On 31 January 2016, Indonesia Investments released the latest edition of its newsletter. This free newsletter, which is sent to our subscribers once per week, contains the most important news stories from Indonesia that have been reported on our website over the last seven days. Most of the topics involve economic matters such as Indonesia's 9th economic stimulus package, its credit rating, credit growth, the car market, LQ45 Index, corruption, income distribution inequality, and more.

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Music legend David Bowie, who passed away on 10 January 2016 after a battle with liver cancer, wanted to be cremated - and his ashed scattered - on the Indonesian island of Bali. American media reported that the rock star wrote in his will that he be cremated according to a Buddhist ritual (although Bali is better known for its Hinduism-inspired rituals). If it would be impossible to be cremated on Bali, then he would still want his ashes to be scattered on the island. Reportedly, Bowie was cremated in New Jersey (USA) on 12 January.

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As expected, credit growth in Indonesia slowed in 2015 amid the nation's overall economic slowdown. Loan growth was particularly affected by weaker demand for property and working capital loans. Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2015 is estimated to have slowed to 4.7 percent year-on-year (y/y), the country's slowest growth pace since 2009. In its January policy meeting Bank Indonesia decided to cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 7.25 percent, a move that should encourage loan growth this year in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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Although causing waves of both criticism and support, Indonesia's central bank implemented BI Regulation No. 17/3/PBI/2015 regarding the Mandatory Use of the Rupiah in Indonesia on 1 July 2015 thus restricting the use of foreign currencies in transactions conducted within Indonesia in an effort to deepen the domestic rupiah market and stabilize the rupiah. After nearly seven months in effect the new regulation seems to have worked and lessened domestic demand for the US dollar according to a Bank Indonesia official.

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