Indonesia Morning News For August 18

Soft Start Expected For Indonesia Stock Market
The Jakarta Composite Index now rests just above the 5,890-point plateau although it’s expected to run out of steam on Friday.
— Business Insider

Bank Indonesia Seeks Transformation by 2024, Vows to Protect the State’s Interests
On top of the program, Bank Indonesia also upholds its responsibility to maintain the stability of the rupiah, keep the inflation between 3 percent and 5 percent this year, develop payment systems and expand the financial market.
— Jakarta Globe

Indonesian Discount Day targets Rp 20t in transactions
Indonesian Discount Day (HBDI), the first of its kind to be held in the country, is targeted to earn up to Rp 20 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in transactions when it sweeps across malls all over the country from Aug. 15 to 17.
— The Jakarta Post

NCICD Project Expedited to Prevent Land Subsidence
The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry said that the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) project is expected to be completed by 2019.
— Tempo (EN)

In 3 Months, Trains Heading to Soekarno-Hatta Int’l Airport Operable
Development of rail track between Jakarta’s Manggarai railway station and Soekarno Hatta airport is expected to be completed in 2017.
— Netral News

Indonesian Islamic State-linked leader freed and re-arrested
He was released last Sunday from his prison on Nusakambangan and re-arrested and brought to Jakarta to be investigated for his role in last year’s Jakarta bombing at Jalan Thamrin
— Channel NewsAsia

Government, investors still differ on gross split tax scheme
Energy and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Arcandra Tahar has said the government has not finished drafting a tax regulation on the gas and oil sector because of differences between the government and oil and gas investors on the gross split scheme.
— The Jakarta Post

Finance minister: Tax revenue target more moderate
The minister said the government set a moderate target so as not to bring about too much pressure on the economy as well as on the business players.
— Antara

Pertamina Must Cut Expenses by 20 Percent to Meet Profit Target
The company’s work plan pegged a net profit target of US$2.3 billion.
— Tempo (EN)

Indonesia launches online ‘peace envoys’
Two years after the Indonesian government temporarily banned 22 websites for ‘radical’ views, it continues to grapple with how to manage online content.
— News.com.au

Reformed ex-militants in Indonesia mark Independence Day
The former devotees of the Jemaah Islamiah militant group are counseling ex-militants, educating their children, and employing their wives as teachers – part of Fauzi’s Peace Circle initiative launched this year to combat extremism.
— Reuters

Exclusive: Indonesia’s recommerce major Laku6 in talks to raise $3m Series A
Indonesia-based used phone ecommerce site Laku6 is in discussions to raise up to $3 million by the beginning of fourth quarter of this calendar year
— Deal Street Asia

Buyout firms readying sale of $1b Indonesia tower operator STP
Buyout firms Carlyle and Southern Capital Group are in talks to sell their majority stake in Solusi Tunas Pratama in a deal that could value the Indonesian telecoms tower operator at about $1 billion
— The Star

Indonesia’s Tokopedia gets top investment from Alibaba
Tokopedia, a leading Indonesian e-commerce company, has received investment from China’s Alibaba Group Holding as the lead investor in a $1.1 billion funding round.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Asia Grains-Indonesia buys Canadian wheat, Australia offers new crop
A flour miller in Indonesia bought 25,000 tonnes of Canadian spring wheat in a recent deal for arrival in November while Australian exporters are offering new-crop wheat.
— The Western Producer

HIMA signs Indonesia signalling technology contract
HIMA has signed a €1·74m contract to provide signalling equipment supplier PT Len with SIL4-certified commercial-off-the-shelf HiMatrix and HiMax safety controllers.
— Railway Gazette

Indonesia to start one year countdown as Asian Games host
The Olympic Council of Asia originally selected Vietnam as host of the event, which is held every four years, for 2019. But the country’s Communist Party government pulled out in 2014 citing cost concerns.
— Indian Express

China, Indonesia to hold high-level dialogues next week in Beijing
China and Indonesia will hold a vice-premier-level dialogue and a high-level economic dialogue next Monday and Tuesday in Beijing
— Xinhua

Indonesian mission to bring more professionals
The Indonesian mission in Doha aims to increase the number of Indonesian professionals working in Qatar, targeting to bring around 1,000 professionals annually.
— The Peninsula

Safety Recommendations Go Unanswered In Indonesia
A status matrix published by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) shows that only 16% of the 660 safety recommendations issued for air crashes and incidents in the past decade have been closed.
— Aviation Week (paywall)

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