The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a regularly updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines cover political, economic and social matters. As a consequence of their recent nature, these topics may not have crystallized fully yet and can, therefore, lack a profound analysis. For publications with a more in-depth understanding of subjects, we refer you to our News, Financial or Business columns.
Exports of motorcycle units from Indonesia rose sharply. Based on the latest data from the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) Indonesia shipped 223,229 motorcycles abroad in the January-July 2017 period, up 35.1 percent from motorcycle exports in the same period one year earlier.
Not only looming higher excise taxes plague Indonesia's clove farmers but also bad weather is drastically curbing clove production in 2017. I Ketut Budiman, Secretary General of the Indonesian Clove Farmers Association (APCI), said clove production may only reach 11,000 tons this year. This would be a disastrous harvest. Under normal circumstances Indonesia produces more than 100,000 tons of clove in one year.
Reza Akbar, economist at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), is concerned about rising public foreign debt. Although the government and various analysts repeatedly state that Indonesia's (public) debt-to-GDP ratio is safe at a level below 30 percent, Akbar says debt should be seen in relation to government revenue.
The Indonesian government is preparing the tender for the construction of the West Semarang Drinking Water Supply System worth IDR 1.10 trillion (approx. USD $83 million). Sri Hartoyo, Director General of Human Settlements of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, said the winner of the project is targeted to be announced before the end of 2017. Hartoyo added that authorities are now still in preparation for the procurement of business entities.
