• IMF Optimistic About Economic Growth in the Asian Region

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its forecast for this year's economic growth in the ASEAN-5 countries (which comprises Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam) from an initial 5.5 percent to 6.0 percent. Next year, however, the IMF revised down its forecast for the region from 5.7 percent to 5.5 percent. In 2012, ASEAN-5 had experienced 6.1 percent of economic growth, up from 4.5 percent the previous year.

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  • Indonesia's Coal Production Projected to Rise Due to Increased Foreign Demand

    Indonesia's coal production is projected to increase 4.4 percent to 400 million tons this year, up from the government's initial forecast of 390 million tons. According to Bob Kamandanu, chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (Asosiasi Pertambangan Batubara Indonesia, APBI), this growth will be spurred by increased demand from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan in June. The coal price is expected to increase accordingly in the middle of the year.

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  • Indonesia's Car Sales Q1-2013 Solid; Astra International's Market Share Falls

    Indonesian car sales in Q1-2013 rose 17.8 percent to 295,465 units from 250,830 units in the same quarter last year. Astra International, one of the biggest conglomerates in Indonesia and the dominating force in Indonesia's automotive industry, had to hand in a couple of percentage points in terms of market share in domestic car sales. In Q1-2013, Astra controlled 52.3 percent of Indonesia's car sales, down from 58 percent in Q1-2012.

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  • Wijaya Karya Beton (Wika Beton) to Conduct IPO on Indonesia Stock Exchange

    Wijaya Karya Beton (Wika Beton), a company that specializes in the precast concrete industry, is planning to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange this year. The company, which has appointed Mandiri Sekuritas as its underwriter, aims to raise about IDR 1 trillion (USD $103 million) through the IPO. Originally, its IPO was planned to be conducted in 2014. However, the company prefers to take advantage of current positive market sentiments.

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