Indonesia Morning News For August 17

EDITORIAL: Forever young Indonesia
At 72, Indonesia is behaving more like a restless 17-year-old in search of an identity than an old grandpa. And so it should. As a nation, Indonesia should never become like a feeble septuagenarian.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi Reveals Infrastructure Projects to Start Next Year
To support the growth of economic centers and development of inter-region connectivity, the government will build 856 kilometers of new roads and 781 kilometers irrigation system
— Tempo (EN)

Bank Indonesia Governor Sees ‘An Easing Potential’ at Next Meeting
Indonesia’s central bank governor on Wednesday (16/08) said it might resume easing monetary policy as early as its two-day board meeting that ends on Aug. 22.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesia stocks lead Southeast Asia markets
Most Southeast Asian stock markets ended higher on Wednesday, in line with broader Asia, with Indonesia gaining nearly 1% and the Philippines ending at a near three-week high.
— Bangkok Post

Revenue target set at Rp1,878.4 trillion: President
The government on Wednesday unveiled the 2018 Draft State Budget with a revenue of Rp1,878.4 trillion, state expenditure of Rp2,204.4 trillion, and a budget deficit of approximately Rp325.9 trillion, equivalent to 2.19 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
— Antara

Indonesia President Pledges to Tackle Extremism, Wealth Distribution
In an address to parliament ahead of Thursday’s independence day, President Joko Widodo peppered his speeches with references to the need to address inequality in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy and tackle the threat of radicalism.
— US News

Indonesia: Joko Widodo urges unity after terror plot foiled
The speech came as Indonesian police said they had foiled planned toxic gas attacks on the presidential palace and at least one police headquarters.
— The Australian

Concerns raised as Indonesian cops kill more drug suspects
The number of suspected drug dealers killed by Indonesian police has more than tripled so far this year from the whole of 2016, raising concerns that the country may be headed towards a bloody Philippines-style war on narcotics.
— Straits Times

Indonesia’s N219 Flies for First Time
The achievement marks Indonesia’s first indigenous development since the ill-fated IPTN N250, development of which fizzled after several hundred hours of flight testing under the weight of the Asian financial meltdown in the late 1990s.
— Aviation International News

Indonesia to Impose Excise Tax on Plastic Bags in 2018: Budget Proposal
Indonesia plans to impose excise taxes on plastic bags next year and review other tax policies to increase revenue collection, according to a copy of 2018 budget proposal document
— Jakarta Globe

Pertamina Records Profit of USD1.4 Billion in H1 2017
The state-owned enterprise’s revenue reached USD20.5 billion last semester. It grew 19 percent compared to the same period last year.
— MetroTV News (EN)

Indonesia sets out on the road to 5G
As part of ongoing efforts to prepare Indonesia for the arrival of 5G which is expected to be commercialised starting in 2019, regulators and services providers need to build partnerships to update the technology.
— Digital News Asia

Banpu mines Indonesia for coal mergers
Thailand’s biggest coal mine operator, is in talks with industry peers in Indonesia on possible mergers and acquisition (M&As) deals to help increase its long-term coal reserves
— Bangkok Post

Sonoro delays Indonesia spud after rig switch
Canadian player Sonoro Energy has had to push back spudding of an appraisal well in Indonesia after the original rig contractor failed to provide the drilling unit by a set deadline.
— Upstream

US aerospace firms invest in Indonesia
US firms UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) and Jabil have inaugurated new industrial facilities in Bandung, Indonesia, to manufacture aerospace components and systems.
— Jane’s 360

Gobi Partners leads $27m round in Indonesian startup SaleStock
China-based VC firm Gobi Partners has led a $27 million Series B+ funding round in Indonesian fashion e-commerce platform SaleStock. Alpha JWC Ventures, Convergence Ventures, KIP, MNC and SMDV also participated in the round.
— Deal Street Asia

Flash floods hit Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations
Flash floods have left one worker missing and caused extensive damage to a power plant at U.S.-owned miner Freeport Indonesia’s operations in the eastern-most province of Papua
— Reuters

Biggest Muslim organisation in Indonesia rejects total alcohol ban
Fulled by growing concerns about the danger of bootleg liquor, the Jakarta branch of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Muslim organisation in the country, opposed on Tuesday (Aug 15) a total ban on alcohol in the capital.
— Straits Times

Soekarno-Hatta airport’s skytrain begins trial operation
The first-ever skytrain, or automated people mover system (APMS), at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport began a month-long trial on Aug. 13
— The Jakarta Post

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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.