Indonesia Morning News For September 8

China drags Indonesia into South China Sea morass
Beijing’s rebuke of Jakarta’s decision to rename its natural gas-rich Natuna Island region has agitated what had been a quiescent territorial dispute.
— Asia Times

RISING 50 new history for Indonesia, Singapore air forces
At the commemorative event the two countries air forces also formed “arrow ahead” and “bomb burst” which was done by six F15s of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
— Antara

Indonesia bond allure intact as foreigners shift from stocks
Foreign investors, used to double-digit returns from Indonesian stocks, are suddenly deserting equities in favour of bonds following a sovereign rating upgrade and the central bank’s signal that it’s open to more interest rate cuts to spur growth.
— Gulf News

Bet on Indonesia’s long-term growth, says business chief
IT is no surprise that Indonesia is the overseas market with the highest level of interest among Singapore companies today, Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chairman Teo Siong Seng said on Thursday.
— Business Times

Update on Freeport’s Grasberg mine and Indonesia
The timing and process of divestment is being discussed with officials of the Indonesia government . The divestment will be structured so that Freeport McMoRan, Inc will continue to retain control over operations and governance of the Grasberg operations
— Arizona Silver Belt

S. Korean Automaker Hopeful About Indonesia’s Auto Market
According to data from the Indonesian Automotive Association (Gaikindo), automakers sold 85,131 vehicles in July, up from 61,891 units sold during the same period a year earlier.
— Jakarta Globe

ASEAN Marketing Summit Announces Top 10 Indonesian Brands
The 10 brands are Aqua, Alfamart, Google, Youtube, Garuda Indonesia, Go-Jek, Indofood, Matahari Department Store, Unilever and Samsung.
— Tempo (EN)

Indonesia Stock Exchange Gears Up To List Its First Local Startup IPO With Kioson
Jakarta-based digital application provider for small stores Kioson has announced to raise over $3 Mn from its IPO next month. Kioson will be the first local startup to get listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
— Inc42

Homegrown NHF Group to take on Indonesia
After 40 years of solidly serving Malaysians with their high-quality automotive parts and services, New Hoong Fatt Group (NHF Group) is ready to take on the Indonesian market next.
— Astro Awani

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits Singapore for leaders’ retreat during 50th anniversary of ties
This underscores the “close working relationship and excellent defence ties” that the two militaries have built up over the decades
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia and Singapore sign five agreements
Indonesia and Singapore on Thursday signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU), one technical arrangement and one framework for heads of agreement (HoA) at the official residence of Singapore’s President on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesian pirates who seized oil tanker arrested by Malaysian coast guard
Commando units were rushed by helicopter to the Thai-flagged tanker, which was carrying RM7 million (US$1.7 million) worth of diesel, after it vanished off tracking systems on Wednesday afternoon
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia says protesters in Samoa should have had govt approval
Indonesia’s Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand, Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit of approval to stage the action.
— Radio New Zealand

Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission Law Weathers the Storm, For Now
Thanks to the 2002 KPK Law, the commission has only grown stronger in the face of financial and personnel challenges. But if the fundamental structure of this law were to change, either from amendments or successfully reframing it in court, the effects could be significant.
— The Diplomat

Poverty overshadows Indonesian national pride
Rampant corruption is one of the main obstacled preventing the poor from escaping a vicious economic circle.
— UCA News

Indonesia accords priority to sports development before Asian Games
Indonesian Youth and Sport Minister Imam Nahrawi said that the ministry has determined a total of 20 sports for maximum development in preparation for the regional sport event in the country and the international sport event.
— Business Standard

Indonesia named best destination of the year at TTG Travel Awards
Thailand is currently the archipelago’s strongest competitor in Asia. In 2016, it welcomed 36 million foreign tourists whilst Indonesia only recorded 12 million.
— The Jakarta Post

THIS SCHOOL IN INDONESIA IS SUSPECTED OF NURTURING ISIS CHILD JIHADIS
At least 12 people from Ibnu Mas’ud, an Islamic boarding school, traveled to or attempted to travel to Iraq and Syria to join the ranks of the radical Islamist group between 2013 and 2016.
— Newsweek

Indonesia unveils policy to speed up expansion of mangroves
The rules provide guidance to provincial administrations and other stakeholders in managing mangrove forest based on the characteristic of their territory.
— Reuters

Indonesia’s plan for ‘10 new Balis’ offers vast opportunities for S’pore investors
The country’s officials yesterday underscored how its plans to create “10 new Balis” will open up vast opportunities for Singapore investors in tourism and infrastructure projects.
— Today Online

Feature photo Anthony C
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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.