Indonesia's Nikkei Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) eased to 50.7 in March 2018 from a reading of 51.4 in the preceding month (when manufacturing activity touched a 20-month high in Southeast Asia's largest economy). Softer expansion in output and new orders were cited as reason for slowing growth. A reading above 50.0 indicates expansion in manufacturing activity, while a reading below 50.0 indicates contraction.

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The World Bank released the latest edition of its flagship publication Indonesia Economic Quarterly on Tuesday (27/03). The March 2018 edition of the report is entitled "Towards Inclusive Growth". In the report the World Bank is positive about Indonesia's economic outlook after seeing the nation's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth picking up at 5.2 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the fourth quarter of 2017 (accelerating from 5.1 percent y/y in the previous quarter).

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Adhi Lukman, Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi), says he is optimistic that the investment targets that are set by Indonesia's Industry Ministry will be met this year. The Industry Ministry targets to see a total of IDR 63.25 trillion (approx. USD $4.6 billion) worth of private sector investment in the food and beverage industry of Indonesia, up 6.7 percent compared to investment realization in this industry one year earlier.

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India is increasingly investing in Indonesia. Based on data from Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), India invested USD $285.4 million in Indonesia in full-year 2017. It is a relatively small amount but it does imply a 418 percent growth rate from USD $55.0 million worth of Indian investment in Indonesia in the preceding year. Thus, India jumped from 23rd to 16th in the ranking of biggest foreign investors in Indonesia.

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