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.
Not only looming higher excise taxes plague Indonesia's clove farmers but also bad weather is drastically curbing clove production in 2017. I Ketut Budiman, Secretary General of the Indonesian Clove Farmers Association (APCI), said clove production may only reach 11,000 tons this year. This would be a disastrous harvest. Under normal circumstances Indonesia produces more than 100,000 tons of clove in one year.
Reza Akbar, economist at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), is concerned about rising public foreign debt. Although the government and various analysts repeatedly state that Indonesia's (public) debt-to-GDP ratio is safe at a level below 30 percent, Akbar says debt should be seen in relation to government revenue.
The Indonesian government is preparing the tender for the construction of the West Semarang Drinking Water Supply System worth IDR 1.10 trillion (approx. USD $83 million). Sri Hartoyo, Director General of Human Settlements of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, said the winner of the project is targeted to be announced before the end of 2017. Hartoyo added that authorities are now still in preparation for the procurement of business entities.
Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), one of Indonesia's largest financial institutions, will accelerate the migration of its ATM network and operating units to BRIsat, the company's satellite that was launched on 20 June 2016. Indra Utoyo, Director of Digital Banking and Technology at BRI, said many - but not all - of the bank's ATMs and operating units have already been migrated to BRIsat.
