Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, decided to leave interest rates unchanged at the April policy meeting (18-19 April 2018). The benchmark interest rate (the 7-day Reverse Repo Rate) was kept at 4.25 percent for the seventh straight month. Meanwhile, the deposit facility and lending facility rates were maintained at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively. Dody Budi Waluyo, who was inaugurated as Deputy Governor on Wednesday (18/04), said an interest rate hike would be counterproductive to the nation's economic growth.

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The Indonesian government expects the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) to have expanded 5.2 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the first quarter of 2018. Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati detects a strengthening domestic economy, supported by improved tax income and improved government spending in Q1-2018.

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Indonesia-based trade, transportation and logistics services provider Indah Prakasa Sentosa became the fifth company to complete its initial public offering (IPO) on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2018. On Friday (06/04) the company made its trading debut on the local bourse, surging 50 percent to close at IDR 414 per share along the way. After the listing of Indah Prakasa Sentosa there are now 570 publicly-listed companies in Indonesia.

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Investors are awaiting a series of fiscal incentives from the Indonesian government, including a new tax holiday. Meanwhile, investors also urge the government to improve the investment and business climate by simplifying the process and procedures to obtain permits for investment projects. This also includes improving the coordination between central and regional authorities, for example through the integration of the permitting process at both levels.

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