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Today's Headlines Loans

  • JICA & Indonesia Sign Loan Agreement for National Strategic Projects

    The Indonesian government sign an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a soft loan related to the funding of two national strategic priority projects. The government will borrow 127.2 billion Japanese yen (approx. USD $1.1 billion) for the construction of the Patimban Seaport in West Java (USD $1.05 billion) and for turning the Gadjah Mada University into a world class university (USD $66.67 million).

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  • Toll Road Program Indonesia: Syndicated Loan For Waskita Karya

    State-controlled construction company Waskita Karya obtained a syndicated loan of IDR 5 trillion (approx. USD $375 million) from a group of nine banks. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) acts as sole mandated lead arranger and book-runner for the five-year loan, while the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited Jakarta branch acts as mandated lead arranger.

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  • Tax Amnesty Bill Indonesia: Banking Sector Prepares for High Liquidity

    Local media in Indonesia report that the Indonesian government has a list of 6,000 names of Indonesians that are ready to repatriate their funds in order to take advantage of the tax incentive provided by the Tax Amnesty Bill. This controversial bill, which is currently being discussed by Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR), makes it attractive for tax evaders to repatriate their undeclared wealth into Indonesia as they are offered tax incentives and protection from prosecution.

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  • Taking a Look into Indonesia's Public Debt to GDP Ratio

    Indonesia's public debt - as a percentage of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) - currently stands at 27 percent, or roughly IDR 3,200 trillion (approx. USD $241 billion). This debt is manageable and actually quite low compared to other key emerging economies or advanced economies. For example, Malaysia's and Brazil's public debt-to-GDP ratios reached 56 percent and 70 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the ratios of the USA and Japan stand at 105 percent and 246 percent, respectively. However, the level of debt is not that important. The important question is how is this debt used?

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  • Indonesian Banks Look at Food & Beverage Sector for 2016 Credit Growth

    Besides infrastructure, Indonesia's food and beverage sector remains a favorite of Indonesian banks for the disbursement of loans in 2016 as this sector is regarded promising. Meanwhile, a good supply of food products also supports a stable inflation rate (apart from administered prices, volatile food prices are a key contributor to inflation in Indonesia). Roy Armand Arfandi, General Director of Bank Permata, said Indonesia's economic growth is still highly dependent on people's purchasing power (household consumption accounting for nearly 56 percent of the nation's GDP), hence those sectors that support domestic consumption are attractive for banks.

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  • In Line with Slowing Economy, Indonesia's Credit Growth Slowed in 2015

    As expected, credit growth in Indonesia slowed in 2015 amid the nation's overall economic slowdown. Loan growth was particularly affected by weaker demand for property and working capital loans. Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2015 is estimated to have slowed to 4.7 percent year-on-year (y/y), the country's slowest growth pace since 2009. In its January policy meeting Bank Indonesia decided to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 7.25 percent, a move that should encourage loan growth this year in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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  • Budget Deficit Indonesia Can Widen to 2.78% of Gross Domestic Product

    As Indonesia's budget deficit may widen to 2.78 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, the government is ready to seek USD $5 billion through multilateral loans and private placement. Scenaider Siahaan, Director for Strategy and Debt Portfolio at the Finance Ministry's Directorate General of Debt Management, said it involves standby loans that can be disbursed in the two weeks ahead if needed. The main reason why the budget deficit may be wider than expected is Indonesia's weaker-than-estimated tax revenue.

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  • Indonesia Introduces Tighter Regulations Regarding Tax Deductible Interest Payments

    Starting per 1 January 2016, Indonesian companies’ interest payments to lenders are no longer considered tax deductible in case the company’s debt amounts to over four times its equity. Indonesian Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said such a tighter regulation regarding corporate debt financing will make it less attractive for local companies to accumulate debt, while strengthening the company's equity structure.

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  • IMF Director Christine Lagarde Visits Indonesia for Conference, Not for Loan Talks

    Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will arrive in Indonesia (Jakarta) today (01/09) to participate in the two-day conference titled ‘Future of Asia’s Finance: Financing for Development 2015’, organized by the IMF and Indonesia’s central bank (Bank Indonesia). Contrary to recent rumors, Lagarde's visit is not related to Indonesia seeking a new loan from the IMF.

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  • Financial Update Indonesia: Credit Growth, Bad Loans and Retail Sales

    The central bank of Indonesia projects non-performing loans (NPL) to rise to 2.4 percent of the country’s total outstanding loans by the end of the year, significantly up from 1.8 percent at the end of last year. Despite the acceleration of bad loans in Indonesia, the institution stated that it is still manageable. Meanwhile, loan growth in Indonesia is estimated to slow to 11 or 12 percent (y/y) by the end of 2014 (the slowest pace since 2010), down from 21.4 percent (y/y) in 2013 primarily due to the central bank’s monetary tightening policy.

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Latest Columns Loans

  • Bank Indonesia Plans New Rule to Avert Possible Property Bubble

    In order to avert a potential bubble in Indonesia's property sector, Bank Indonesia (the central bank of Indonesia) is planning to further tighten its monetary policy in the sector. After having raised the minimum down payment requirement on housing loans to 30 percent for first home ownership (thus a loan-to-value ratio of 70 percent) in June 2012, Bank Indonesia now intends to prohibit credits for the purchase of a second, third (or more) house that has not been built yet (still in the preconstruction phase). This new rule is expected to be introduced this month.

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  • Bank Indonesia Tries to Curb Credit Growth in Indonesia's Property Sector

    Starting from 1 September 2013, the minimum down payment for the purchase of a second house or apartment (bigger than 70 m²) in Indonesia will be raised to 40 percent. Indonesia's central bank (Bank Indonesia) implements this new rule to avoid a possible credit bubble in Indonesia's property sector. The country's property sector has been booming in recent years, giving rise to many new property projects, soaring profits for property companies (as well as impressive stock performance) and significantly rising property prices.

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  • BRI's 2012 Results Mark the Continued Strength of Indonesia's Financial Sector

    Indonesian commercial banks have shown good performance in recent years as economic growth of over six percent fuels loan demand from the people and businesses. Domestic consumption and investment are the two main drivers of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth. Together, these two components account for almost 90 percent of GDP. As such, lenders are in a comfortable position.

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