Indonesia Morning News For December 22

Business & Politics: Eyeing Indonesia’s 2019 Presidential Election
Investors will need to keep an eye on Indonesia’s political years of 2018 (regional elections) and 2019 (legislative elections) as the outcomes can have a big impact on the investment climate and business climate of Indonesia.
— Indonesia Investment

Indonesia relaxes import regulations for 6 commodities
Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said on Wednesday he had signed six regulation drafts to relax import procedures and requirements for six types of commodities in a bid to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) procure raw materials.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia’s mega fast-rail project runs into trouble
The $5.9bn Jakarta-Bandung link has been plagued by problems to the frustration of its Chinese consortium partners.
— Asia Times

Fave launches FavePay in Indonesia
AFTER launching its mobile payment feature in Malaysia and Singapore, Fave launched FavePay in Indonesia recently.
— Digital News Asia

Maybank ranked the safest bank in Malaysia, Indonesia
Malayan Banking Bhd and its Indonesian arm, PT Bank Maybank Indonesia, emerged as the safest banks operating in their respective countries, according to a country-by-country ranking by Global Finance Magazine.
— The Star Online

Rain Pushes Red Chilli Prices Up in Central Java
The price of red chillies hike again at Pasar Wage (Wage Market) in Purwokerto, Banyumas regency, Central Java. The price reached Rp 35,000 per kilogram due to the lack supply from farmers.
— Tempo

A retrospect of Indonesia’s power business in 2017
We understood from the outset that realizing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s dream of adding 35 Gigawatts (GW) in electricity generating capacity to the grid by 2019 is undeniably difficult.
— The Jakarta Post

OJK to Issue Fintech Regulation Next Year
The Financial Service Authority (OJK) President Commissioner Wimboh Santoso said that his office will issue a fintech (financial technology) regulation in the first quarter of 2018.
— Tempo

Indonesia: JustCo, Gunung Sewu form co-working space JV
Singapore’s largest premium co-working space provider JustCo has formed a joint venture company with Gunung Sewu for the development of a co-working space business in Indonesia.
— DealStreetAsia

Finance Minister: Negotiation Process with Freeport Indonesia Still Running
The government through the Minister of Finance revealed that the negotiation process with PT Freeport Indonesia is still good. There are four interrelated points in the process.
— Netral News

Consumer Spending for Utensils, Gadgets in 2018 Will Increase
A market researcher GfK Indonesia predicts that consumer spending for communication devices and household utensils will continue to grow in 2018.
— Tempo

Indonesian manufacturing industry provides more jobs in 2017
The Industry Ministry estimated the country`s manufacturing industry provides jobs for 17.01 million workers in 2017 , up from 15.54 million workers in 2016.
— Antara

Teaming up with Go-Jek, Pertamina Offers Delivery of Fuel, Gas Products Directly to Customers
Collaborating with ride-hailing service provider, also known locally as online transportation service provider, Go-Jek, PT Pertamina (Persero) is offering a direct delivery service of its products to consumers.
— Netral News

Government, private firms to develop Samabusa Seaport: Jokowi
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said that Samabusa Seaport, located in Nabire District, Papua Province, will be developed further by the government and private companies.
— Antara

Coordinating Minister Luhut: Cooperation Opportunity for LRT Construction with South Korea
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that he saw cooperation opportunities with South Korea, in this case Hyundai Railroading Technology System (Rotem), when the company invited him to visit the train factory in Busan, South Korea.
— Netral News

Smexindo smooths SMEs entry to Bahrain trade show
Non-profit organization Smexindo-Induk UMKM will facilitate 15 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take part in the Bahrain International Garden Show, a platform for developing best agricultural practices, which will open on Feb. 21, 2018 and run through Feb. 25 in Manama, Bahrain.
— The Jakarta Post

PBIT holds Pakistan Indonesia Business Forum
Punjab Board of Investment and Trade hosted an exclusive “Pakistan Indonesia Business Forum” for the high profile Indonesian delegation to collaborate and discuss the potential opportunities present in the province.
— The Nation

Indonesia, Chile sign CEPA
Indonesia and Chile have signed the Indonesia-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita announced on Wednesday.
— The Jakarta Post

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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.