• IMF: Asia Continues to Be the Engine of Global Economic Growth

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) assesses that the Asian region is still the world's most dynamic region in terms of economic growth. The IMF expects that Asia's economic growth will accelerate to 5.4 percent in 2014 despite the ongoing US Federal Reserve tapering of asset purchases. However, the IMF continued to stress the need for further structural reforms in Asia in an attempt to avert the negative impact of US tapering and future interest rate hikes. In 2013, the Asian region grew 5.2 percent.

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  • Indonesian Politics Update: PKB Approaches PDI-P to Form Coalition

    After the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), winner of the 2014 legislative election of Indonesia, was reported to have formed an alliance with the NasDem party in order to nominate a presidential candidate for the presidential election that is scheduled for 9 July 2014, both the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) have also been approaching the PDI-P. Reportedly, the PKB has mentioned two candidates to the PDI-P to become Joko Widodo’s running mate in the election.

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  • Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) Will Launch its BRIsat Satellite in 2016

    Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), the country's second-largest lender by market capitalization, will become the world's first bank that has its own communications satellite. On 28 April 2014, a contract was signed between Arianespace and BRI for the launch of the Indonesian satellite, which will be named BRIsat. The contract signing ceremony took place in Jakarta, and was witnessed by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as various other high positioned officials.

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  • Preparing Strategies to Tackle the Japan-Indonesia Export Ban Conflict

    The government of Indonesia has been preparing strategies to face Japan's possible complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Indonesia's recently introduced export ban of mineral ore (UU Minerba No. 4 - 2009). A special team from Indonesia's Trade Ministry, headed by Gusmardi Bustami, has been set up to handle the dispute. Japan feels forced to bring the export ban case to the WTO because its industry is highly dependent on the supply of certain raw Indonesian commodities, particularly nickel.

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