Indonesia Morning News For January 10

Too high tax revenue target frightens businesspeople
This year, the government is set to increase tax revenue by 10.94 percent of Rp 1.42 quadrillion (US$99.39 billion) as stipulated in the 2017 state budget.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi: Indonesia Should Get 51 Percent of Freeport Shares
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo admitted to continuously monitoring the negotiations between Indonesia and US mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.
— Netral News

Government to relaxes restrictions on goods imports
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said goods, the import of which are banned or restricted, would be reduced in tariff categories to only 2,200 or 20 percent of around 10,826 codes of harmonized system (HS) .
— Antara

Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand ready to retaliate on EU palm oil ban
Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand will retaliate if the EU’s ongoing discrimination and attack on the palm oil industry becomes legislative, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
— News Straits Times

Foreign Exchange Reserves Increase, Rupiah Stronger Against US Dollar
The opening of trading on Tuesday (1/9/2018), the value of rupiah against the United States (US) dollar moved higher in the green zone.
— Netral News

Government expands market operation networks for medium rice
The government has expanded the market operation network for medium rice to better guarantee supply and to bring down the price of the strategic commodity which has risen lately.
— Antara

PDZ to enter Indonesian market
PDZ Holdings Bhd has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PT Indonesia Bulk Carrier to provide maritime logistic solutions to the Indonesian shipping market.
— The Star Online

Govt Spends Rp5.9tn to Build 7 Dams
From 2015 to 2019, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry built seven dams in East Nusa Tenggara, a province with considerably low rainfall. The seven dams will accommodate 188 million cubic meters of water to use for irrigation, raw material, power plants and tourism.
— Tempo

Nomura: Indonesia and Philippines to lead regional growth
Economic growth in Indonesia and the Philippines will be sustained beyond 2018 driven by domestic demand and the rollout of infrastructure projects, Nomura Securities said in an economic outlook briefing on Tuesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Electric Cigarette Excise to be Published This Month
Director General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance Heru Pambudi said that the technical regulations on electric cigarette excise tax will be issued immediately.
— Tempo

Indonesia pivots to Islamic world, advances on world stage
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi highlighted Indonesia’s expanding role in tackling problems in the Muslim world in her New Year speech on Tuesday, in a sign of the country’s growing global ambitions as it leaves behind an image of insularity.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Commentary: Indonesia’s anti-corruption drive needs a reality check
It is tempting to blame Indonesia for its corruption woes, but far more useful to review prevailing attitudes toward the exchange of money for favours in trying to weed it out, says one expert at the University of Indonesia.
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia courts West Coast technology investors
For Vancouver companies looking to Asia for information and communication technologies (ICT) business, Indonesia has long flown under the radar.
— Business Vancouver

Railway operator to fit all trains with free Wi-Fi
State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) plans to equip all of its trains – both commuter trains and long-distance trains – with a free Wi-Fi service this year.
— The Jakarta Post

India, Indonesia hold 1st security dialogue, vow to combat
India and Indonesia today held their first security dialogue during which they agreed on operational cooperation in security and counter-terrorism.
— Business Standard

Feature photo Curt Carnemark / World Bank

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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.