Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines South Korea

  • Foreign Investment: Bilateral Cooperation Indonesia & South Korea

    Investors from South Korea plan to invest up to USD $18 billion in Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Kadin) Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi witnessed the signing of business agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoU) in Seoul on Monday (16/05), covering bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development such as power plants, gas pipelines and railways as well as trade, creative economy, environment, and maritime affairs.

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  • Singapore Largest Foreign Investor in Indonesia in the First Half of 2014

    According to the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Singapore is the largest foreign investor in Indonesia. In the first half of 2014, Indonesia received USD $3.4 billion worth of investments from Singapore. In total, foreign companies invested IDR 150 trillion (USD $12.9 billion) in Indonesia during the first six months of 2014. This is the highest amount of foreign investment that Indonesia has ever managed to attract in a six-month period. It also diluted fears that the legislative and presidential elections would cause a temporary slowdown.

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  • Special Economic Zone of Batam Losing Appeal to Foreign Investors

    Sonia Kong, the Chairman of the Association of Korean Businesspeople in Batam, said that the investment or business climate in this Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has become less conducive in recent years. In the past five years, 17 Korean companies decided to move to other countries. Batam (including several surrounding islands) was given the status of SEZ with Singapore in 2007. This SEZ status means that tariffs and value-added taxes for goods shipped between Batam and Singapore are eliminated between 2007 and 2077.

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  • Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement Central Banks Indonesia and Korea

    Yesterday (06/03), the central banks of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) and the Korea established a bilateral local currency swap arrangement. The arrangement allows for the exchange of local currencies between the two central banks of up to KRW 10.7 trillion or IDR 115 trillion. The effective period of the facility will be three years, and could be extended by mutual consent of both sides. This arrangement is designed to promote bilateral trade and further strengthen financial cooperation for the economic development of the two countries.

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  • Expatriates in Indonesia: Number of Foreign Workers is Declining

    The number of expatriates working in Indonesia has declined in the last three years. Based on data from the Ministry of Manpower & Transmigration there were 68,957 expatriates working in Indonesia in 2013, a 4.8 percent decline from 2012. The main reason for this falling number is tighter government policy. Minister Muhaimin Iskandar stated that curtailing the influx of expats is one way of developing the country's human resources. Only when a foreigner has such exceptional qualities - not easily found in Indonesia - should he/she work in Indonesia.

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  • Indonesia Expects Influx of 100 Foreign Franchises in 2013

    Attracted by the promising prospects of Indonesia's domestic consumption (with per capita GDP rising strongly), a total of about 100 foreign franchises will enter the Indonesian market in 2013. The most popular investment destination of these franchises is Indonesia's culinary sector. The majority of franchises originate from the United States. Others include those from South Korea, Japan, Australia and Europe. In 2013 so far, more than 170 foreign franchises received approval from the government.

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  • Krakatau Steel: Company Profile of Indonesia's Largest Steel Producer

    Indonesia Investments has updated the company profile of Krakatau Steel, Indonesia's and Southeast Asia's largest steel producer. The company, which is for 80 percent government owned, has a crude steel production capacity of 2.45 million tons per year. However, through a lucrative joint venture with Posco, the world's third-largest steel producer, it will expand production capacity significantly in the years ahead. Besides steel production, the company has expanded into other industries.

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  • Indonesia's Coal Production Projected to Rise Due to Increased Foreign Demand

    Indonesia's coal production is projected to increase 4.4 percent to 400 million tons this year, up from the government's initial forecast of 390 million tons. According to Bob Kamandanu, chairman of the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (Asosiasi Pertambangan Batubara Indonesia, APBI), this growth will be spurred by increased demand from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan in June. The coal price is expected to increase accordingly in the middle of the year.

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Latest Columns South Korea

  • LG Electronics Eager to Make Indonesia its Television Production Base

    LG Electronics Indonesia, the local unit of South Korea-based electronics company LG Electronics, will produce three new television products in its factory in Cibitung (West Java): the LG OLED TV 4k, the LG Super UHD TV 4k, and the LG Smart TV (with the WebOS 3.0 operating system). Besides these new products, LG Electronics also plans to make its Indonesian factories a production hub for OLED TVs and Ultra HD TVs for the Southeast Asian and Australian markets. LG Electronics operates two factories in Indonesia.

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  • Positive Outlook Investments in Indonesia’s Food & Beverage Industry

    Investment in Indonesia’s processed food and beverage industry is expected to grow at least ten percent to IDR 55 trillion (USD $4.6 billion) in 2015 from an estimated investment realization of IDR 50 trillion in 2014. Adhi Lukman, General Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), said that investments in this sector have been solid due to rising consumption of food and beverages in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Particularly foreign investments have been strong in 2014 and are expected to continue next year.

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  • Rupiah Down but Indonesian Stocks Overcome Weak Economic Data

    Rupiah Down but Indonesian Stocks Overcome Weak Economic Data

    Although initially the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (known as Jakarta Composite index or IHSG) fell after the market responded to today's release of Indonesia's April trade deficit and May inflation, the index ended in the green zone due to foreign net buying and general positive Asian indices (influenced by higher stock indices on Wall Street at the end of last week). Particularly Indonesia's big cap stocks in the miscellaneous industry and consumer sectors were popular as these were relatively cheap after having tumbled at the end of last week.

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  • Indonesia's IHSG Gains 1.74% amid Rising Asian Stock Indices

    Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) continued its upward movement on Wednesday (29/01) when it gained 1.74 percent to finish at 4,417.35. The IHSG was supported by positive American and European stock indices on the previous day and by strengthening emerging market currencies that felt the impact of higher interest rates in India and Turkey. In Indonesia, consumer, infrastructure and plantation stocks were popular as the current high rainfall is regarded as bringing a positive impact on these sectors.

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  • Positive Domestic Factors Push Indonesia's Stock Index Higher

    Despite mixed European and American markets on Wednesday (23/01) and declining Asian markets on Thursday (23/01) as these responded to weak Chinese manufacturing data and South Korea's Q4-2013 GDP outcome, it was unable to block Indonesia's benchmark stock index (Jakarta Composite Index or IHSG) from extending its upward movement. The IHSG was supported by various positive company releases, including financial results of 2013, capital expenditure announcements, and new products or services releases.

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  • After Public Holiday Indonesia's Benchmark Stock Index Falls 0.61%

    The benchmark stock index of Indonesia (IHSG) was down 0.61 percent to 4,492.26 on its first trading day after the Idul Adha celebrations (when Muslims remember that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son to God). The main reason why the IHSG was down on Wednesday (16/10) was due to continued uncertainty about the US debt ceiling issue, while the deadline (17/10) is closing in. Fitch Ratings put US Treasury bonds on Rating Watch Negative, which might be a first step before a downgrade.

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  • South Korea's Hankook Tire Taps Indonesia's Vibrant Tire Industry

    In mid-September 2013, South Korean tire producer Hankook Tire, conducted the inauguration of its tire plant in Indonesia. The factory is located in Cikarang (West Java) and is the company's seventh production center in the world: two plants in Korea, three in China and one in Hungary. Annual production capacity of the two factories in Korea reached 46.1 million tires in 2013. Meanwhile, the three factories in China have an annual capacity of 30.8 million units each. In Hungary, annual capacity stands at 12.6 million tire units.

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  • Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement (BCSA) Indonesia and Korea

    On 12 October 2013 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors from Korea and Indonesia agreed to establish a bilateral KRW/IDR swap arrangement in the near future. The size of the swap arrangement is up to KRW 10.7 trillion/IDR 115 trillion (equivalent to USD $10 billion). The effective period of the facility will be three years, and could be extended by agreement by both sides. This Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement (BCSA) aims to promote bilateral trade and further strengthen financial cooperation, an objective of mutual interest to both countries.

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  • Indonesia's Deflation and Trade Data Impact on the IHSG and Rupiah

    Indonesia's Deflation and Trade Data Impact on IHSG and Rupiah

    On this week's second day of trading (01/10), the benchmark stock index of Indonesia (IHSG) was able to post a 0.69 percent rise to 4,345.90 points despite ongoing concerns about the economic shutdown in the United States as discussions have not led to agreement about the country's debt ceiling. However, various data from Asia made a good impact. Indonesia's trade surplus in August and deflation in September contributed to positive market sentiments and provided a boost for the rupiah.

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  • Indonesia's Benchmark Stock Index (IHSG) up 0.17% on Thursday

    Despite concerns that Indonesia's benchmark stock index (IHSG) would weaken on Thursday's trading day (12/09), the index ended 0.17 percent up to 4,356.61 points. Indices on Wall Street and in Asia impacted positively on the IHSG and kept foreign investors increasing their stock portfolios in Indonesia. Moreover, the Bank Indonesia's decision to raise the country's benchmark interest rate (BI rate) by 25 basis points to 7.25 percent was generally well-received by investors. Banking stocks helped to support the IHSG.

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