Indonesia c.bank says rupiah weakness a cyclical trend
The Indonesian rupiah’s depreciation in recent days is rooted in payments to offshore for dividends and servicing foreign loans, which typically happens in the second quarter of every year, the central bank’s spokesman said on Thursday.
— Nasdaq
BPS records ‘unexpected’ rise in April inflation
The monthly inflation rate increased to 0.44 percent in April, higher than market expectations due mainly to an increase in food prices, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post
Gov’t Expose First Ever Online Illegal Ivory Trade Worth Billions
Environment and Forestry Ministry exposed for the first time online trading practice of ivory. Poaching and trading of ivory are prohibited by law as it resulted in the low population of elephant in Indonesia.
— Tempo.co
Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia picks up in Q1
The number of foreign holiday makers visiting Indonesia in the first quarter ratcheted higher by 4.28 percent to 3.82 million people year-on-year, the national statistics bureau said Thursday.
— Xinhua
Toll Roads Contribute Rp5.3tn State Revenue Each Year
The Transportation Ministry’s Director General of Land Transportation, Budi Setiyadi, said that toll road is one of the sectors that contribute to state revenues. According to the Ministry’s records, tollways provide revenue of Rp5.34 trillion per year.
— Tempo.co
Indonesian ‘Belt and Road’ high-speed rail link expects US$18b from satellite towns
The Indonesian-Chinese consortium building a high-speed rail link between the capital Jakarta and the textiles hub of Bandung expects to earn $18 billion developing satellite towns and industrial centres along the line, a company official said.
— The Star Online
Indonesia jails Polish tourist who met Papuan activists
A Polish tourist has been sentenced to five years prison in Indonesia for treason after meeting with Papuan independence supporters.
— City News
Mining companies must maintain state infrastructure: DPM-PTSP
Rejang Lebong District’s One-Stop Integrated Services and Investment Services (DPM-PTSP), Bengkulu, said that mining companies operating in the area were required to maintain the state’s infrastructure along the national, provincial and district roads they were passing through.
— Antara News
Prabowo volunteers claim 13,000 instances of inconsistent data
Volunteers of the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno campaign team claim to have recorded 13,000 instances of inconsistent counting on the General Elections Commission’s (KPU) vote-count information system (Situng) on its website.
— The Jakarta Post
Indonesia Billionaire’s Builder Breaks Into Asia Junk Bond Elite
A builder controlled by Indonesia’s billionaire Riady family has rebounded from the depths of distress to become one of the best performers in the Asia junk dollar bond market.
— Bloomberg
Indonesia 2019 biodiesel exports to rise
The Indonesia Biodiesel Producers Association (APROBI) estimates the country may export up to 2 million kilolitres (kl) of unblended biodiesel in 2019 in an “optimistic scenario”, Vice Chairman Paulus Tjakrawan told reporters on Thursday.
— The Star Online
Indonesia’s CPI rebounds to 2.83% y/y in April, beats estimates
Indonesia’s annual inflation rate picked up pace in April from a decade low, according to the latest data published by the Statistics Indonesia on Thursday.
— FX Street
Does Indonesia Need a New Capital?
Even as he awaits official confirmation of his election to a second term, Indonesian
— Bloomberg
Indonesia wants to spend $33 billion to move its sinking capital hundreds of miles. Here’s what the flooded city looks like.
Jakarta is on track to become the world’s largest megacity, but it could soon lose a good portion of its residents.
— Business Insider
BI initiates transformation strategy and international standards
Acting as Chairman of the Executive Committee, Governor of Bank Indonesia (the central bank) Perry Warjiyo initiated the Transformation Strategy & International Standards for Global Islamic Finance in conjunction with members of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB).
— Antara News
Jakarta to continue search for new deputy governor after May 22
The City Council has said it will continue with the process for appointing a new deputy governor after May 22, when the official results of the 2019 general election is to be announced.
— The Jakarta Post
Socio-political research center can strengthen UI’s position: Minister
Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir said that a social and political research center at the University of Indonesia (UI) would strengthen the position of the campus among the international community.
— Antara News
Indonesia’s capital is sinking, but climate change isn’t the only culprit
North Jakarta, which is closest to the coast, experienced the most sinking between 1925 and 2015: Up to 4 meters, according to a study from Indonesia’s Institute of Technology Bandung.
— Popsci
Boeing Pushes to Move Crash Suits From Hometown to Indonesia
Faced with lawsuits over a plane crash half a world away, Boeing Co. is arguing it shouldn’t have to defend itself in a courtroom a short walk from its corporate headquarters.
— Bloomberg
Elections Correct Foreign Inflow
The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) recorded that investments grew 5.3 percent in Q1/2019 to Rp195.1 trillion. The investment growth is attributable to an increase in domestic capital.
— Tempo.co
South Sumatra forest fire task force identifies five fire-prone areas
The South Sumatra Forest and Land Fire Task Force has identified five fire-prone areas, the districts of Ogan Ilir, Ogan Komering Ilir, Musi Banyuasin, Muara Enim, and Banyuasin.
— Antara News
USD/IDR: No response to Indonesia’s inflation data
USD/IDR is seeing little action despite better-than-expected Indonesian inflation data.
— FX Street
Indonesia Manufacturing PMI eases in April
Indonesia’s manufacturing sector activity eased in April due to slower expansion in output and new orders, according to a survey.
— Asia Nikkei Review (paywall)
Indonesia’s Cold Chain Market to 2021: Government Funding Will Create Opportunities
Indonesia cold chain market has witnessed a robust growth (last 5 year CAGR of 8.6%) in past few years on account of growth in pharmaceutical and FMCG industry.
— Finance Yahoo
Indonesian diagnosed with Chikungunya fever
A sick Indonesian migrant worker in central Taiwan, who was stopped at an airport quarantine counter, has been diagnosed with Chikungunya fever. The woman is the first imported case in the country this year.
— Asia Times
AHY Admits Talking of Politics with Jokowi
Chief of Democrat Party’s Joint Task Force Command (Kogasma) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) said State Secretariat Minister Pratikno rang him to manage the meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
— Tempo.co
BNPB records 30 fatalities, Rp 144b losses in Bengkulu disaster
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has announced a toll of 30 people killed, six others still missing and losses of around Rp 144 billion (US$10.3 million) in the floods and landslides that occurred in Bengkulu following extreme rainfall on April 26 and 27.
— The Jakarta Post
With the election over, the Indonesian government grapples with painful lessons
On April 17, 2019, Indonesia held the largest direct, single-day presidential vote on the planet (the US uses an electoral college and India holds rolling elections).
— Asean Today
Heavy rainfall causes flash flood in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
People walk beside a house covered by mud after flood at Bangga village in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. May 1, 2019. Heavy rainfall in Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi, has caused a flash flood that swept through villages in South Dolo subdistrict.
— Xinhua
Afghanistan- Indonesia hopes for speedy logical resolution to Afghan conflict
The US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation who just wrapped up meeting in Pakistan, said he held talks with Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsuid, discussing Afghan peace process.
— MenaFN
RI embassy in KL repatriates 79 Indonesian citizens ahead of Ramadan
The Republic of Indonesia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur repatriated 79 Indonesian citizens, including 19 children, ahead of the Ramadan fasting of 1440 hijri.
— Antara News
Minister Luhut: Moving Capital City Cheaper than Building Jakarta
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan voiced his opinion regarding the planned relocation of the capital city to outside Java Island. Agreeing with the prospect, Luhut compared the budget to move the capital with the infrastructure budget proposed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
— Tempo.co
Garuda argues no flaws in its 2018 financial report
Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has stressed that there were no flaws in the company’s 2018 financial report, which had been criticized by two of the commissioners, saying that the report met the accountancy standards and abided by existing regulations.
— The Jakarta Post
Pulling Indonesian oil refining out of decline
While Indonesia’s once-vibrant oil and gas production business is mostly a victim of geology and the natural decline of aging fields, the decrepitude of its oil refining industry is the result of bad decision-making — poor policies, red tape, and lack of strategic planning.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Jokowi-Ma’ruf Team Spends IDR 601 billion for Campaign
The national campaign team of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo – Ma’ruf Amin (TKN) recently handed over a report on the total receipt of its campaign funds to the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu).
— Tempo.co
Indonesia targets to become world’s Muslim fashion centre by 2020
Indonesia, the second largest Muslim fashion producers in the world after the United Arab Emirates, is targeting to emerge as the world’s leading Muslim fashion mecca by 2020.
— Vietnam Plus
Indonesia’s April Lampung cocoa beans exports fall 98 pc
Indonesia exported 22.4 tonnes of cocoa beans in April from the province of Lampung in Sumatra, local trade office data showed on Thursday.
— Business Recorder
AirAsia Lombok hub a boost for Indonesian island
Indonesia’s island of Lombok received a boost in its tourism efforts today with AirAsia opening its latest hub there.
— The Edge Markets
Indonesia 2019 biodiesel exports to rise in best-case scenario -association
The Indonesia Biodiesel Producers Association (APROBI) estimates the country may export up to 2 million kilolitres (kl) of unblended biodiesel in 2019 in an “optimistic scenario”, Vice Chairman Paulus Tjakrawan told reporters on Thursday.
— Finance Yahoo
Indonesia witnesses 5.9 percent rise in March tourist arrivals
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has recorded that tourist arrivals in Indonesia surged 5.9 percent in March 2019 to 1.34 million, from 1.27 million a month earlier.
— Antara News
Jokowi’s call for new capital sparks lively response on Facebook
Intellasia East Asia News Kalimantan most suitable, many say; not all in favour of relocating President Joko Widodo’s social media post calling for public views on his plan to relocate Indonesia’s capital away from Java island drew more than 25,000 comments on Facebook within an hour yesterday.
— Intellasia
Feature photo WWF
This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Tuna Day, 2 May
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.
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