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).

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) informed that around IDR 30 trillion (approx. USD $2.26 billion) of capital outflows from Indonesia occurred after Donald Trump was chosen as 45th US president in November. His victory caused a high degree of uncertainty about future US political and economic policies, while markets also expect to see a stronger US economy as Trump is expected to focus on the interests of the USA, and not so much on its impact on the international community.

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Last year Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance for Indonesia to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as this free trade deal - one of the world's most ambitious trade deals, covering an area that contributes about 40 percent to total global trade - will make the Indonesian economy more efficient and its exports more competitive (while also expanding the nation's export base). However, there also exist concerns about a possible participation of Indonesia in this free trade deal. One of the concerns involves Indonesia's automotive industry.

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The government of Indonesia proposes to impose an excise tax of at least IDR 200 (approx. USD $0.02) on plastic bottles and packaging. This proposal is part of talks about revisions to the 2016 State Budget (APNB-P 2016). Later this week, the government will discuss the matter with Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR). Around the globe several countries (including Great Britain and India) have imposed such an excise tax on plastic bottles and packages, both for additional tax revenue and as a measure to protect the environment.

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Indonesia's outstanding government debt rose sharply. By the end of 2015, total government debt stood at IDR 3,089 trillion (approx. USD $222.2 billion), or 27 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) according to a statement from Indonesia's Finance Ministry. One year earlier - at end 2014 - the nation's debt-to-GDP ratio was 24.7 percent (or IDR 2,608.8 trillion). Ever since the end of the Asian Financial Crisis in the late 1990s, Indonesia's  debt-to-GDP ratio has eased from over 150 percent to a healthy range of 26-29 percent in recent years.

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