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.
The Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) finally determined the positions for the seven new commissioner members for the period 2017-2022. This decision was taken at the OJK Board of Commissioners Meeting that was concluded on Thursday evening (20/07).
The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in Indonesia's banking sector improved slightly in June 2017. Mirza Adityaswara, Senior Deputy Governor at Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia), said the gross NPL ratio was 2.97 percent in June, down from 3.09 percent in the preceding month. Despite the overall still relatively high NPL ratio in the banking sector, Adityaswara believes Indonesian banks still have room for credit expansion.
Indonesia's tax authorities are planning to revise the non-taxable income regulation again in an attempt to improve the nation's low tax ratio. Last year the government of Indonesia raised non-taxable income by 50 percent from IDR 36 million (approx. USD $2,700) to IDR 54 million (approx. USD $4,060), per year, in a bid to strengthen people's purchasing power and encourage household consumption. However, considering local minimum wages vary across the country's 34 provinces, the nation-wide non-taxable income level of IDR 54 million causes some problems.
Overall, the banking industry of Indonesia is setting a good performance in 2017 supported by rising credit growth and a lower non-performing loan (NPL) ratio. State-controlled (yet listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange) financial institution Bank Mandiri, the largest Indonesian bank by assets, reported a 33.7 percent year-on-year (y/y) increase in net income to IDR 9.5 trillion (approx. USD $714 million) in the first half of 2017.
