• Islamic Banking in Indonesia: ‘I Love Sharia Finance Program’

    Indonesian President Joko Widodo stated during the launch of the “I Love Sharia Finance Program” that Indonesia should become the global center for Islamic finance (also known as sharia banking). The program, initiated by the country’s Financial Services Authority (OJK), was launched in Jakarta on Sunday (14/06). Islamic finance is a form of banking or banking activity that is consistent with the principles of sharia (Islamic law). In recent years, the global market for sharia-compliant financial instruments has risen robustly.

    Read more ›

  • Indonesia Investments' Newsletter of 14 June 2015 Released

    On 14 June 2015, Indonesia Investments released the latest edition of its newsletter. This free newsletter, which is sent to our subscribers once per week, contains the most important news stories from Indonesia that have been reported on our website in the last seven days. Most of the topics involve economic subjects such Indonesia’s economic growth in 2015, an update on the coal mining sector, stocks as well as the rupiah, the IPO of Mega Manunggal Property, the country’s luxury goods tax, and more.

    Read more ›

  • Boosting Indonesia’s Economic Growth: Luxury Goods Tax & Lending Rates

    Next week Indonesian authorities start to exempt various goods from the country’s luxury tax in an effort to boost consumption in Indonesia’s slowing economy. Today (12/06), Indonesian Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that the government aims to boost Indonesians’ purchasing power, industrial growth and to reduce consumers’ tendency to purchase goods abroad by scrapping the luxury goods sales tax for various products. Secondly, Indonesia will halve lending rates for some small businesses.

    Read more ›

  • Weather in Indonesia: El Nino to Impact Agricultural Commodities in 2015?

    It is increasingly believed that the El Nino weather phenomenon will hit Indonesia in the next couple of months. Over the past weeks reports already surfaced about unusual dry weather impacting negatively on harvests of agricultural commodities in parts of Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, dry weather traditionally lasts from May to August. However, El Nino may cause warmer conditions and extending these into September hence affecting output in the peak harvest season. This will cut agricultural output and provide inflationary pressure.

    Read more ›