Below is a list with tagged columns and company profiles.

Today's Headlines Infrastructure

  • Indonesia's Preparations Start ASEAN Economic Community 78% Completed

    Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said that Indonesia's preparations for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in late 2015 are currently for 78 percent completed. The AEC aims to enhance regional economic integration among the ASEAN member states. It will transform the ASEAN region into one with free movement of goods, services, investment, and skilled labour, as well as a freer flow of capital. Most important is to develop Indonesia's infrastructure in order to foster connectivity, thus reducing logistics costs.

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  • Gini Ratio of Indonesia May Improve in 2014 on Stable Commodity Prices

    The Gini ratio of Indonesia - the coefficient that measures inequality in income distribution - is expected to improve slightly this year as commodity prices have a stable outlook. Based on data from Statistics Indonesia, the ratio increased significantly since the country's Reformasi period. Between 1999 and 2013, it rose from 0.31 percent to 0.41 percent (a coefficient of zero expresses perfect equality, while one implies perfect inequality). In the last three years (2011- 2013), however, the ratio remained stable at 0.41 percent.

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  • Indonesian Construction Companies Post Strong Growth in 2013

    Four publicly listed - yet state controlled - construction companies recorded a combined 42 percent growth (year on year) in net profit in 2013. The combined net profit of these four companies - Wijaya Karya (Wika), Adhi Karya, Pembangunan Perumahan (PP) and Waskita Karya - totaled IDR 1.74 trillion (USD $146.2 million) last year. These numbers evidence the robust growth that Indonesia's property and infrastructure sectors experienced in 2013 and is expected to continue in 2014.

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  • Tourism in Indonesia is Growing but Infrastructure Investments Needed

    In 2013 Indonesia managed to attract a record number of foreign tourists. Around 8.8 million foreigners entered Indonesia - mostly in Bali - last year, a 9.42 percent increase from 2012, and earning up to USD $10.05 billion in foreign exchange (up 10.23 percent from 2012). Indonesia's tourism sector thus grew at a faster pace in 2013 than the general economy (5.78 percent) and now accounts for 3.8 percent (IDR 347.35 trillion) of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). However, this is still a low figure compared to its regional peers.

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  • General Electric (GE) Seeking to Expand its Business in Indonesia

    General Electric (GE), one of the largest American multinational conglomerates, has already started to show its commitment to invest in Indonesia. Over the course of three years, the company will invest USD $300 million in Southeast Asia's largest economy. CEO of General Electric Indonesia, Handry Satriago, stated that - although the year 2013 was a year full of challenges - the company managed to record revenues worth about USD $1 billion and aims to reach double-digit growth in 2014.

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  • Update on Floods in Jakarta: Water Subsiding but Risks Remain

    On Sunday (26/01), Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the floods in Jakarta have led to 23 casualties (due to drowning, electrocution or the impossibility for sick people to reach the hospital) in the last two weeks in Indonesia's capital city, while almost 28,000 people are still displaced from their homes. The good news, however, is that in many parts of Jakarta floodwaters have begun to subside since the end of last week although several neighborhoods remain flooded up to this day.

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  • Floods, LPG and Electricity Tariffs Impact on Indonesia's January Inflation

    Contrary to reports last week, the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) expects that the country's January inflation rate may exceed 1 percent due to the disturbance of food products distribution amid severe floods in several cities in Indonesia, particularly Jakarta and Manado. Higher food prices are expected to add 0.3 percent to the monthly inflation rate. Apart from the flood issue, higher LPG as well as electricity tariffs (in the industry sector) will also contribute to January 2014 inflation.

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  • Wika Beton Preparing IPO on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in Q1-2014

    Wika Beton, a subsidiary of majority state-owned construction company Wijaya Karya, will sell over 20 percent of its enlarged capital in an initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in the first quarter of 2014. The company, which has appointed Bahana Securities, Mandiri Sekuritas, Danareksa Sekuritas and Sucorinvest Central Gani to act as underwriters for the IPO, expects a 20 percent increase (yoy) in revenue to IDR 2.4 trillion in 2013, and targets a similar growth rate in 2014.

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  • Weak Mining Sector: Production of Heavy Equipment in Indonesia Fell 30%

    In 2013, domestic production of heavy equipment in Indonesia fell 30 percent to 6,127 units from the previous year as commodity prices (such as crude palm oil and coal) were still down. This made Indonesian miners reluctant to ramp up production figures, thus having less need to purchase heavy equipment. According to Pratjojo Dewo, Chairman of the Indonesian Heavy Equipment Association (Hinabi), demand for heavy equipment in Indonesia started falling at the end of 2012 and continued into 2013.

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  • Indonesia Plagued by Flooding; Impact on January Inflation Still Uncertain

    Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is optimistic that the country's inflation rate can be kept at 5.5 percent in 2014 as demand and supply of goods is expected to remain stable although the depreciating rupiah exchange rate and weak state of the country's infrastructure will continue to provide inflationary pressures. Deputy Finance Minister Bambang PS Brodjonegoro expects inflation in January 2014 to be lower than in the same month last year (1.03 percent) but it remains uncertain the extent to which the current floods will impact on the inflation rate.

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Latest Columns Infrastructure

  • Indonesian Companies in Focus: Toll Road Operator Jasa Marga

    State-controlled toll road constructor and operator Jasa Marga is expected to post rising revenue and net profit in the years to come as its toll road network is expanding amid the government's drive to push for infrastructure development, including toll road development. Recently Jasa Marga was awarded four toll road projects - all on the island of Java - with a total length of 262.3 kilometers (valued at IDR 18.4 trillion). Up to 2017 Jasa Marga plans to commission some 313 kilometers of toll road.

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  • Infrastructure Indonesia: Jakarta-Surabaya Railway & Patimban Seaport

    After Japan was disappointed by not being awarded the contract to build a high-speed railway between Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta and Bandung (West Java), the Indonesian government now plans to offer the revitalization of the northern Java railway to Japan. Another project that is expected to be offered to Japan is the Patimban seaport project in Subang (West Java). Indonesian President Joko Widodo is currently in Japan for a two-day visit to attend the Group of Seven summit on invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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  • Infrastructure Development in Indonesia: $450 Billion Required

    It is estimated that Indonesia will need some USD $450 billion in funds to finance the government's infrastructure development plans for the 2015-2019 period. However, through the state budgets the government can only deliver USD $230 billion, or roughly 50 percent of required funds. The remainder should originate from the private sector (30 percent of total funds) and state-controlled enterprises (20 percent). However, is it likely that the private sector (both foreign and domestic) is to come up with USD $141 billion for investment in infrastructure up to 2019?

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  • Impact of Indonesia's Infrastructure Development on Property Sector

    With the Indonesian government showing its commitment to push for infrastructure development, the property sector of Indonesia is expected to get a boost as infrastructure development opens access to new areas. For example, Indonesia's first high-speed train project that is to connect Jakarta and Bandung (in West Java) is expected to give rise to new economic centers and cities along the 142 kilometers-long railway. Moreover, existing property in the proximity of a new infrastructure project should lead to significantly rising property prices.

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  • Indonesia Plans to Offer 10 Toll Road Projects to Investors

    The Indonesian government plans to offer 10 toll road projects - with a total length of 520.83 kilometers - to investors before the end of the year. The projects are estimated to have a total value of IDR 109.58 trillion (approx. USD $8.3 billion). The offering of these projects are in line with the government's efforts to boost infrastructure development across the country. Such development will enhance inter and intra island connectivity, thus curbing the nation's high logistics costs and offer a more attractive investment climate to (potential) investors.

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  • Infrastructure Indonesia: Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Palembang

    Two state-controlled companies (both listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange) are expected to feel the positive impact of the light rail transit (LRT) in Palembang (South Sumatra), a transportation project currently under construction. These two companies are construction firm Waskita Karya and cement producer Semen Baturaja. These two companies are heavily involved in the LRT project that is estimated to cost around USD $520 million. This LRT track is supportive infrastructure for the 2018 Asian Games, to be held in South Sumatra in August 2018.

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  • Foreigners Need Rep Office or JV for Construction Work in Indonesia?

    Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of 2016 was rather disappointing at 4.92 percent (y/y), below analyst estimates that averaged around 5 percent (y/y), due to slowing household consumption, private investors being in a wait-and-see mode, and relatively weak government spending (a usual phenomenon at the year-start). Indonesia's construction sector also grew weakish in Q1-2016. However, the construction sector still has good prospects in the years ahead on the back of the government's infrastructure projects.

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  • Indonesia in April: State Budget & 7-day Reverse Repurchase Rate

    If we look back on the month of April, two important matters - related to the economy - occurred in Indonesia this month: (1) in the first week of April, the Indonesian government managed to complete the Revised 2016 State Budget (RAPBN-P 2016), and, one week later, (2) the central bank (Bank Indonesia) announced it will adopt a new benchmark monetary tool per 19 August 2016 - the so-called seven-day reverse repurchase rate - that is to replace the existing BI rate (which fails to influence market liquidity effectively).

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  • Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) to Thrive on Infrastructure Credit Growth?

    Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), one of the leading banks in Indonesia, is expected to maintain rising net profit figures in the years ahead due to its decision to focus on (corporate) credit disbursement for domestic infrastructure development projects. In fact, according to RHB OSK Securities, BNI may become the state-controlled bank that benefits most from the government decision to raise its infrastructure budget to IDR 313.5 trillion (approx. USD $24 billion) in the 2016 State Budget. Last year, growth of credit disbursed by BNI to infrastructure projects climbed 116.2 percent (y/y). This year infrastructure credit may grow by another 19 percent.

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  • Non-Optimal Public Spending on Infrastructure Development in Indonesia

    Public spending on infrastructure development in Indonesia is not optimal. Sofyan Djalil, Indonesia's National Development Planning Minister as well as Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), says immature and non-integrated planning between ministries and other government agencies as well as between the central and regional governments cause inefficient and non-optimal infrastructure spending. Non-optimal infrastructure development implies that Indonesia's overall economic growth as well as social development cannot achieve its full potential.

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