reuters

Indonesia: global trade unions and NGOs back PepsiCo-linked palm oil workers in their fight for labour rights
The US-based International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a 1.4 million-member multi-sector union has, along with the International Union of Food Workers, mobilised in the battle against widespread labour and human rights violations on plantations run by Indofood, a major Indonesian partner of PepsiCo.
– Equal Times

Indonesia to shorten list of prohibited, restricted goods
Indonesia is now working to shorten the list of prohibited and restricted goods and to simplify the process of verification in an attempt to reduce the dwell lime in seaports, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said on Tuesday.
-The Jakarta Post

Securing Indonesia’s downstream energy security
Apart from growing domestic energy demands, Indonesia has the potential to become a major fuels storage and trading hub.
– Tank Storage Magazine

Indonesia to Export Rice to Pacific Ocean Countries
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that Indonesia is set to export rice to three countries in the Pacific Ocean. The three countries include Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu.
-Tempo (EN)

Indonesia, Russia Step Up Security and Economic Cooperation
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday (09/08) signed a Plan of Consultation for 2017-2019, which aims to intensify bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

Lavrov Opens Russia’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN
Lavrov arrived in Jakarta to hold talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi. Lavrov also visited the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta and held talks with ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh.
– Sputnik News

Indonesia-S’pore business ties face complex challenges
Singapore as a global financial and logistics hub has indeed played an important role in directing the needed investment flow to Indonesia. At the same time, Indonesia’s growing middle-class market has contributed to the growth of Singapore’s economy.
– Today Online

Ministry`s regulation on internet providers to benefit customers
Minister of Communications and Informatics Rudiantara stated that the draft Ministerial Regulation on Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers will provide adequate services to internet users.
– Antara

75 Indonesian universities targeted to obtain A accreditation
In 2018, University of Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology are expected to enter the top 250, while Universitas Gadjah Mada is predicted to be included in the top 300.
– Antara

How to Lead Indonesian Universities into the World’s Top 500 in 2 Years
Currently, only five universities in Indonesia have international accredited study programs.
– Netral News
Indonesia’s Sinister Slide Toward Philippine-Style Drug Slayings
Jakarta’s police chief said that when dealing with suspected drug dealers, “sending them to God” would take priority over arrest and prosecution.
– Human Rights Watch

Jokowi’s political prisoner problem
The Indonesian government has been doing something remarkable over the past year with its political prisoners in Papua and West Papua provinces: Releasing them.
– New Mandala

Feature photo Saesherra
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Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.