Indonesia Morning News For August 16

Indonesia’s oil and gas sector slumps, falling to 3% of nation’s GDP
Hit by a drop in global prices, changing regulations and competition from neighbours that are proving more attractive to international energy companies, South-east Asia’s biggest economy is facing a decline in oil revenue and steadily rising fuel imports.
— Straits Times

Indonesia’s Trade Balance Swings To Deficit In July
Indonesia’s trade balance showed a deficit in July on a surge in imports, data from the Central Statistical Agency showed Tuesday.
— Markets Insider

Government debts reach Rp3,779.98 trillion as of July 2017
In July 2017, the amount of net debts rose Rp73.47 trillion, resulting from net state securities worth Rp65.50 trillion, and net new loans worth Rp7.96 trillion.
— Antara

Cookie counting Indrawati aims to fix Indonesian budget woes
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati urged spending restraint in a recent speech to officials, as she grapples with a fiscal shortfall and widening budget deficit.
— The Edge Markets

BPS: Trade Balance for January-July 2017 at Surplus of $7.39 Bln
Export developments are experiencing uncertainty over rising commodity prices and lower non-oil commodities in palm oil, kernel oil, cocoa, gold and tin, while aluminium and rubber and copper are rising
— Netral News

Eastspring Investment Joins Hands With Phillip Securities to Offer Mutual Fund Products
The equity fund products, Eastspring Investments Alpha Navigator and Eastspring Investments Value Discovery, offer clients the opportunity to bet on Indonesia’s listed companies stocks.
— Jakarta Globe

Singapore to supply LNG for Indonesia’s power plants: Luhut
Coordinating Maritime Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Tuesday that Singapore had offered to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) for power generations in several locations in Indonesia.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia police uncover alleged plot to bomb presidential palace
Indonesian police on Tuesday (Aug 15) arrested five suspected militants near the capital Jakarta, and seized chemicals that authorities said were being used to make bombs for attacks on the presidential palace at the end of August.
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia could benefit unused haj quotas: ICMI
The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) has suggested the government cooperate with countries that do not use their full haj quota.
— The Jakarta Post

Antitrust Agency Probes Danone’s Local Unit for Bottled Water Monopoly
ndonesia’s antimonopoly agency is investigating allegations of unfair business practices against Tirta Investama – the local unit of French consumer giant Danone – and distributor Balina Agung Perkasa.
— Jakarta Globe

Bekraf & 8 Indonesian Designers Take New York
The selected eight product designers will join Bekraf in NY Now, New York’s wholesale products and innovative design tradeshow that runs from 19 to 23 August 2017.
— Indonesia Design

SEA Games 2017: Indonesia U22 Held Draw by Thailand
Thailand opened the scoring in the first half through Chaiyawat Buran in the 14th minute after a mistake by keeper Kartika Ajie.
— Tempo (EN)

Indonesia’s Bali holds tsunami drills for school students
The exercise was part of a joint project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan’s government to raise awareness among children in 18 Asia-Pacific nations.
— Indian Express

Fiji and Indonesia Sign Plan of Action on Disaster Management Cooperation
The signed Plan of Action (PoA) will allow the two nations exchange cooperation in disaster preparedness, management and response.
— EMTV

Government still applying moratorium on new building: Kalla
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla has asked the House of Representatives (DPR) to understand that the government was still applying a moratorium on the construction of new buildings.
— Antara

How To Decarbonize Indonesia And Achieve Low-Carbon Prosperity
Indonesia’s choices also have global consequences, as the way the developing world chooses to provide better lives for its citizens will determine whether we can keep global warming in check and provide a livable climate for mankind.
— Forbes

Indonesia, Netherlands commemorate 150 years of railroad system
The governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Dutch railroad system in Indonesia.
— Antara

Protests in Indonesian cities mark New York Agreement on Papua
Protests have been held in several cities in Indonesia to mark the anniversary of the agreement which sealed West Papua’s incorporation into the republic.
— Radio New Zealand

Independence Day: Government demonstrates infrastructure progress amid challenges
Having pledged to ramp up the development of infrastructure since the start of his tenure, President Joko Widodo and his government have made noteworthy progress with regard to infrastructure.
— The Jakarta Post

China’s Belt and Road Acquisitions Surge Despite Outbound Capital Crackdown
Mergers and acquisitions by Chinese companies in countries that are part of the Belt and Road initiative are soaring, even as Beijing cracks down on China’s acquisitive conglomerates to restrict capital outflows.
— New York Times

Feature photo Asian Development 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.