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Albeit still at an admirable level, Indonesia’s economic growth rate fell slightly short of expectations in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3-2024). Based on the data released by Indonesia’s Statistical Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) on 5 November 2024, Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.95 percent year-on-year (y/y) in Q3-2024.
On Tuesday 5 November 2024 Indonesia Investments released the October 2024 edition of its monthly report, titled: "Eight President of Indonesia Enters Office – the Transition in Focus". It presents analyses of political, economic and social matters that were relevant in Indonesian society in October 2024.
The middle class plays an important role in the economic development of Indonesia. Typically, nations with large middles class grow faster for a combination of reasons. And so, if Indonesia wants to achieve its ambition of becoming a developed country by 2045, then a significant percentage of its population (preferably over 70 percent) needs to join the middle class in the next two decades.
On Friday 4 October 2024 Indonesia Investments released the September 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report discusses a range of economic, political and social topics to assess the state of the Indonesian economy.
In another article (available in this monthly report) we present a detailed analysis of Indonesia’s economic growth in Q2-2024 (which came in at 5.05 percent year-on-year), based on the gross domestic product data that were released by the Statistical Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) in early August 2024.
On Friday 6 September 2024 Indonesia Investments released the August 2024 edition of its monthly report. This report discusses various economic, political and social topics that were relevant (to Indonesia) in the month of August 2024.
On Monday 5 August 2024 Indonesia Investments released the July 2024 edition of its monthly report. This report discusses various economic, political and social topics that were relevant (to Indonesia) in the month of July 2024.
In last month’s report we saw that Indonesia’s official economic growth rate was (in line with expectations) quite strong at 5.11 percent year-on-year (y/y) in Q1-2024. Moreover, last month we also saw that most of the macroeconomic data point at the continuation of strong growth in Q2-2024 (with the only major exception being the country’s car sales data that still showed deep red numbers).
On Friday 05 July 2024, Indonesia Investments released the June 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report zooms in on the latest economic, political and social developments that (potentially) impact on the investment environment of Indonesia.
On Tuesday 4 June 2024 Indonesia Investments released the May 2024 edition of its monthly report. The report discusses various topics -related to the economy, politics and social matters in Indonesia- that were relevant in the month of May 2024.
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It is no secret that Indonesia's economy has been booming in recent years and is appearing more and more on the radars of foreign investors. In the 2000s it was the commodities sector that brought much profit for Indonesian companies that were engaged in the extraction of natural resources such as coal, palm oil, and rubber. The outbreak of the global financial crisis in the late 2000s, however, ended the commodities boom abruptly, while other sectors came to the fore as Indonesia's new gold mines.
The upward movements of both American and European stock indices on Friday (03/05/13) provided good support for today's performances of indices in Asia, including the Indonesia Stock Index (IHSG). After having been hit hard for two consecutive trading day's, the IHSG rebounded despite foreign investors still selling off their Indonesian stocks. Others, however, use this momentum to hunt for stocks that are now considered cheap after last week's fall.
International financial services company Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgraded its outlook on Indonesia’s BB+ rating from positive to stable as the agency assessed that Indonesia's reform momentum is fading and the external profile is weakening. The decision came as a surprise as Indonesia's government had just declared to reduce its massive spending on fuel subsidies starting from next month. These subsidies were the main reason why S&P had not upgraded Indonesia's credit rating to investment grade yet.
One piece of evidence of international confidence in the Indonesian economy is the steady upgrades in the country's credit ratings by international financial services companies such as Standard & Poor's, Fitch Ratings and Moody's. In late 2011, Fitch Ratings was the first to reinstate Indonesia's investment grade status after a 14-year hiatus. In January 2012, Moody’s followed suit citing the country’s resilient economy. S&P may follow soon, depending on the fuel price hike issue.
Foreign investment in Indonesia has maintained its steady pace in the first quarter of 2013. Ahead of next year's presidential and legislative elections, which trigger uncertainties about the future course of the country, foreigners have bought more Indonesian stocks in Q1-2013 than in the four quarters of 2012 combined. Moreover, foreign direct investments (FDIs) have increased by 27 percent (YoY) in Q1-2013 and show an interesting shift towards Indonesia's manufacturing sector.
The heavily subsidized fuel price of Indonesia is likely to be raised next month according to Indonesian media sources. Various high officials, including Economic minister Hatta Rajasa, discussed the possibility to raise the fuel price from IDR 4,500 (USD $0.46) to IDR 6,500 (USD $0.67) per liter starting from May. This increase will only apply to private passenger cars, and not to motorcycles and public transportation. However, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has not made up his mind yet.
The latest World Bank report of East Asia and the Pacific states that "driven by strong domestic demand, economies of developing East Asia and Pacific continue to be an engine of global growth, growing at 7.5 percent in 2012 - higher than any other region in the world." Amid a recovering global economy the report projects that regional growth will rise to 7.8 percent in 2013 and ease to 7.6 percent in 2014.
The Jakarta Composite Index (IHSG) did not make a good start on the first trading day of the new week. Similar to last week's Monday, it were falling American stock indices on Friday that impacted on Monday's IHSG performance: US Retail Sales, Michigan Consumer Sentiment, and commodity prices were topics that were not well-received by market players. Moreover, weak economic data from China made many foreign investor decide to sell their Indonesian assets.
The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia, or BI) decided to maintain its record low policy rate for the 15th straight month at 5.75 percent as it is considered consistent with its inflation target range of 3.5-5.5 percent in 2013 and 2014. The central bank also stated that the global economic recovery is accompanied by many uncertainties which result in a lower forecast for Indonesia's economic growth. The full press release of Bank Indonesia can be read below.
In its most recent report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts Indonesia to continue its robust economic growth. Last year, the economy of Indonesia expanded 6.23 percent, and according to the ADB this figure will rise to 6.4 percent in 2013 and 6.6 percent in 2014. However, since the start of April there have been some issues that are causing Indonesia's stock indices to go down. Although believed to be only temporary, it is worth taking a closer look.
