• Forest Fires in Indonesia Bring Traditional Haze Season

    The "haze season" is back in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Forest fires in Riau (Sumatra) are the main cause of smoke that has been carried to Singapore and Malaysia over the weekend. But also fires in West and Central Kalimantan have caused local haze. Hundreds of firefighters and military personnel were deployed to combat forest fires in Riau where 162 hotspots were counted over the past couple of days. Indonesian farmers' (illegal) slash-and-burn practices (aimed at clearing land) are the cause, while dry and hot weather exacerbate the situation.

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  • Textile Industry: Indonesia Aims to Become Global Export Leader

    Indonesia wants to enter the top five ranking of the world's largest textile (and textile products) exporters in the next couple of years. Currently, Indonesia is ranked tenth (controlling a global market share of 1.8 percent) far behind China that remains the clear world leader in terms of textile and garment production as well as export. Indonesia's Industry Ministry is in the middle of preparing several incentives that should bring Indonesia in the top five, including tax incentives and lower gas prices for export-oriented textile companies.

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  • Consumer Price Index Update Indonesia: Deflation in August?

    The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) stated that up to the third week of August deflation reached 0.06 percent month-to-month (m/m). Juda Agung, Executive Director at Bank Indonesia's Economic and Monetary Policy Department, said consumer demand has diminished after previously peaking during the Islamic Ramadan and Idul Fitri celebrations in June and July. Usually the month of August sees inflationary pressures (caused by the new school year). This year, however, it may be the first time in many years that August brings deflation.

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  • Indonesia Stocks & Rupiah Update: Asia Down on Hawkish Fed

    As expected, emerging markets in Asia, including Indonesia, were negatively affected by the speech of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen in Jackson Hole last week. Her speech - touching the topics of solid new jobs creation - provided ammunition for analysts and investors to raise speculation about a near-term US Fed Funds Rate hike. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 1.25 percent to 5,370.76 points, while the Indonesian rupiah depreciated 0.42 percent to IDR 13,267 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index).

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