Indonesia Morning News For January 5

What Does Indonesia’s New Political Landscape Mean for the Future of its Economy?
The election of Jakarta Governor Anies Rasyid Baswedan and the imprisonment of the former governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known popularly as Ahok, on blasphemy charges, marked a stark turning point for Indonesian politics and Indonesian society.
— The Diplomat

Indonesia to distribute Rp 120t to small, micro businesses
The Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister’s deputy for macroeconomic and finance, Iskandar Simorangkir, has said the government has allocated Rp 120 trillion (US$8.39 billion) for micro credit program Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) this year, higher than the Rp 106.6 trillion allocated last year.
— The Jakarta Post

Specs retailer Owndays focuses on Indonesia
Japanese eyeglasses company Owndays has set its sights on Indonesia for the next stage of an aggressive overseas expansion drive.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Indonesia to Extend Biodiesel Subsidy to Mining Sector
Indonesia’s government plans to expand biodiesel subsidies to cover consumption of palm oil-blended fuels by the mining sector this year as part of ambitious plans to develop the energy source, an energy ministry official said on Thursday (04/01).
— JakartaGlobe

Japanese window maker plans R&D center near Jakarta
Japanese building materials maker YKK AP plans to open a research and development center in Indonesia during 2018 to design window products for hot, humid Southeast Asian markets.
— Nikkei Asian Review

BI Predicts Fake Money Circulation Increases Ahead of Election
The East Kalimantan branch of Bank Indonesia (BI) announced the amount of counterfeit money in circulation decreased by 36.7 percent in 2017.
— Tempo

Indonesian embassy encourages coffee exports to Egypt
The Indonesian Embassy in Cairo continues to encourage the exports of Indonesian coffee to Egypt, the embassy noted in a press statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
— Antara

Indonesian Economy in Good Health Despite Rising Oil Prices: Central Bank
Bank Indonesia — or BI, the country’s central bank — said local economy remains in check despite rising global oil prices.
— JakartaGlobe

OJK`s Financial Information Service Kicks Off
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has introduced the Financial Information Services System (SLIK), available in all offices in 37 cities as per January 2.
— Tempo

Hours-Long Power Outage in Jakarta Tests Local Businesses
A four hour power outage in Jakarta on Tuesday (02/01) helped expose chronic vulnerability in the country’s basic infrastructure that has proven costly to local businesses.
— JakartaGlobe

No fanfare for Indonesia as economy hits US$1t mark
Indonesia’s economy, the largest in South-East Asia, hit a milestone last year by reaching US$1 trillion (RM4.02 trillion), yet the mood wasn’t celebratory as the government continued to miss its revenue targets.
— The Malaysia Reserve

Double standards in Indonesia’s climate policy
The nexus between climate change and economic development is complex. Indonesia heavily relies on forestry, agriculture and the mining industry as the backbone of its economy, accounting for nearly 40 percent of its gross domestic product and making up nearly half of the national export value.
— The Jakarta Post

Commerce Ministry Waits for Energy Ministry Signal for Freeport Indonesia Concentrate Export Permit
Ministry of Commerce through the Director General of Foreign Trade Oke Nurwan explained PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) is able to resume concentrate export activities with the permission from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
— Netral News

Australians briefly detained over Bali volcano climb
Two Australians were briefly detained by Indonesian police Thursday for climbing to the summit of a rumbling volcano on the holiday island of Bali, hours before authorities shrunk an exclusion zone around the belching crater.
— The Nation

Feature photo World Bank/Nugroho Nurdikiawan Sunjoyo

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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.