• Automotive Market of Indonesia: Sales of City Cars Fall Sharply

    The declining trend of city car sales continues in Indonesia. In the first two months of 2017 sales of city cars fell 41.8 percent to 2,511 units on a year-on-year (y/y) basis. This is not a new phenomenon. Ever since the low cost green car (LCGC) was introduced to the Indonesian market in late-2013, city car sales have been on the decline. In full-year 2016 city car sales had fallen 38.4 percent (y/y). A city car is a small car designed to be used primarily in (con)urban areas.

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  • Palm Oil Controversy: Indonesia Versus European Union

    Again the government of Indonesia and the European Union (EU) are on opposite sides when it comes to the palm oil sector. Last week, EU parliament passed the Resolution on Palm Oil and Deforestation of Rainforests. This resolution will make it increasingly difficult for Indonesia to export palm oil to the EU as the bloc wants to gradually reduce the use of vegetable oils, including palm oil, that are not sustainably produced in biodiesel. This is a strategy to combat deforestation as well as human rights violations in this sector (for example child labor).

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  • Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Talks Economic Growth

    Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati believes economic growth of Indonesia in 2017 can exceed the target that was set by the central government in the state budget. While the official target in the 2017 State Budget was set at 5.1 percent year-on-year (y/y), Sri Mulyani expects to see the growth rate at 5.2 percent (y/y) on the back of rising consumption and investment, while she predicts an end to the trend of falling imports and exports.

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  • Indonesian Retail Companies in Focus: Mitra Adiperkasa

    The plan of Indonesian retail company Mitra Adiperkasa to sell 20 percent of its stake in subsidiary MAP Boga Adiperkasa is expected to have a good impact on the financial performance and share performance of the company. MAP Boga Adiperkasa is a leading food and beverage retailer that operates five exclusive brands in Indonesia (including Starbucks, Pizza Express, Krispy Kreme, Cold Stone Creamery, and GODIVA).

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