The Today's Headlines section of Indonesia Investments is a daily updated section which contains the latest information with regard to topics that are currently causing headlines in Indonesia's media. Most of our headlines will 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.
Despite generally rising stock markets across Asia - still being supported by upbeat manufacturing data that hint at an upturn in global economic growth this year - Indonesia is bucking the trend, sliding 1.37 percent in the first trading session on Wednesday (03/01).
Thomas Lembong, Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), says his agency targets a 10-14 percent (y/y) growth pace in terms of domestic and foreign direct investment in Indonesia in 2018. Specifically the e-commerce sector and services sector are expected to attract plenty of investment this year.
It was a remarkable first trading day of the year in Indonesia. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index showed a very volatile performance, starting in the red, then rising sharply to +1.32 percent around noon, and then falling to close 0.26 percent in the red zone at 6,339.24 points.
At a news conference on Tuesday (02/01), Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia's unaudited budget deficit reached 2.57 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017, slightly below expectations at 2.60 percent of GDP, and well below the government's 2.92 percent (revised) target. In 2016 the government budget deficit was recorded at 2.49 percent of GDP.
