• Foreign Investment in the Automotive Industry of Indonesia

    Several stakeholders in Indonesia's automotive industry requested the government to be more selective in terms of issuing investment licenses to foreign investors because they believe the large foreign presence in Indonesia's automotive sector curbs opportunities for domestic players. This specifically applies to car components and spare parts. Most of the world's leading car brands - led by Japanese car manufacturers - have production facilities in Indonesia. For car components they prefer imports from the mother country.

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  • ASEAN Avoids Taking a Stance on China's Claims in South China Sea

    The ASEAN member nations are unwilling to issue a joint statement regarding the recent ruling of an international tribunal that stated there is no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the South china Sea area that falls within its so-called nine-dash line. Although the Philippines (which had filed for international arbitration at the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration) requested ASEAN to respond to the tribunal's ruling, Cambodia has managed to block this move.

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  • Stock Market Update Asia: Mixed, Indonesia Slightly Weaker

    Positive sentiments caused by the Group of 20 economies meeting in China have waned, hence most Asian stocks are lower on Tuesday (26/07). Instead, negative sentiments are caused by falling shares on Wall Street overnight as well as the declining crude oil price (touching a near three-month low). Market participants are also in 'wait and see-mode' ahead of the Federal Reserve's July two-day policy meeting (that starts later today) and the two-day policy meeting of the Bank of Japan that starts on Thursday.

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  • What You Need to Know about Indonesia's Excise on Plastic Packaging

    Before the end of 2016 the Indonesian government plans to have imposed a controversial excise on plastic packaging. Earlier this year the government had already suggested a IDR 200 (approx. USD $0.02) excise duty for food and beverage products wrapped in plastic packages. However, with all spotlights focused on Indonesia's tax amnesty program this plastic wrapping excise tax has been off analysts' radar. Lets take a closer look at this excise: what is it and why does the government of Southeast Asia's largest economy want to implement it?

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