Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2014 slowed to 5.12 percent (year-on-year, yoy), thus decelerating compared to the nation’s GDP growth in the previous quarter (5.22 percent yoy). The Q2-2014 GDP growth result was lower than the figure that was projected by the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia). The institution previously stated that it expected Q2-014 economic growth to reach 5.3 percent (yoy). Below are some comment of Bank Indonesia on economic growth in the second quarter.

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Amid falling stocks and government bonds, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate depreciated 0.45% to IDR 11,751 per US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index on Wednesday (06/08). This weak performance is caused by recent solid economic data from the USA, while tensions in the Ukraine are increasing (causing investors to prefer to invest in safe havens) after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a response to sanctions. Meanwhile, the euro lost ground to the US dollar after Germany posted unexpected declining factory orders.

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The structure of tax revenue in Indonesia has not changed in the past decade resulting in the country’s still low tax-to-GDP ratio of between 12 and 13 percent. Emerging countries such as Indonesia typically have a low tax-to-GDP ratio as the government’s financial management is inadequate (and plagued by corruption). However, it is important for Indonesia to raise this ratio in order to have more funds available to finance the budget deficit, infrastructure development, healthcare, education and other social programs to combat poverty.

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Despite the release of slowing Q2-2014 GDP growth as well as the June 2014 trade deficit, the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate appreciated 0.53 percent to IDR 11,698 against the US dollar according to the Bloomberg Dollar Index on Tuesday (05/08). This performance of Indonesia’s currency is in line with the performance of other emerging Asian currencies on today’s trading day. The US dollar weakened against almost all these currencies as lower US yields made investors decide to search for higher returns in Asia.

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In response to the recent World Bank report that projects economic growth of Indonesia at 5.2 percent (year-on-year, yoy) in 2014, the Indonesian government is still optimistic that gross domestic product (GDP) growth of Southeast Asia’s largest economy can reach 5.5 percent this year. Indonesian Finance minister Chatib Basri said that household consumption, which traditionally accounts for about 55 percent of the country’s total economic growth, is expected to remain strong in 2014 and thus support GDP growth.

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The World Bank revised down its forecast for economic growth in Indonesia for the year 2014. In the July 2014 edition of the Indonesia Economic Quarterly, the institution projects economic growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy at 5.2 percent, slightly down from its previous forecast of 5.3 percent. The downgrade is the result of a weaker outlook for commodity prices and tighter credit conditions. Moreover, the growing fiscal deficit contributes to the challenges that will be faced by the new government (which will be inaugurated in October 2014).

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Five emerging markets, India, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa and Indonesia, have become known to the world in 2013 as the ‘Fragile Five’, a term coined by analysts at Morgan Stanley. This term refers to those five emerging economies that were considered most vulnerable to the winding down of the US Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program (bond-buying program) as capital inflows dried up, or, in fact reversed. The five countries were assessed as risky due to their twin fiscal and current-account deficits, slowing economic growth and high inflation.

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Indonesian presidential candidate Joko Widodo, more popularly known as Jokowi, intends to increase the government’s tax revenue by allowing foreigners to buy luxury apartments, worth at least IDR 2.5 billion (approximately USD $211,864), in the larger cities of Indonesia and on the island of Bali (a popular tourist destination). Currently, foreigners cannot buy property in Indonesia. However, indirect structures, such as the use of their Indonesian wife’s name or an agent are common, meaning that the state loses out on luxury tax income.

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According to data from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), domestic car sales in Indonesia rose 13 percent to 109,706 car units in June 2014 from the previous month (97,147 vehicles) as people increased car purchases ahead of the Idul Fitri (Lebaran) festivities, which commence after the holy fasting month of Ramadan has ended on 28 July. Idul Fitri involves the exodus of millions of Indonesians from the cities to their places of origin. Ahead of this celebration, car sales always increase.

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On 06 July 2014, Indonesia Investments released the latest edition of its newsletter. This free newsletter, which is sent to our subscribers once per week, contains the most important news stories from Indonesia that have been reported on our website in the last seven days. Most of the topics involve political and economic topics such as the presidential election, a rupiah and stock market update, an analysis of inflation and the trade balance, corruption, poverty, GDP growth, prospects of the copper price, and more.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) said it will revise its outlook for Indonesia's economic growth in full-year 2017 after the Q3-2017 GDP growth figure - released at the start of the week - was well below expectations. Previously, Bank Indonesia set its economic growth target for Indonesia in 2017 in the range of 5.0 - 5.4 percent year-on-year (y/y).

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On Monday (06/11) Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) is scheduled to release Indonesia's third quarter GDP data, important information that is closely followed by investors and analysts. While most analysts expect to see accelerated economic growth in the third quarter, others remain skeptical as Indonesia's gross domestic product was disappointing in the first two quarters of the year amid bleak domestic consumption.

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The Bank Indonesia (BI) Board of Governors agreed to hold the BI 7-day Reverse Repo Rate at 4.25 percent, while maintaining the deposit facility and lending facility rates at 3.50 percent and 5.00 percent, respectively, effective per 20 October 2017. The decision was in line with efforts to maintain macroeconomic and financial system stability, while stimulating the domestic economic recovery.

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In its latest report, the World Bank stated that Indonesia's macroeconomic fundamentals are solid and have been strengthening amid the central government's eagerness to implement critical structural reforms, while investment growth rose to the highest levels since the last quarter of 2015 (mainly investment in buildings and structures).

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Growth remains strong across most of developing Asia as a result of the broad-based recovery in global trade, robust expansion in major industrial economies, and improved prospects for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This will combine to push growth in developing Asia for 2017 and 2018 above previous projections, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.

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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.

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After concluding its monthly two-day policy meeting on Thursday (20/07) the central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) decided to leave its interest rate environment unchanged. The BI 7-day (Reverse) Repo Rate (BI-7 day RR Rate) was kept at 4.75 percent, while the deposit facility and lending facility rates were kept at 4.00 percent and 5.50 percent, respectively.

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The latest World Bank projection shows the economy of Indonesia remains promising despite the Washington-based institution having lowered its forecast for Indonesia's full-year 2017 gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent year-on-year (y/y) in the June 2017 edition of its Global Economic Prospect. The World Bank emphasized the Indonesian economy remains relatively strong and is among the most promising emerging markets.

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The central bank of Indonesia (Bank Indonesia) maintained its benchmark interest rate - the 7-day reverse repurchase rate - at 4.75 percent at the policy meeting on 17-18 May 2017, a decision that is in line with analysts' forecasts. Bank Indonesia said the decision is consistent with its efforts to maintain macroeconomic and financial system stability "by driving the domestic economic recovery process", while continue to monitor external threats stemming from US policy directions and geopolitical conditions, specifically in the Korea Peninsula, as well as domestic threats stemming from inflationary pressures and ongoing consolidation in the banking and corporate sectors.

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Overall, market participants are satisfied with Indonesia's economic growth in the first quarter of 2017. Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS) released the nation's official first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data on Friday (05/05). It showed a 5.01 percent year-on-year (y/y) growth pace in Q1-2017, in line with - and even above some institutions' - expectations. Moreover, the figure confirms that Indonesia's economic growth continues to accelerate. In the first quarters of 2015 and 2016 GDP growth was recorded at 4.71 percent (y/y) and 4.92 percent (y/y), respectively.

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