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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Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have intensely discussed negotiations surrounding the creation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA). Both leaders met at the sidelines of a special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders in Sydney (Australia) this weekend.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) said it expects to see another monthly trade deficit - approximately USD $230 million - in February 2018. If so, it would be the third straight monthly trade deficit for Southeast Asia's largest economy after a USD $220 million deficit in December 2017 and a USD $678 million deficit in January 2018 (the latter being the country's highest monthly deficit since April 2014).

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