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Although the Indonesian government offered various attractive incentives to investors (tax holidays and tax allowances) in 2017 in an effort to encourage investment in pioneering industries (particularly the downstream oil & gas industry), there were no companies that took advantage of these incentives. How come investors were not interested in these incentives?
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.
The food and beverage industry of Indonesia remains one of the most promising investment destinations for domestic and foreign investors. In the January-September 2017 period, a total of IDR 47.56 trillion (approx. USD $3.5 billion) was invested in this industry.
The high gas price in Indonesia is unattractive and therefore discourages investment realization in Southeast Asia's largest economy, especially investment in the Chemical, Textile and Miscellaneous Industries (CTMI) segment. The main contributors to investment in this segment are the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Although, overall, Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of 2017 was slightly disappointing at a pace of 5.06 percent year-on-year (y/y), investment, export and government consumption all strengthened. Hence, the main reason why Indonesia's Q3-2017 GDP growth was below expectations is sliding growth of household consumption.
Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) announced that total direct investment in Indonesia (foreign + domestic investment) reached IDR 176.6 trillion (approx. USD $13.2 billion using the IDR 13,400 per US dollar exchange rate as set in the revised 2017 state budget) in the third quarter of 2017, up 13.7 percent year-on-year (y/y) from the same quarter one year earlier.
Bali, the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia (and therefore an important destination for foreign direct investment, or FDI), is optimistic that it will achieve its full-year 2017 investment target. Ida Bagus Made Parwata, Head of Bali's Investment Board (BPMP), said the island targets to see IDR 12.4 trillion (approx. USD $918 million) worth of investment in 2017.
Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and Tourism Ministry invite private investors to invest in three priority destinations in the country's tourism sector. In total the projects that are on offer require about USD $2.9 billion worth of investment. The projects were offered at the Regional Investment Forum (RIF) in Padang (West Sumatra) that was held between 15-17 October 2017.
Three cooperation agreements were signed between Indonesian and European companies at the Indonesia-Belgium High Level Roundtable Discussion held at the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB). Meanwhile, at the occasion there are also talks being held about (free) trade agreements with the aim to improve bilateral relations between Indonesia and the European Union (EU).
The Transportation Ministry of Indonesia hopes to attract up to IDR 40 trillion (approx. USD $3 billion) in investment commitments from (foreign) investors during the fourth Asia-Europe Transport Ministers Meeting, held on Bali between 26-28 September 2017. These investments are needed to finance 12 infrastructure projects in Indonesia that are on offer.
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Indonesia continued to climb sharply in the World Bank's Doing Business Index. In the 2018 edition, which was released at the end of October 2017, Indonesia ranks 72nd, jumping 19 positions from being 91st in last year's ranking. The World Bank praised Indonesia and labelled it as the country that made the biggest improvements in business regulations among Asia Pacific nations since 2005.
In order to boost overall economic expansion as well as growth of several local industries, it is important for the city of Yogyakarta - located in the center of Java island - to see more infrastructure development. The local government has the crucial task to either invest directly in infrastructure development or to encourage private investment in infrastructure development by safeguarding a conducive regulatory environment and attractive investment environment.
Those who have business interests in Panama and seek their dream house in the beautiful hills of this Central American country, or those who search an interesting investment object in Panama's property sector, now have a great opportunity at their disposal. One of the most beautiful luxury villas in Panama is now for sale. Insiders in Panama's property market call this "a unique object".
It is worrying that of total foreign investment commitments in Indonesia, only about 50 percent becomes actual investment. The other half decides - after initially being interested - not to pursue investment in Indonesia. Although not in all cases, it is believed that Indonesia's difficult investment climate scares away part of the (potential) investment community, specifically bureaucracy (red tape) and the lack of sufficient hard and soft infrastructure.
Thomas Lembong, Head of Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said the 5.01 percent year-on-year (y/y) economic growth pace of Indonesia in the second quarter of 2017 was rather disappointing as consumption remained bleak. Only Indonesia's export and investment realization showed an improvement, Lembong added. But, overall, Indonesia's economic growth stagnated.
With the Indonesian economy estimated to expand at a stable pace of 5.0-6.0 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the years ahead, the country's supply of energy needs to be raised. If not, businesses will increasingly be plagued by blackouts, while the price of energy rises (causing growing production costs). The upstream oil and gas industry - that involves exploration, development and production - therefore has a vital role to play in Indonesia's energy supply and economy.
The Investment Coordinating Board of Indonesia (in Indonesian: Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal, or BKPM) reported that total direct investment realization in Indonesia was recorded at IDR 170.9 trillion in the second quarter of 2017. This constitutes a 12.7 percent growth pace from IDR 151.6 trillion worth of total direct investment in the same quarter one year earlier. Thomas Lembong, Head of BKPM, said investment realization managed to absorb 345,323 Indonesian workers in Q2-2017.
Unilever Indonesia, one of the largest consumer goods producers in Indonesia, will continue to focus on the strengthening of its production lines. The company plans to invest up to USD $500 million over the next five years. Sancoyo Antarikso, External Relations Director & Corporate Secretary at Unilever Indonesia, said the funds will be used to expand production capacity of the company's nine factories across Indonesia.
Around the globe there are plenty of fraudulent investment scams offered to investors (for example the "ponzi scheme", "pump and dump", and many others). This also occurs in Indonesia, or, related to Indonesia. Perpetrators can be Indonesian or foreign. In case of foreigners, the offshore investing scheme is a popular scheme (and a fairly simple one in the era of Internet). Criminals offer victims a lucrative investment opportunity in Indonesia, promising big profits. However, investors will never see their money again.
Donald Trump becoming next US president in January 2017 will not affect foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia according to the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Trump's election caused a huge wave of uncertainty in financial markets worldwide. However, the BKPM remains committed to its investment realization targets (including both domestic and foreign direct investment) of IDR 594.8 trillion (approx. USD $44.7 billion) in 2016 and IDR 631.5 trillion (approx. USD $47.5 billion) in 2017.
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