Indonesia Morning News For February 6, 2019

Direct Investment Realization in Indonesia Fails to Achieve Target in 2018
Total domestic direct investment (DDI) realization in 2018 reached IDR 328.6 trillion, showing a solid increase of 25.3 percent on an annual basis. Meanwhile, total foreign direct investment (FDI) realization in 2018 was recorded at IDR 392.7 trillion, down 8.8 percent (y/y).
— Indonesia Investments

Asian banks give billions to firms linked to deforestation, study finds
Industries that cause the loss of rainforest and peatlands in Southeast Asia were bankrolled to the tune of $62 billion between 2013 and 2018, according to new data released by the Forests and Finance campaign of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN).
— Mongabay

Indonesia’s set to position Batam as shipping, manufacturing rival to Singapore
Bloomberg reported that Indonesia wants to re-position its Batam island as an alternative shipping and manufacturing hub to Singapore with a potential to draw USD 60 billion in new investment.
— SteelGuru

Indonesia’s Opposition Takes Up the Uighur Cause
“Xinjiang, what a wonderful place,” declared an op-ed by China’s ambassador to Indonesia, Xiao Qian, published by the Jakarta Post last September.
— Foreign Policy

Indonesia’s E-commerce Market Larger Than Estimated; Consumer Habits Changing: Study
E-commerce accounted for 8 percent of total retail sales in Indonesia last year, on course to reach 18 percent by 2023, fueled by changing behavior among tech-savvy customers who are willing to spend more for convenience, according to a recent study by American multinational investment bank Morgan Stanley.
— Jakarta Globe

Rescue ships prepared as Mount Karangetan in Indonesia spews hot lava
Rescuers were ready to rescue villagers near Mount Karangetan volcano in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province through sea if the volcano spewed more hot lava, a senior official said on Tuesday (Feb 5).
— The Straits Times

Indonesia offers help to the Philippines to identify Jolo bombers
Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said on Tuesday that Indonesia has expressed willingness to help Philippine authorities identify the Indonesian “suicide bombers” that carried out the twin blasts on Jan. 27 which left 23 people dead and more than 100 others wounded.
— Xinhua

Minority groups in Indonesia see little hope in election
Indonesia’s presidential candidates neglected to discuss violations of people’s freedom of religion during their first debate in January, but this came as scant surprise to Yendra Budiana, an Ahmadi.
— UCA News

Analysis: Indonesia needs clearer direction in energy policy
One of the most significant problems in Indonesia’s economy is the current account deficit, meaning the country imports more than it exports.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Stop Circle of Violence in Papua
A circle of violence remains unstoppable in the Indonesian province of Papua. Last weekend, a civilian was again gunned down by the armed Papuan rebels in a village of Jaya Wijaya District.
— Tempo.co

JOKOWI MUST PROVE HIS DOUBTERS WRONG, NOT APPEASE THEM
On the face of it, Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s flip-flop over whether to release the jailed jihadi preacher who inspired the Bali bombers should be of little concern to foreign investors.
— Lowy Institute

Garuda Indonesia’s one-row economy option gets mixed response
Garuda Indonesia announced on Tuesday a new class that allows passengers to “rest more comfortably” during the national flag carrier’s long-haul Jakarta-London-Denpasar flight.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia, Switzerland Sign MLA Agreement
Indonesia and Switzerland have signed an agreement on mutual legal assistance (MLA) after two rounds of negotiation in Bali and Bern, the Indonesian Embassy in Bern, noted in a statement on Tuesday.
— Tempo.co

Insight: US-China trade war has done Indonesia more good than harm
The United States and China are racing against time to resolve their trade dispute before the March 2 deadline.
— The Jakarta Post (paywall)

Jokowi Not Accusing Russia of Meddling in Politics: Golkar
Airlangga Hartarto, chairman of the Golkar Party, has clarified that incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo (Jokowi) did not accuse Russia of meddling in the Indonesian presidential election.
— Tempo.co

Jokowi Signs President`s Rule on Gas Network
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo signed a Presidential Regulation on the Supply and Distribution of Natural Gas through the Natural Gas Network for Small Households and Customers.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia sets higher target of investment in 2019
Indonesia is optimistic that it will be able to attract more investment this year despite the implementation of simultaneous legislative and presidential elections to be held on April 17, 2019.
— Antara News

Public Works Ministry builds 949 retention basins in last four years
The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry has built a total of 949 retention basins over the last four years.
— Antara News

Fire razes Buddhist temple in Bandung on Chinese New Year
Hundreds of Indonesians of Chinese descent in Bandung, West Java, were forced to abandon a ceremony to celebrate Chinese New Year on Tuesday morning as a fire destroyed Samudra Bhakti temple.
— The Jakarta Post

Inalum establishes mining research institute to speed up downstream development
State-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) recently established the Mining and Minerals Industry Institute (MMII), a research center aimed at boosting the downstream industry to help meet the government’s goal of reducing imports.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia strengthens support for start-up businesses
Intellasia East Asia News Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry continues to strengthen its strategies to meet the needs of Industry 4.0, according to a recent press release.
— Intellasia

Jakarta aims to turn Tanah Abang into new upscale business district
The Jakarta administration plans to transform the Tanah Abang area in Central Jakarta into an upscale business district similar to SCBD in South Jakarta, an official has said.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesian maid deported after employer reported her for supporting armed violence
Five domestic helpers have recently been deported back to Indonesia for being supporters of armed violence, one of whom had worked for an employer who reported her to the authorities.
— The Independent

Whirlwind damages 52 homes in Pamekasan, Madura
A whirlwind damaged 52 homes and a mosque in Pamekasan, Madura Island, East Java Province, on Monday.
— Antara News

Sea toll road program reduces price disparity of basic commodities
A sea toll road program has managed to reduce the price disparity of basic commodities in the eastern part of Indonesia, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita said.
— Antara News

No talks on counterterrorism during Indonesia’s presidential debate
Intellasia East Asia News There were no talks on how to combat terrorism during the first presidential debate on January 17, contradictory to the viewers’ expectations that the candidates would tackle counterterrorism policy.
— Intellasia

Indonesia expects more tourists from Baltic states
Indonesian Ambassador to Sweden and Latvia Bagas Hapsoro said more tourists from the Baltic states are expected to visit Indonesia this year as a result of the promotion of the Wonderful Indonesia brand at the Balttour …
— Antara News

Feature photo Farhan Perdana (Blek)

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges Chinese New Year, 2019.

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 February 6 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on February 6, 2019
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

Bio
Latest Posts

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.