Indonesia morning news for December 18

Indonesia morning news for December 18
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Indonesia morning news

Trade Balance Indonesia: $2.05 Billion Monthly Deficit in November 2018
Concern about Indonesia’s Q4-2018 current account deficit as well as the value of the rupiah exchange rate should increase now the country posted a big USD $2.05 billion monthly trade deficit in November 2018.
— Indonesia Investments (media release)

Manufactured goods largest contributors to export earning
Exports of manufacturing industry were valued at US$10.
— Antara News

Indonesia seen keeping key rate on hold whatever action Fed takes: Reuters Poll
Indonesia’s central bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its final policy meeting of 2018, which will end hours after the Federal Reserve is expected to again raise U.S. rates, a Reuters poll showed.
— Reuters

Indonesia aims to reduce ocean waste by 70 percent by 2025
ndonesia has set a target to reduce the amount of waste it dumps into the ocean by 70 percent by 2025 to protect the environment, according to Pamuji Lestari, a senior official from the country’s Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs.
— Vietnam Plus

Indonesia sales up 5% in November
New vehicle sales in Indonesia increased by 4.7% to 100,738 units in November compared with 96,191 units in the same month of last year, according to wholesale data compiled by industry association Gaikindo.
— Just-auto

China’s outcast steel machines find unwelcome home in Southeast Asia
China banned induction furnaces last year in a crackdown on polluting producers of low-quality steel, but these machines have made their way to parts of Southeast Asia, hitting domestic steelmakers and fueling safety and environmental concerns.
— GMA News

Southeast Asia 2018: Attacks Persisted But No Group Gained Traction
The security picture in Southeast Asia was far more stable this year than tumultuous 2017, when Islamic State (IS) militants took over the Philippine city of Marawi for five months.
— Benar News

This Southeast Asian country has the most holidays – sadly not Indonesia
Indonesia sits in the sixth spot in a list that ranks the number of public holidays designated for 2019 across Southeast Asian countries.
— The Jakarta Post

China’s early-stage investor ZhenFund trains sights on Indonesian startups
China’s largest angel fund ZhenFund has said that it has started to seriously turn its attention towards Indonesia for investment opportunities to capitalize on the market’s huge potential.
— Deal Street Asia (paywall)

Poll: 82% Agrees to Continue Trans Papua Project
The majority of Tempo readers believe that the terror act by the separatist group in Papua must not stop the government’s infrastructure project in the province.
— Tempo.co

KKP Ministry Announces Fisheries GDP this Year
The Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry (KKP) announced that the fisheries sector only contribute to 3.71 percent of the total gross domestic product at the third quarter of 2018. The number is lower compared to the 6.85 percent recorded in same period of 2017.
— Tempo.co

Pertamina enters construction phase of 1,760-mw steam power plant
State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, through its subsidiary PT Pertamina Power Indonesia (PPI), entered the construction phase of a gas and steam power plant, with a capacity of 1,760 megawatts (MW), in December .
— Antara News

Veritas to Collaborate With Indonesian Gov’t, Companies on Data Protection
California-based multi-cloud data management firm Veritas is expanding to Indonesia and collaborating with government agencies to help the country realize its “smart cities” initiative.
— Jakarta Globe

One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes erupts twice in a single day
One of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island – Mount Soputan erupted twice in a single day, sparking fears of deadly ash rain in the country’s fourth largest island.
— Indonesia News

Aeon teams with Go-Jek in new Southeast Asian drive
Japanese retail group Aeon will partner with Indonesian ride-hailing startup Go-Jek on digital payment and home delivery to speed the store operator’s overseas expansion, company sources said on Thursday.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Fitch Ratings: Limited Benefit to Indonesian Palm Oil Producers from Export Levy Cut
The benefit to Indonesian producers from the government’s relaxation of the export levy structure for crude palm oil (CPO) and refined palm oil products is likely to be limited because we expect CPO prices to improve, Fitch Ratings says.
— Hellenic Shipping News

Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia signed in Jakarta on 16 December
Federal Councilor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, his Liechtenstein counterpart and the Icelandic and Norwegian representatives have signed a free trade agreement with the Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita on 16 December 2018.
— Fresh Plaza

BI, IPB help develop new ‘super’ garlic
Bank of Indonesia’s Surakarta branch has initiated the development of a “super” garlic variety in Karanganyar regency, Central Java, in a bid to help reduce imports of the commodity.
— The Jakarta Post

Briton ‘faces up to 15 years’ in Bali jail over cannabis oil
A British man says he could face up to 15 years in an Indonesian prison after being found with cannabis oil which he says he needed for medical reasons.
— BBC News

Top MLM Company, Hai-O, Hosted 1,500 Delegates & Guests at the Gala Celebration in Indonesia
Sahajidah Hai-O Marketing, one of Malaysia’s leading multi-level marketing companies, hosted a Gala Dinner for 1,500 delegates and guests from Malaysia & Indonesia and honored over 120 top entrepreneurs in Indonesia, at Jakarta Business Summit 2018 on December 12, 2018 at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Indonesia.
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire

Former West Bandung regent jailed for corruption
A panel of judges at the Bandung Corruption Court sentenced former West Bandung regent Abu Bakar to five years and six months in prison for corruption. He was found guilty of asking money from a number of West Bandung administration officials, including agency heads, to fund the political campaign of his wife, Elin Suharliah, who ran for the local election in June.
— The Jakarta Post

North Jakarta Grills Fish for New Year’s Eve
The North Jakarta Administration will be holding a grilling fish competition to enliven the 2019 New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2018. The competition will be held along Jalan Danau Sunter Selatan in Tanjung Priok.
— Tempo.co

Village Ministry Presents Early Disaster Warning Tools to West Pasaman
Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) through the Directorate General of Specific Area Development (DG PDTu), provides an early detection devices for landslides and gabions to the West Pasaman District Government, West Sumatra, Saturday (15 /12/2018).
— Netral News

Indonesia never compromises in tackling armed criminal group
The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto stressed that the Indonesian government had never compromised in tackling the armed criminal group in Papua that had killed citizens.
— Antara News

Indonesia must wait for production of Sukhoi-35: Ambassador
Indonesia must wait for the production process of Sukhoi-35 fighter jets until the purchasing contract is signed by the governments of Russia and Indonesia.
— Antara News

Minister Sri Mulyani : Focus on State Asset, Not Debts
In an attempt to counteract critics aimed at Indonesia’s debts, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani called for the public to focus on the country’s assets rather than debts.
— Tempo.co

Exports still under external pressure: Finance minister
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia`s exports are still under external pressure with weak demand from the country` main export destinations notably China.
— Antara News

Minister blames widening trade deficit on global economic slowdown
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has blamed the global economic slowdown for November’s widening trade deficit, which was recorded at US$2.05 billion, an increase from the $1.82 billion deficit recorded in the previous month.
— The Jakarta Post

Man falsely accused of theft beaten to death in Indonesian mosque, 10 arrested
Police in the Gowa regency of South Sulawesi province have named 10 people suspects in the brutal mob justice murder of a 23-year-old college student named Muhammad Khaidir, who authorities say was falsely accused of theft.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Indonesian politician promises Barcelona legend Ronaldinho to guest star in soccer tournament, sets sights on Messi
The Indonesian province of South Sumatra may soon be graced with the presence of soccer deities Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, according to former Governor Alex Noerdin, who is staging a provincial soccer tournament named after him.
— Coconuts (paywall)

Over 5,000 trees at risk of falling in Bekasi
Residents of Bekasi need to be vigilant when traveling in the West Java city, particularly during the rainy season as over 5,000 trees are at risk of falling, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

KPK calls for tightening of supervision of social allowances
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has urged the Social Affairs Ministry to closely supervise the distribution of social benefits and allowances to prevent fraud.
— Antara News

Indonesia becomes guest of honor at Saudi Janadriyah cultural festival
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chose Indonesia as the guest of honor at the Janadriyah Festival, the largest cultural and heritage festival in the Middle East, Alwi Shihab stated.
— Antara News

Long-Hidden ‘Pyramid’ Found in Indonesia Was Likely an Ancient Temple
An enormous pyramid-like structure in Indonesia that may represent the remains of an ancient temple hid underground for thousands of years.
— www.livescience.com

Ministry regulates digital signature vendors
The Communications and Information Ministry is closely monitoring startups that provide digital signatures services to prevent any misuse, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia-EFTA CEPA Trade Deal Signed, Will it Bring New Trade Opportunities?
On Sunday 16 December 2018 Indonesia and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which consists of non-EU member countries Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, signed the Indonesia-EFTA Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
— Indonesia Investments

Fisheries investment concentrated in Java: Ministry
Investment and financing of the national marine and fisheries business continue to increase every year and are concentrated in Java, said a senior official.
— Antara News

Unofficial lanes at Indonesia-Malaysia border area already closed
Five unofficial small lanes at the Indonesia-Malaysia border area in the West Kalimantan Provincial district of Kapuas Hulu have been officially closed.
— Antara News

Indonesia police probing death of baby orang utan illegally kept as pet
An 11-month-old male orang utan was found dead by the authorities in North Sumatra in a grim scene after it had been held as a pet by a resident who later declared he no longer had the money to nurture the great ape.
— Intellasia

 

Feature photo PRI/ Jess Engebretson

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Arabic Language Day, December 18.

 

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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.

 

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.

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