The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) criticizes the 14 economic policy packages that have been released by the Indonesian government between September 2015 and November 2016. While these packages aim at boosting competitiveness, employment opportunities, purchasing power, investment and overall macroeconomic growth, results have been disappointing so far. Ahmad Heri Firdaus, economist at Indef, says the packages are too "general" and thus fail to focus on the specific environment in a specific sector (and-related sub-sectors).

Read more ›

Several companies in Indonesia's food and beverage industry may need to cease production altogether as there is a shortage of sugar ahead of the Idul Fitri celebrations (which mark the end of the Ramadan month). Adhi Lukman, Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi), said there are at least ten companies that are in direct need of new sugar supplies for their production process. Without new sugar supplies, the factories will simply need to be shut down temporarily.

Read more ›

How does Indonesia rank internationally in terms of happiness, human development, global innovation, and global competitiveness? Below we present a number of global rankings. Generally, Indonesia is ranked among the lower-medium segment, implying the nation has a long way to go before becoming an advanced economy.

Read more ›

The government of Indonesia revised down its forecast for economic growth in 2017 to the range of 5.3 - 5.9 percent (y/y). On Friday (20/05) Indonesian Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro informed parliament about the change in the growth outlook (related to the 2017 State Budget). Initially, the government projected Indonesia's 2017 GDP growth in the range of 5.5 - 5.9 percent (y/y). Brodjonegoro did not explain, however, why the government decided to revise down its GDP growth forecast in the 2017 State Budget.

Read more ›

The government of Indonesia is still busy preparing the policy package that was announced last week by Chief Economics Minister Darmin Nasution. Earlier it was reported that this stimulus package, expected to be finalized this month, involves deregulation and tax holidays designed to boost economic activity in Indonesia as well as to attract foreign currency inflows. The government will also look at how it can provide incentives to accelerate smelter development in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

Read more ›

Recently, the Indonesian government decided to raise the airfare price ceiling by ten percent in an effort to support local airlines. This measure is required as Indonesian airlines face financial difficulties due to the depreciating rupiah exchange rate and higher global fuel (avtur) price. However, airlines have become worried as the government also decided to remove its fuel surcharge policy (that was implemented in February 2014). This fuel surcharge also aimed at supporting local airlines amid rising fuel costs.

Read more ›

Chatib Basri, the Finance Minister of Indonesia, said that the government will focus more on infrastructure development in order to support the third economic policy package which was announced last week by Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa. Previously, in August and December 2013, the government had already implemented two policy reform packages aimed at safeguarding financial stability as the country had been plagued by a wide current account deficit, high inflation, large capital outflows and sharp rupiah depreciation.

Read more ›

Only about one hour before the controversial new Mining Law No.4/2009 would take effect on early Sunday morning (12/01), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a regulation that eases the impact of the new law. The aim of Mining Law No.4/2009 is to ban the export of certain unprocessed minerals (including concentrates) but the new regulation that was signed on Saturday evening (11/01) stipulates that concentrates can still be exported for the next three years, while exports of ore are prohibited since Sunday morning.

Read more ›

Today (11/01), the government of Indonesia will announce its decision regarding the ban on exports of unrefined mineral ore. This ban, set in the controversial Mining Law No.4/2009, should become effective starting from Sunday 12 January 2014 unless the government will decide to delay full implementation. Industry Minister MS Hidayat stated that the government is still debating about the matter. The new law is controversial because it hollows regulatory certainty, miners's profitability and leads to increased unemployment.

Read more ›

Indonesia's controversial Mining Law No.4/2009, which puts a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals from Southeast Asia's largest economy, is not expected to be implemented in full force on 12 January 2014 as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources now proposes more flexibility for miners. Sukhyar, General Director of Coal and Minerals at the Ministry, said that the proposal would imply a continuation of the export of concentrate or minerals that have been processed to a certain degree until 2017.

Read more ›

Turnover in Indonesia's food and beverage industry is expected to grow 8.5 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 1,400 trillion (approx. USD $105.2 billion) in 2017, while direct investment in this industry is expected to remain flat at around IDR 63 trillion (approx. USD $4.7 billion) with especially investors from Japan and South Korea eager to invest. Considering Indonesia's huge population (numbering more than 255 million) and their recovering purchasing power (after the five-year economic slowdown ended in 2016, while commodity prices have improved) the food and beverage industry is an attractive one for investors.

Read more ›

After two years in office, the time is ripe now to take a look at the performance and accomplishments of the government under the leadership of Joko Widodo, often called Jokowi. Indonesia's seventh president was a bit unlucky. In the first year of his rule, commodity prices were at multi-year lows (curbing Indonesia's foreign exchange earnings) amid sluggish global economic growth, while capital outflows from Indonesia occurred on the back of monetary tightening in the USA, sending the rupiah to a 17-year low in September 2015.

Read more ›

At its latest monthly policy meeting the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) left its interest rate regime unchanged with the benchmark BI rate at 6.50 percent (this month the bank is set to adopt the seven-day reverse repurchase rate - reverse repo - as the new benchmark rate). Bank Indonesia's decision to leave interest rates unchanged was a surprise move given that the nation's inflation is low, the rupiah is strengthening, but overall economic growth has remained sluggish. This context would actually justify a moderate interest rate cut of 25 basis points.

Read more ›

Infrastructure development and deregulation are the two main recipes used by the Indonesian government - under the leadership of Joko Widodo - to attract investment. By making it easier and cheaper to obtain permits and by providing better infrastructure (implying investors need to invest less in additional infrastructure facilities while logistic costs ease) Indonesia's investment climate improves. As such, the ease of doing business in Indonesia will improve accordingly. However, good coordination and cooperation between the central and regional governments is required.

Read more ›

Fitch Ratings, one of the three major global credit rating agencies, estimates that Indonesia's current account deficit will reach USD $27.4 billion, equivalent to 3.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. As such, Fitch Ratings' forecast is more pessimistic than forecasts presented by both Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) and government. Both these institutions expect to curb the current account deficit below the three percent of GDP mark (a sustainable level). Global investors continue to carefully monitor the deficit.

Read more ›

Indonesian Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said that the government is currently engaged in preparing a third economic policy package that aims to reduce the country's current account deficit. In August and December 2013, the government had already implemented two policy reform packages as Indonesia's wide current account deficit and high inflation in combination with the looming end of the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program led to large capital outflows, thus resulting in sharp rupiah depreciation.

Read more ›

Indonesia's ban on the export of unprocessed minerals, which is scheduled to take effect on 12 January 2014, is expected to lead to a temporary slowdown of Indonesia's total exports and thus will put more pressure on the country's current account deficit. Despite two consecutive months with trade surpluses (October and November 2013), Indonesia's wide current account deficit is still a concern to investors as well as the government although the deficit has shown an easing trend in recent quarters.

Read more ›

After having reported yesterday (26/12) that Indonesia's ban on the export of unprocessed minerals, stipulated in Mining Law No.4/2009 (which is set to become in force from 12 January 2014), may be delayed, more and more signs are pointing towards a postponement of this law. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, said that the government is considering to delay the implementation of the law by two or three years as the ban will cause increased unemployment and the cease of mining operations.

Read more ›

The Indonesian government is considering to stop exports of crude palm oil (CPO) to Europe from 2014 onwards as domestic CPO demand in Southeast Asia's largest economy is rising, brought on by the country's biofuel industry which is expected to grow 70 percent next year to 5 million tons. To curtail oil imports, the government stimulates the production of crude palm oil-based biofuel by raising the mandatory content of fatty acid methyl ester (which is made from palm oil) in biodiesel products from 7.5 percent to 10 percent.

Read more ›

Asia's stock indices were up after various US economic data (including non-farm payrolls and consumer confidence) were better than expected, including Indonesia's benchmark stock index (also known as the Jakarta Composite index or IHSG). The index climbed 0.80 percent to 4,214.34 points on Monday (09/12). Supported by foreign net buying, almost all sectoral indices of the IHSG were up. The economic policy package that was released by the Ministry of Economy this afternoon also provided support for the index and the rupiah.

Read more ›