On 4 May 2014, 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 topics such as macroeconomic assumptions of the Indonesian government, April inflation, the March trade balance, April manufacturing, an update on the rupiah, the 2014 presidential election, and more.

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Two influential Indonesian political parties, Golkar and Gerindra, may form a coalition in order to nominate a presidential and vice-presidential candidate for Indonesia's presidential election that is scheduled for 9 July 2014. After the PDI-P, which won the legislative election on 9 April 2014 with approximately 19 percent of the vote, Golkar (15 percent) and Gerindra (12 percent) came in second and third. However, both these parties contain a leader who has presidential aspirations.

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Today (08/12), the latest edition of our newsletter was published. Our newsletter contains the most important economic, political and social news stories from Indonesia that were reported on in the last seven days. This is of especial importance for those that engage in business in Indonesia or those that are interested to invest in Southeast Asia's largest economy as it will provide a thorough update about Indonesia's macroeconomy. Occasionally, our newsletter also contain event announcements.

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Transparency International has released its Corruption Perceptions Index of 2013. This index assesses "the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians" in 177 countries around the world. Berlin-based and non-partisan Transparency International uses polls to determine perceived corruption in the selected countries. Indonesia rose four spots from 118 in last year's index to 114 in the 2013 edition but held the same score as last year (3.2 points).

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Relations between Indonesia and Australia have cooled considerably after it became known that Australia's Intelligence Service agency tried to follow telephone conversations of various high positioned Indonesian politicians as well as their inner circle, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife Kristiani Herawati and vice-president Boediono, for 15 days in August 2009. This information became known a few days ago due to leaked documents by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

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On Friday (25/10), the World Bank released its 'Doing Business 2014' report in which it "ranks countries on their overall 'ease of doing business', and analyzes reforms to business regulation - identifying which economies are strengthening their business environment the most." In total 189 countries were analyzed. Indonesia, traditionally characterized by a complex and difficult investment environment, managed to climb 8 places in the ranking. Southeast Asia’s largest economy rose from number 128 to 120 in the 2014 edition.

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Indonesia's credentials in terms of corruption eradication received another blow when Akil Mochtar, the chief justice of Indonesia's Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi), was detained by the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday evening (02/10). Allegedly, Mochtar accepted a bribe to influence the court's ruling on the Gunung Mas election dispute in Central Kalimantan. In this regional election, Hambit Bintih (together with Arton S. Dohong) was re-elected as district head of Gunung Mas.

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According to a new survey, the Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat), the political vehicle of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is increasingly losing popular support. The survey indicates that currently only 7.1 percent of respondents will vote for the Democratic Party in next year's legislative elections. The survey was conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and involved 1,635 respondents from 31 provinces. In combination with results of earlier surveys in the last 12 months, it shows declining support for the party.

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Although it has been in the air for a while, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally named Anas Urbaningrum, chairman of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (PD), a suspect in the Hambalang corruption case. This case, in which Anas is charged with accepting a bribe to ensure a contract, is the last in a series of blows to the Democratic Party, which has seen its popularity erode drastically in recent months.

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Today, the governor of the Riau province (on Sumatra), Rusli Zainal, was officially declared a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Board (KPK). Zainal is accused of taking bribes from the management of state-controlled Adhi Karya, a construction company, in exchange for a contract to build facilities for last year's National Games in Pekanbaru, the capital city of Riau. The KPK stated that they found convincing evidence to underpin its allegation.

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The month of August is typically a month of celebration because every 17th of August Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day. Indeed, the country commemorated and celebrated this day (as usual) on 17 August 2025. However, by the end of the month matters had changed drastically. In fact, Indonesia was on fire amid widespread civil disturbance.

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For Indonesia August is typically a month in which politics are on the foreground as the country commemorates its Independence Day on each 17th of August. This is an important day in Indonesian history as well as an occasion for many festivities and celebrations around the country.

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As is widely known, corruption is a widespread problem in Indonesia. Often we read about new corruption cases being unveiled that (typically) involve Indonesian state officials joining hands with the private sector in a (supposedly) win-win deal related to public procurement.

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On 17 May 2023 the Attorney General’s Office of Indonesia officially named Johnny G. Plate, Minister of Communication and Information, a suspect in a corruption case that involves the construction of base transceivers stations across the Archipelago. Plate was also immediately arrested in Jakarta.

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Throughout my life in Indonesia I have noticed that when dealing with government institutions, for example when arranging a residence permit (KITAS/KITAP), a work permit (IMTA) or a building permit (IMB), there are two options: (1) do everything according to official guidelines (based on laws, regulations, and policies) but expect to see a delay, or (2) pay a higher price at the start but ‘get things done quickly’.

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On 9 August 2021, Indonesian President Joko Widodo witnessed the launch of the new Online Single Submission (OSS) system at the Investment Ministry (also known as the Investment Coordinating Board, abbreviated as BKPM).

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One characteristic of the Indonesian economy is that the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) play an important role in this USD $1.0 trillion economy. They not only play an important role because some of them rank among Indonesia’s biggest companies (in terms of profit, sales and assets), thereby generating plenty of money for the government (in the form of tax revenue or dividend) while at the same time creating jobs for millions of Indonesians.

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In Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perceptions Index’ (CPI), Indonesia is rising slowly, yet continuously. In the latest edition, which was released in January 2019, Indonesia ranked 89th with a score of 38 points (the CPI uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is fully corrupt and 100 is completely clean).

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Those consumers and investors who purchased one or more apartment units in the Meikarta megacity project in Bekasi (West Java) are currently facing uncertain times. A new corruption scandal has put the future of the Meikarta project in jeopardy and therefore those who have already bought a Meikarta apartment fear that their money and apartment unit is lost. Those who are still making monthly mortgage payments to the bank, are confused whether they need to continue these payments (hence risking losing more money) or stop the monthly payment.

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Although Indonesia's score was unchanged, the nation's ranking fell in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Berlin-based Transparency International. In the 2017 edition, Southeast Asia's largest economy Indonesia ranks 96th, down from 90th in last year's edition. The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption (based on input from experts and businessmen), uses a scale from 0.0 (highly corrupt) to 1.0 (very clean).

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