Indonesia Morning News For November 8

Indonesia sells 6.5 trillion rupiah of Islamic bonds
Indonesia’s finance ministry sold 6.5 trillion rupiah ($481.05 million) of Islamic bonds at an auction on Tuesday, above the indicative target of 5 trillion rupiah, its financing and risk management office said.
— Business Recorder (press release)

Indonesia threatens to block WhatsApp over sexual content
Indonesian authorities say they will block access to the popular WhatsApp instant messaging app if it doesn’t remove sexually explicit content.
— News & Observer

Indonesia requires ministers, officials to report new regulations
In a bid to avoid overlapping regulations, a presidential instruction (Inpres) has been issued that requires ministers, high-ranking officials and heads of non-ministerial institutions to report any new regulations they want to issue to the relevant coordinating minister’s office and/or the President.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia`s occupational health, safety still a concern: Alliance
The Peoples Alliance Caring for Occupational Health and Safety (K3) said that the condition of K3 in Indonesia is still a concern as reflected by the recent occupational accidents within a short period that claimed lives.
— Antara

Foreign Exchange Reserves Decrease to USD126.5 Billion due to Foreign Debt Repayment
Indonesia foreign exchange reserves until the end of October 2017 has reached USD126.5 billion, Bank Indonesia (BI) recorded. The figure was slightly decreased compared to the end of September 2017 which reached USD129.4 billion.
— Netral News

Consumer trust weakens in October: Bank Indonesia
A recent Bank Indonesia survey shows that consumer trust has weakened in October due to a perceived decrease in jobs, declining incomes and continuing poor economic condition in the coming six months, Antara reported on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post

BPS: Gov’t Spending Contribution to Economic Growth is Small
Statistics Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik/BPS) says the government’s spending in the third quarter of 2017 has only contributed 0.27 percent to Indonesia’s economic growth of 5.06 percent.
— Netral News

Indonesia-Tunisia Relations: From Trade to Democracy
Jakarta’s long-standing relationship with Tunis is expanding beyond trade and investment.
— The Diplomat

Indonesia’s Adaro Energy willing to further diversify
Indonesia’s Adaro Energy, which has expanded rapidly in the last decade from a coal miner to a diversified energy firm, is willing to add more businesses to its portfolio in order to survive in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive global environment, Garibaldi Thohir, the company’s president-director and CEO, said on Tuesday.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Indonesia awarded Best Diving Destination in world
Indonesia was awarded the Best Dive Destination 2017 by British Dive Magazine at the World Travel Market (WTM) London held in ExCel London, England, from Nov 6 to 8.
— Antara

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Named Go-Jek as Tax Agent
The Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has named ride-hailing company Go-Jek as a tax agent. The latter has been given the status as a tax application service provider (ASP). Taxpayers can now apply for a tax identification number (NPWP) and submit their annual tax return (SPT), among others.
— Tempo

Jonan Wants Freeport to List on IDX
The Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said he would ask Freeport Indonesia to list their shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). But he said he wants the US-based miner to finalize the divestment process first.
— Tempo

Indonesia aims for market share of electric cars to reach 20% by 2025
Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto says his ministry is preparing various measures to achieve the government’s targeted 20 percent market share for electric cars by 2025.
— The Jakarta Post

Nikon exits Brazil as digital camera cutbacks continue
Nikon is restructuring its sales networks for digital cameras in overseas markets, taking steps including withdrawing from Brazil and shifting focus to factory equipment in Indonesia.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Bank DKI Collaborates with GO-JEK to Boost Non-Cash Transactions
Bank DKI has cooperated with ride hailing services app GO-JEK as one of its strategic partners to increase non-cash transactions through JakOne Mobile application. Such cooperation covers interoperability of electronic money, interconnection of payment ecosystems and expansion of tax payment and retribution channels.
— Netral News

Most minimarts do not have proper licenses: City council
Around 90 percent of minimarts do not have proper business permits, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

Future of Indonesia’s Marketing Is in Native Ads: Experts Say
Next year, companies in Indonesia will be spending more on native advertising, particularly sponsored content, experts say.
— Jakarta Globe

Feature photo Thomas Depenbusch
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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.