Bleak Q1-2017 Foreign Direct Investment Growth in Indonesia
According to the latest data of Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), growth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2017 was recorded at a modest pace of 0.9 percent year-to-year (y/y) to IDR 97 trillion, sliding further from a growth pace of 2.1 percent (y/y) in the preceding quarter. Declining FDI is attributed to the ethnic and religious tensions in Jakarta (surrounding the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election) as well as persistent global uncertainties. The FDI data exclude investment in the country's banking and the oil & gas sector.
Already in the last quarter of 2016 we detected a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) growth. Considering domestic and external factors remained pretty much the same in the first quarter of 2017, declining FDI growth continued.
Externally, markets and investors are cautious due to the uncertain (economic and fiscal) policies of US President Donald Trump. Trump is eager to cut corporate taxes significantly and that would make the United States a more attractive investment destination for industrial players. In fact, if the USA indeed agrees to cut corporate taxes heavily there could occur a global "tax war". For example, Singapore and Thailand may also cut taxes hence becoming a more competitive environment compared to Indonesia.
Domestically, Indonesia - and especially the capital city of Jakarta - has been plagued by a high degree of ethnic and religious tensions since incumbent Jakarta Governor Ahok became involved in a blasphemy scandal. This led to several massive demonstrations in Jakarta, organized by hardline Muslims who reject Ahok as leader of a Muslim-majority city. In February 2017 Ahok won the first round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election. However, this only caused more tension. He was defeated in the second round that was organized in April 2017.
The defeat of Ahok does mean that ethnic and religious tensions in Indonesia have eased and therefore it creates a better business environment starting from midway Q2-2017.
In sharp contrast to FDI is the realization of domestic direct investment (DDI) in Indonesia in the first quarter of 2017. DDI rose 36.5 percent (y/y) to IDR 68.8 trillion, faster than the 25.8 percent (y/y) growth pace in the preceding quarter.
Most FDI (some USD $2 billion divided over 1,314 projects) originated from Singapore. However, it is widely known that many Chinese companies invest in Indonesia using their Singapore unit. Singapore is followed by Japan with USD $1.4 billion worth of investment in Indonesia in Q1-2017. Next comes China (USD $599.6 million) and the United States (USD $587.4 million).
Indonesia's mining industry was the most popular industry in terms of foreign direct investment realization in Q1-2017. About USD $1.2 billion was invested by foreigners in Indonesia's mining industry divided over 232 projects. Meanwhile, most of DDI went to transportation, warehousing and telecommunications industries (IDR 16 trillion in 114 projects over the same period).
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) & Domestic Direct Investment (DDI) in Indonesia (in IDR trillion):
| 2014 |
2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| DDI | 34.6 | 38.2 | 41.6 | 41.7 | 42.5 | 42.9 | 47.8 | 46.2 | 50.4 | 52.2 | 55.6 | 58.1 |
| FDI | 72.0 | 78.0 | 78.3 | 78.7 | 82.1 | 92.2 | 92.5 | 99.2 | 96.1 | 99.4 | 99.7 | 101.3 |
| Total |
106.6 |
116.2 | 119.9 | 120.4 | 124.6 | 135.1 | 140.3 | 145.4 | 146.5 | 151.6 | 155.3 | 159.4 |
| 2011 |
2012 | 2013 | ||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |
| DDI | 14.1 | 18.9 | 19.0 | 24.0 | 19.7 | 20.8 | 25.2 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 33.1 | 33.5 | 34.1 |
| FDI | 39.5 | 43.1 | 46.5 | 46.2 | 51.5 | 56.1 | 56.6 | 65.5 | 65.5 | 66.7 | 67.0 | 71.2 |
| Total |
53.6 | 62.0 | 65.5 | 70.2 | 71.2 | 76.9 | 81.8 | 83.3 | 93.0 | 99.8 | 100.5 | 105.3 |
Source: Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM)