The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a regularly updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines cover political, economic and social matters. As a consequence of their recent nature, these topics may not have crystallized fully yet and can, therefore, lack a profound analysis. For publications with a more in-depth understanding of subjects, we refer you to our News, Financial or Business columns.
Indonesia's Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education is optimistic that at least two foreign universities will open their doors in Indonesia this year after the Indonesian government had earlier decided to open opportunities for foreign, private universities to open branches in Indonesia through cooperation with local private universities.
Amid mixed markets in Asia, Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index fell 0.95 percent to 6,321.90 points on Thursday (15/03). Asian markets were plagued by the same negative market sentiments that caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 to suffer their third consecutive daily decline overnight. Investors continue to be alarmed by trade policy changes initiated by the USA and possibly responded by other nations.
Tax revenue collection is showing good growth in Indonesia so far in 2018. However, due to the ambitious target set by the central government chances of another tax shortfall remain highly probable at the end of the year. Based on data from Indonesia's Finance Ministry, non-oil & gas tax revenue realization grew 19.1 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 156.8 trillion (approx. USD $11.4 billion) between 1 January and 7 March 2018, from IDR 131.7 trillion in the same period one year earlier.
Although the fundamentals of the Indonesian economy are sound, credit rating agency Standard & Poor's Global Ratings (S&P) warned that there are several threats. These threats include four Fed Funds Rate hikes in 2018, a fragile rupiah, a looming higher benchmark interest rate in Indonesia (BI 7-day Reverse Repo), sluggish household consumption growth, a shift of focus from reforms to elections, the impact of a global trade war, and a deterioration in the balance sheets of certain state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
