Indonesia morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.
Indonesian Continues Reforms to Business Process
After moving up 15 places in the World Bank’s annual ease of doing business report for 2017, Indonesian authorities are determined to maintain the momentum, introducing additional reforms to ease the business process in Indonesia.
— AEC News Today
Buddhists caned under sharia law for the first time in Aceh
Indonesia’s only province to impose sharia law caned Buddhists for the first time Friday, after two men accused of cockfighting opted for punishment under the strict Islamic regulations.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Indonesia to set 2-week deadline to solve Freeport row
Indonesia’s government has set itself a two-week deadline to resolve a dispute with Freeport-McMoRan Inc that has led to the suspension of copper concentrate exports from the world’s second-largest mine for almost two months.
— Gulf Times
First made-in-Indonesia BlackBerry phone goes on sale
The first BlackBerry smartphone designed and manufactured by an Indonesian company has been released in Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia: ASEAN Aerospace MRO Leader?
Earlier this month, several Indonesian state-owned aerospace companies inked a new agreement to cooperate in setting up a new holding company to provide aerospace maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services and help position the Southeast Asian state as a regional leader in this field.
– The Diplomat
INSIGHT: Should Indonesia and Australia jointly patrol the South China Sea?
In an interview with The Australian shortly before his visit to Sydney on Feb. 26 and 27, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reportedly opened the door for Indonesia and Australia to jointly patrol the South China Sea.
– The Jakarta Post
Indonesian app startup helps tailors become their own bosses
This might only look like a small workshop near Jakarta, Indonesia, but it could be the beginning of a fashion revolution.
– NTD TV
Allegations against Anies Baswedan of corruption and multiple violations of election law being investigated
The official campaign period for the runoff election between the incumbents, Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and Vice Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, and rivals Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, started this week. The latest polls seem to support the popular theory that Anies-Sandiaga will pick up the lion’s share of votes that went to Agus Yudhoyono in the first round, leading him to an easy victory over Ahok in the runoff.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Six terrorists arrested in Indonesia
At least six terrorists were arrested by Indonesia’s anti-terror squad on Friday, police said.
— Business Standard
Malaysia to deport 160 Indonesians
A total of 160 Indonesian migrants will be deported from Johor after serving their jail terms for working illegally in that country, an Indonesian embassy official said.
— Antara News
Indonesia’s war on drugs takes deadly turn
Rebuffing an outcry over the previous execution of 18 deathrow inmates, most of whom were drug convicts, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed officers in relevant agencies to hunt, arrest and “crush” smalland big-time drug dealers.
– The Jakarta Post
Indonesian politicians implicated in major e-KTP graft case
Indonesian politicians, including the justice minister and ex-interior minister, and officials were implicated Thursday in a major corruption scandal estimated to have sucked about $170 million out of government coffers.
— Coconuts Jakarta
Giant Indonesian Muslim Group Joins The Fight against Fake News
The world’s largest Muslim organization is helping step up a battle in Indonesia to scrub the internet of fake news.
– Netral English
Quarter of Indonesian Kids Don’t Have Birth Certificates
The Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed that nearly 20 million Indonesian children between the ages of 1 and 18 do not have birth certificates.
— Jakarta Globe
Trump’s Trade Policies Positive for Indonesia’s Footwear Industry?
Eddy Widjanarko, Chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo), said the US economic policies under Donald Trump, who shocked markets by winning the US 2016 presidential election last November, will actually include positive benefits for Indonesia. Considering Trump is eager to curtail imports from China, Widjanarko said Indonesia needs to step in to supply to US demand. Currently, China is the leading footwear exporter to the USA, accounting for 48 percent of all of US shoe imports, while Indonesia is ranked 7th, supplying only 7 percent of total US footwear imports.
— Indonesia Investments
AirNav to spend Rp 800 billion for Jakarta-based traffic service center this year
State-owned air navigation firm Flight Navigation Service, also known as AirNav, has earmarked Rp 800 billion ((US$59.9 million) to improve its flight security system for the western part of the country this year.
— The Jakarta Post
Yogyakarta Set to Ban Go-Jek, Uber and Grab
The Yogyakarta administration plans to issue a regulation next week that will ban ride-hailing services in the city.
— Jakarta Globe
Antam to Seek Permit to Export 6m Tons of Nickel Ore
Indonesian state miner Aneka Tambang will apply next week for a permit to export 6 million tons of nickel ore for a year, a company spokesman said on Friday (10/03).
— Jakarta Globe
Two Indonesian football clubs eye capital markets to raise funds
Two Indonesian football clubs have reportedly expressed their interest to tap the capital markets to raise funds, an Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) director told reporters in Jakarta recently.
— Deal Street Asia
Bank Indonesia Also Expects US Interest Rate Hike in March 2017
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) is also among the many institutions or market participants that expect the Federal Reserve to raise its Fed Funds Rate by 25 basis points at the coming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting (14-15 March 2017).
— Indonesia Investments
Jakarta to form disaster standby volunteers team
The Jakarta administration is planning to set up a community-based team of disaster standby volunteers, acting Jakarta Governor Sumarsono said.
— Antara News
More Indonesians Taken Hostage by Abu Sayyaf, Defense Minister to Meet With Malaysian Gov’t
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu will initiate measures to prevent further abductions after seven Indonesian crewmembers were reportedly taken hostage by the militant Abu Sayyaf group on Sulu Island in the Southern Philippines recently.
— The Jakarta Post
Police to deploy 15 thousand personnel at President Cup final
The National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said that a total 15 thousand personnel will be deployed to secure the final round matches of the President Cup II 2017 national soccer championship.
— Antara News
Salim Group joins fight for Indonesian e-commerce share
Indonesia’s Salim Group is planning a major foray into e-commerce this year in partnership with South Korea’s Lotte, squaring off against heavily funded rivals also seeking a slice of the Southeast Asian nation’s swelling online shopping market.
— Nikkei Asian Review
Indonesia arrests 9 suspected militants
Indonesian police arrested nine suspected militants on the island of Sulawesi, a police spokesman said on Saturday, in an operation that reportedly targeted a group with affiliations to Islamic State.
— Channel NewsAsia
Sugar Breakthrough Paves Way for Indonesia-Australia Trade Deal
Australia is pinning its hopes on sugar to revitalize exports to Indonesia, as it seeks momentum for a free trade agreement that has been mooted for nearly a decade.
— Bloomberg
ROTA partners with UCQ to benefit 100 nursing students in Indonesia
Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) in collaboration with Titian Foundation NGO, a former in-country partner based in Indonesia, has recently partnered with the University of Calgary – Qatar (UCQ) to send 18 female nursing students to Yogyakarta in Indonesia as part of its International Volunteer Trips Programme.
— The Peninsula Qatar
Indonesia, Saudi Arabia exchange Qurans as gifts
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin exchanged Qurans, Muslim holy books, as souvenirs with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Sunday before the king left Bali for Tokyo to resume his Asia tour.
— The Jakarta Post
Feature photo: Kritsada Jaiyen
Indonesia morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Stella-maris Ewudolu
Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.
She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.
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