Indonesia Morning News For December 17

Indonesia, EFTA sign long delayed free trade deal
Indonesia on Sunday signed an economic agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) aimed at increasing trade and investment, concluding almost eight years of negotiations.
— The Star Online

Rise in benchmark interest rate to drag down growth: Economist
Bank Indonesia raising its benchmark interest rate, which is expected to continue to be aggressive, is predicted to drag down economic growth to 4.9 percent much below the government target of 5-5.4 percent in 2019 and 5.1 percent in 2018.
— Antara News

Indonesia aims to attract 3.5 million Chinese tourists next year
Indonesia has targeted to attract 3.5 million Chinese tourists to visit various tourist destinations in the country next year.
— Antara News

6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Eastern Indonesia
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.
— NDTV

Indonesia, Taiwan Sign MoU on Protection of Migrant Workers
The Indonesia Economic and Trade Office (IETO) in Taipei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Jakarta. The MoU was on the recruitment, placement, and protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan.
— Tempo.co

The Man Taking on Boeing With a $22 Billion Jet Order at Stake
The crash of a Boeing Co. plane that killed 189 people in Indonesia is spiraling into a $22 billion feud between the aircraft maker and one of Asia’s most influential aviation bosses.
— The Edge Markets

Indonesia’s Soputan volcano erupts, ejecting thick ash
A volcano in central Indonesia has erupted, ejecting columns of thick ash as high as 7,500 meters (24,606 feet) into the sky.
— The Mainichi

Papuan Villagers Flee to the Forest to Hide from Fighting
At least 300 villagers have hidden in a forest in the Papua province on Friday. They fled due to the fighting between soldiers and separatists who killed a group of workers building a bridge in the area this month.
— Indonesia Expat

LIPI: 400,000 Tons Plastic Waste Enter Ocean per Year
Researchers of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) reported a study regarding waste in 18 beaches and 13 coastal areas in the country. It was revealed that 100,000 to 400,000 tons of plastic waste entered the Indonesian sea per year.
— Tempo.co

Gestures to please Jewish voters backfire on Australian prime minister
Australian PrimeMinister Scott Morrison, in a wishy washy speech has back-tracked from an all-out commitment by Australia to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
— Indonesia News

Jokowi distributes 6,000 land certificates in Riau
SharesPresident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo handed over about 6,000 land certificates to residents during his working visit to Pekanbaru, Riau, on Saturday, as part of efforts to fulfill his administration’s ambitious agrarian reform program.
— The Jakarta Post

Commentary: Indonesia’s disappearing languages – all because of climate change
Sulawesi’s languages are disappearing as many small communities relocate due to climate change, says one linguist from Queen’s University.
— Channel News Asia

President calls for stopping illegal logging in Jambi
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on security authorities in Jambi here on Sunday to seriously tackle illegal logging that still occurs in the Sumatran province.
— Antara News

CROWDE-funding Indonesia’s small food producers
Agriculture is the backbone of Indonesia’s development, contributing 13.1 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017.
— The Asean Post

Jokowi asks Babinsa to monitor use of village funds
President Joko Widodo has asked non-commissioned officers in charge of village supervision (Babinsa) across the country to help assure that all the village funds provided by the government are used maximally for village development programs.
— Antara News

‘Recognise State of Palestine’: Indonesia on PM’s west Jerusalem decision
Indonesia has called on Australia and the United Nations to “promptly recognise the State of Palestine” following Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s move to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
— SBS News

Industry Ministry focuses on making Indonesia world`s Muslim fashion center
Directorate General of Small and Medium Industries at the Ministry of Industry is focusing on transforming Indonesia into a center of the world`s Muslim fashion in 2020 by conducting various strategic programs in 2019.
— Antara News

Haze unlikely in 2019 despite developing El Nino: Indonesian official
South-east Asia would likely be spared the scourge of haze in 2019, despite predictions of a developing El Nino that could bring drier-than-usual conditions to the region next year, said an Indonesian official this week.
— The Straits Times

How emerging Asian market has split apart for investors
Two broad factors shape emerging-markets investing.
— Financial Express

Forest farmers called to plant prime commodities
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on recipients of the Social Forestry Decree certificate in Jambi on Sunday to develop prime commodities to give an impact to economic development of the middle-to-low income group.
— Antara News

Blue carbon focus could sail Indonesia through Paris targets
The next U.N. climate talks will be known as the “blue COP,” said a top mangroves expert at the COP24 conference venue in Katowice, Poland, where thousands of delegates from around the world are trying to forge an agreement over how best to tackle global warming.
— Forest News

Groundbreaking of Jakarta’s first incinerator slated for next week
Construction of the first and long-awaited incinerator in Jakarta will begin next week, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

Polri Send Personnel to Africa as Part of Peace Mission
The Indonesia National Police (Polri) have sent personnel to five countries in Africa and Haiti as part of the peace mission conducted by the United Nations (UN).
— Netral News

Indonesia Notes Down Australia`s Statement on Jerusalem
Indonesia noted down Australia`s statement to not move its embassy to Jerusalem despite recognizing West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but would not immediately move its embassy from Tel Aviv.
— Tempo.co

Komnas HAM urges owner of ransacked home to take legal action
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has urged the parents of a man alleged to have been involved in the assault of military personnel to file a police report after their home was ransacked by an unidentified mob on Tuesday.
— The Jakarta Post

Turtle Found Dead at Beach with Plastic Waste Hanging from its Remains
A turtle was found dead earlier this week at a beach in Yogyakarta with plastic waste hanging from its remains, environment activists said
— Indonesia Expat

Warning for Aussies travelling in Indonesia
Australia yesterday warned citizens to take care while travelling in neighbouring Muslim-majority Indonesia ahead of Canberra’s expected but contentious move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
— The Straits Times

Optimism amid gloomy global economic condition by Citro Atmoko/A. Saragih
Optimism is strong that the country`s economic condition would continue to improve.
— Antara News

TNI seeks evidence on personnel’s involvement in mob attack
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has asked the public to report any involvement of its members in the ransacking of a house that belonged to the parents of a man accused of assaulting two military personnel earlier this week.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi meets Pujakesuma community in Riau
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana met members of “Pujakesuma” (ethnic Javanese descents living in Sumatra) community during their visit to Sumatran province of Riau here on Saturday.”Some ….
— Antara News

President Jokowi highlights efforts to overcome smoke haze
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has disclosed his government`s efforts to overcome smoke haze that affected several parts of Indonesia, including Riau Province, for dozens of years.
— Antara News

Ripped Democratic Party banners, flags mar SBY’s visit to Riau
Dozens of Democratic Party (PD) flags and banners were found ripped off and torn in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Saturday, just as chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) is visiting the city.
— The Jakarta Post

President Jokowi receives degree of the faithful series in Riau
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received the title of Datuk Seri Setia Negara from the Malay Customary Institution (LAM) at the Pekanbaru Riau LAM Building on Saturday.
— Antara News

TNI manages to secure illegal timber in North Aceh District
TNI personnel from the Intel team Korem 011 / Lilawangsa, Aceh Province, managed to secure illegal timber from the Mango Deer, in Gampong (village) Glee Dagang, Sawang Subdistrict, North Aceh District.”The success of ….
— Antara News

Feature photo PRI/ Jess Engebretson

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Arabic Language Day, December 18.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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.

Indonesia morning news for December 17 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on December 17, 2018
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

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.