Indonesia Morning News For January 15

Indonesia’s central bank issues fresh warning over cryptocurrencies
Indonesia’s central bank has issued a fresh warning about trading in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin because of the risk of losses to the public and even a potential threat to the stability of the financial system.
— DealStreetAsia

2018, Investment in Manufacturing Sector Expected to Reach IDR352 Tln
Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto said investment in the industry as a whole for the manufacturing sector is expected to reach IDR352 trillion in 2018.
— Netral News

Disinformation and democracy in Indonesia
“Fake news” has become a buzzword in the contemporary political lexicon around the world. In Indonesia, there has been significant concern about the so-called rise of berita hoax (“hoax news”) in the aftermath of the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
— New Mandala

Indonesian govt’ decides to import rice from Vietnam, Thailand
The Indonesian government has responded to the continuous rise in the price of medium-grade rice by announcing the import of 500 thousand tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand by the end of January this year.
— Antara

Only 8mn Tons of Crude Steel Produced out of 14mn Needed: Govt
Industry Ministry stated that the nation-wide need for crude steel at the moment has reached 14 million tons.
— Tempo

Indonesia lays foundation for transfer of Grasberg copper mine to local control
Indonesian regional and central government officials on Friday signed an agreement with state holding company PT Inalum that lays the foundation for the transfer of Freeport-McMoRan Inc’s giant Grasberg copper mine to local control.
— DealStreetAsia

House Urges Govt to Check National Rice Supply
Chairman of House of Representative (DPR) Commission IV overseeing agriculture, food, forestry, plantation and fishery and maritime affairs Edhy Prabowo demanded transparency from the government to share their data of rice stock in Indonesia other than in paddy fields and National Logistics Agency.
— Tempo

Palm Oil Association Urges Gov’t to Revive Suharto-Era Transmigration Program
Jakarta. The Indonesian Palm Oil Association, or Gapki, urged the government to revive its now defunct transmigration program, first implemented under former President Suharto, to empower rural farmers and enrich palm oil producing regions.
— JakartaGlobe

Ambitious Indonesian farmers put Java back on the coffee map
When Wildan Mustofa ventured into the burgeoning specialty coffee market six years ago, he had already built a successful potato farming business on his plantations in the chilly highlands of Bandung, West Java.
— Nikkei Asian Review

IFC likely to extend $100m debt to Indonesia’s snack producer Nabati
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private investment arm of the World Bank, is looking at extending a $100-million loan to Indonesia’s PT Kaldu Sari Nabati Indonesia (Nabati), a family owned snacks business, to fuel its expansion plans.
— DealStreetAsia

Public Works Ministry Emphasizes Its Commitment to Build Clean Water Infrastructure in NTT
The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) continues to improve the infrastructure of water and fresh water resources in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province to improve water and food security in water-prone provinces especially in the dry season.
— Netral News

Garuda to open direct flight from Makassar to Palembang
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced Sunday it will open a direct flight from Makassar, South Sulawesi, to Palembang, South Sumatra, starting Jan. 17.
— The Jakarta Post

PT Freeport`s 51% divestment not negotiable: Indonesian minister
Indonesia`s finance minister Sri Mulyani stated here on Friday that the divestment of PT Freeport Indonesia shares up to 51 percent is mandatory and not negotiable.
— Antara

Indonesia’s Bali receives increasing number of French tourists: official
Indonesia’s resort island of Bali received an increasing number of French tourists last year, thanks to the growing direct flights connecting French cities to Bali, an official said Sunday.
— Xinhua

Citilink Transported 574.8 Thousand Passengers on Christmas and New Year‘s Holiday
Low cost carrier (LCC) Citilink Indonesia successfully flew 574,867 passengers during the peak season of Christmas and New Year 2018 which ran from December 21, 2017 to January 3, 2018.
— Netral News

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