Indonesia March inflation slows to below central bank target
Indonesia’s annual inflation rate slowed a touch more than expected in March to slip below the central bank’s target range for the first time in three years, official data showed on Monday.
— The Business Times
Indonesia, Malaysia Thailand agree to cut rubber exports
Indonesia, along with two other members of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) — Malaysia and Thailand – will cut the export of natural rubber in an attempt to stabilize the commodity’s global price.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia expanding corn acreage
Corn production in Indonesia in 2019-20 is forecast to reach 13.3 million tonnes, up from 12.6 million the previous year, as government incentives to expand production continue to yield results, according to a March 29 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
— World Grain
Indonesia eases entry of Philippine agriculture products
The Indonesian government is easing restrictions on Philippine agricultural exports as both countries seek to strengthen bilateral relations.
— Phil Star
Malaysia, Indonesia threaten EU over palm oil ban
The European Commission said in March that palm oil cultivation resulted in excessive deforestation and its use in biofuels should be phased out by 2030.
— Asean Economist
Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia rise 6.12 percent in Feb-2019
The Central Bureau of Statistics’ (BPS’) data indicated a growth of 6.12 percent in the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia in February 2019, reaching 1.27 million, compared to 1.2 million in February 2019, reaching 1.27 million, compared to 1.2 million in February 2018.
— Antara News
Worsening air pollution reducing lifespans in Indonesia
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesia’s air quality has deteriorated from among the cleanest in the world to one of the most polluted over the past two decades, shaving five years from life expectancy in some regions, researchers say.
— Intellasia
Tax office receives 70.15 percent of all taxes by Saturday
The Directorate General of Taxation has announced that 10.93 million taxpayers, or 70.15 percent of its target of 15.58 million taxpayers, had filed their annual tax returns (SPTs) by Saturday night, one day before the March 31 deadline.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia May Be Next Asian Country to Spurn China in Election
Across vast tea plantations that sit atop the rolling hills separating two of Indonesia’s largest cities, excavators dig out a series of giant tunnels for the country’s first high-speed rail line.
— The Edge Markets
Indonesia launches three economic zones, eyes $7.7bn investment
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday launched three special economic zones (SEZs) across 2,200 hectares of land at the eastern part of the archipelago in a fresh bid to attract investment and spur economic growth in less developed areas.
— Business Recorder
Indonesia manufacturing PMI improves in March
Indonesia’s manufacturing sector grew in March as solid domestic demand offset a decline in export sales, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Indonesia Wins Arbitration Lawsuit, Saves Rp6.68tn
The Indonesian government has won the arbitration lawsuit lodged by the Indian Metal and Alloys Limited (IMFA). The ruling was announced after a series of legal proceedings that lasted since August 2018 in Den Haag, the Netherlands.
— Tempo.co
Indonesia votes: Which parties are competing for Parliament seats?
Sixteen parties will be participating in the legislative election at the national level on April 17.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)
Analyst points to Prabowo Subianto’s strategy shift in recent debate
Presidential candidate number 02 Prabowo Subianto chose to adopt an offensive stance while squaring off against Incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the fourth presidential debate, a University of Indonesia’s (UI’s) political analyst stated.
— Antara News
Gas pipeline serves 86% of South Sumatra city
The gas pipeline program is serving 86 percent of households in the South Sumatra city of Prabumulih.
— The Jakarta Post
No more fires in Indonesia? Blazes on Sumatran peatland say otherwise
All of the fires recorded so far have been on peat forests, a carbon-rich terrain that a slew of government policies have specifically targeted for restoration and protection since the disastrous fire season of 2015.
— Eco Business
Mass Organizations Can Join Election Patrols with Condition
The Jakarta Police planned to beef up regular operations, such as mobile patrols, ahead of the 2019 general elections slated to take place on Wednesday, April 17.
— Tempo.co
Top fund in Indonesia buys stocks on post election rally
One of Indonesia’s best-performing fund managers is buying more equities in expectations of a rally in the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) following the nation’s presidential election in midApril.
— The Malaysian Reserve
Indonesia records 0.11 percent inflation in March
Indonesia recorded 0.11 percent month-to-month inflation in March, driven by price increases in the manufactured food, beverage and cigarette category, as foodstuff prices remained relatively stable, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday.
— The Jakarta Post
Real-Time Response Review of the 2018 Indonesia Tsunami Appeal Disasters Emergency Committee and Swiss Solidarity
The Real Time Response Review (the review) was commissioned jointly by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and Swiss Solidarity (SwS) to learn lessons from Phase I of the Indonesia Tsunami response in Central Sulawesi that could be applied in real-time to the planning for Phase II.
— Relief Web
Indonesia votes: Hard fight for battleground state of South Sulawesi
Indonesia will hold its presidential and legislative elections on April 17. With more than 192 million people eligible to vote, it will be the largest polls since direct elections were first held 15 years ago.
— Straits Times (paywall)
Indonesia against overcoming disputes with power projection
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesia’s coordinating minister for maritime affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said on Wednesday that his country was too big to lean on China and ruled out projection of power as a means to solve territorial disputes, amid Beijing’s attempts to address such issues in the Indo-Pacific region through the use of force.
— Intellasia
Election Debate; Prabowo to Defend Pancasila as State Ideology
Presidential candidate number 02 Prabowo Subianto stated his commitment about Pancasila as the state ideology during the opening of the fourth election debate.
— Tempo.co
Indonesia’s famed Komodo Island may close for one year
Wildlife fans planning to visit Komodo Island to hang out with the largest lizards on Earth in 2020 will have to adjust their Indonesia travel plans.
— CNN
Jokowi, Prabowo lock horns over foreign policy
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his challenger, Prabowo Subianto, showed different approaches to foreign policy during a fierce televised debate on Saturday night, with the former highlighting Indonesia’s strategic position as a Muslim democracy and the latter emphasizing what he said was the nation’s weak firepower on the global stage.
— The Jakarta Post
North Sumatra optimistic of Sail Nias attracting 100 thousand tourists
North Sumatra has outlined a target to draw 100 thousand domestic and foreign tourists during the Sail Nias event scheduled to run between July and September 2019 on Nias Island.
— Antara News
No Garbage Bins in MRT Stations; Here’s Why
PT MRT Jakarta purposely did not provide trash bins inside the MRT stations. Company officials said this is done to teach people not to bring potential garbage inside the station.
— Tempo.co
Stock players in wait-and-see mode ahead of elections
Players in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) have been in a wait-and-see mode since early January and will continue to bide their time until the General Elections Commission (KPU) announces the results of the April 17 presidential and legislative elections.
— The Jakarta Post
MOFA assures integrity in conduct of overseas Presidential election
As Indonesians in the country gear up to vote at the 2019 general elections to be held on April 17, Indonesians living abroad, too, are all set to participate in the voting process.
— Antara News
Jokowi Visits Flood Victims in Jayapura, Papua
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited victims of floods in Jayapura, Papua province who were sheltered at the Toware Sports Center, Waibu district, today, April 1.
— Tempo.co
MRT Jakarta opens at half-price fares for April
Jakarta’s first MRT line, MRT Jakarta, has finally opened on April 1 for commercial operations at 50 percent discounted fares for the entire month, a strategy to encourage people to use the new rail service.
— The Jakarta Post
Jokowi, Prabowo rock the crowds at election rallies
Intellasia East Asia News Like rock stars faced with adoring fans, President Joko Widodo and his challenger Prabowo Subianto sent supporters screaming and clapping at their respective election rallies yesterday.
— Intellasia
Amien Rais Accuses KPU, Dukcapil of Backing Jokowi
Amien Rais, an advisory board member of the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno campaign team, accused the General Election Commission (KPU) of having a mission to win incumbent candidate Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the 2019 presidential election.
— Tempo.co
Foreign Minitry denies Rizieq Shihab accusation
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Arrmanatha Nasir, accused Muhammad Rizieq Shihab or Habib Rizieq, an Indonesian Islamic scholar and founder and leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Indonesia, of slandering Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.
— Antara News
Political hoaxes increasing ahead of election: Ministry
The Communications and Information Ministry has found that 130 of 1,224 hoaxes and fake news spread from August 2018 to March 2019 were related to the presidential candidates, political parties and election organizers.
— The Jakarta Post
INKA kicks off factory construction in Banyuwangi
State-owned train manufacturing company PT Industri Kereta Api Indonesia (INKA) has kicked off the construction of Indonesia’s largest train factory in Banyuwangi, East Java, whose products are to be exported to a number of countries.
— The Jakarta Post
Feature photo UNICEF
This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Health Day, April 7.
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 April 2 added by Piseth Pov on
View all posts by Piseth Pov →
Latest posts by Piseth Pov (see all)
- Indonesia morning news for May 10 – May 10, 2019
- Cambodia morning news for May 10 – May 10, 2019
- Singapore morning news for May 10 – May 10, 2019
- Indonesia morning news for May 9 – May 9, 2019