Business Times Online - Indonesia News

Jakarta may ban export of some metals

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia will ban exports of some unprocessed metals from 2014 and could revoke the export licences of firms that violate the ban, the energy ministry said in a regulation that was posted on its website but which later disappeared.

Carmakers scramble for slice of Indonesian bonanza

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Automakers from Japan to India are eyeing a bonanza in Indonesia, South-east Asia's largest economy where a newly wealthy middle class are splashing out on cars like never before.

Jakarta rate cut takes market by surprise

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia's central bank unexpectedly cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low, taking advantage of easing inflation to support growth in a deteriorating global economy.

Investors urged to look to Indonesia

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) Singapore businesses looking to expand overseas may not need to cast their net too wide as neighbouring Indonesia's roaring economy creates abundant opportunities for companies there.

Toyota to boost capacity at its Indonesian plant

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Japan's Toyota Motor Corp will boost annual capacity at its Karawang plant in Indonesia by 50,000 cars to 120,000 cars in a bid to keep up with growth in South-east Asia's top economy, a senior official at the firm told Reuters yesterday.

Indonesia attracts syariah lenders from Mideast, Europe

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) Indonesia's Islamic finance industry is luring investment from Middle Eastern and European banks as its regulator seeks to double syariah-compliant assets to 10 per cent of the total this decade.

Russian Railways to build US$2.4b line on Borneo

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) State firm Russian Railways plans a US$2.4 billion train line on Indonesia's Borneo island that will initially be used to transport coal, an Indonesian government official said yesterday.

Replacing Rothschild will strengthen Bumi: Bakrie

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) A proposal to replace Bumi plc directors, including billionaire founder Nathaniel Rothschild, is aimed at strengthening the coal producer's board and adding value for investors, Bakrie Group said.

Mutual funds may grow 20% in Indonesia

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesian mutual fund assets will probably expand at a faster pace this year as overseas investors increase stock purchases after the country regained its investment- grade rating, an industry group says.

Indonesia GDP grows fastest since 1996

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia's economy grew last year at the fastest pace since before the Asian financial crisis as rising investment and domestic spending countered a slowdown in export demand due to Europe's debt crisis.

Indonesian workers want bigger chunk of profits

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) For years big-name manufacturers including Honda, Samsung and Nike quietly harvested profits from factories in Indonesia, where wages are even lower than in China or India.

Indonesia to set up US$5.6b plantation firm

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia's government plans to create one of the world's largest palm oil and rubber firms in March by combining state planters with total assets of US$5.6 billion.

Record yields drive Indonesian corporate sukuk

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) Indonesian companies including PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia and PT Bank Syariah Mandiri are planning to tap the Islamic bond market this year after the nation's rating upgrade pushed benchmark yields to a record low.

Inflation up in Jan, exports weaken

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia's prices rose more than expected in January, while export growth in December was the weakest since late 2009, leaving economists divided over whether the central bank will cut rates further in February to prop up growth in South-east Asia's largest economy.

Minimum wages must increase, says Yudhoyono

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Minimum wages in Indonesia must increase to match economic growth and better reward workers, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said yesterday in an apparent bid to calm a rising tide of labour unrest in South-east Asia's largest economy.

Morgan Stanley leads race for JSX broking seat

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Morgan Stanley is all set to trump Goldman Sachs in a deal to buy a brokerage seat in Indonesia from PT Tiga Pilar Sekuritas, five sources said, as the race to tap the growing financial market in South-east Asia's biggest economy intensifies.

Indonesia's ambitious growth targets face roadblocks

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(SINGAPORE) As Indonesia works towards an ambitious long-term economic growth target, it faces several constraints that have an impact on its macroeconomy and its ailing manufacturing sector.

M'sia delays tax free crude palm oil export quotas

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia has delayed issuing quotas to export crude palm oil without taxes for 2012 as it drafts policy to counter competition from top supplier Indonesia, which slashed its export taxes for refined oil, sources told Reuters.

Indonesia export growth may be zero: minister

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(DAVOS) Indonesia's export growth is likely to come to a halt this year, hurt by falling demand from the eurozone, but the economy will probably remain resilient because of its reliance on domestic consumption, the country's trade minister said.

Fighting tyre repair crooks in Jakarta

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) For a syndicate of rogue but innovative tyre repairmen in Jakarta, the key to improving business is simple: bring potential clients to a piercing halt.

European recession will slow growth: Jakarta

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) Indonesia's economic growth may slow to less than 6 per cent in 2012 if Europe suffers a severe recession, said Bambang Brodjonegoro, the head of fiscal policy at the nation's finance ministry.

Bank Saudara seeks strategic investor via rights issue in 2013

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) PT Bank Himpunan Saudara 1906, a small Indonesian lender, plans to expand in Southeast Asia's biggest economy by bringing in a strategic investor through a rights issue next year.

Coffee for the Indonesian on the street

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

(JAKARTA) As well-heeled Indonesians sip lattes in the air-conditioned comfort of Starbucks, outside on the bustling, traffic-jammed streets of Jakarta the myriad poor turn to 'Starbikes' for their fix.