Friday, May 22, 2009
President: Never Think to be Small Nation
Jakarta, - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reminded his countrymen that they should never think of becoming a small nation.

RI to Host Meeting on Sharia Economy
Indonesia will host the third Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) annual meeting of Sharia economic experts, businesspeople, and Muslim religious scholars in Jakarta on May 25 and 26.

RI's Forex Reserves Amount to US$54.8 Billion
Jakarta, - The country's foreign exchange reserves up to the end of March amounted to US$54.8 billion, or equivalent to the amount needed to finance imports and to pay external debt installments for 6.1 months, a central bank official said.

RI Ready for REDD Application to Cut Carbon
Indonesia is set to benefit from forest carbon trade as the reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) scheme will likely be included in the post-Kyoto Protocol regime.

RI to Try to Have MOD Included In UNGA
Jakarta, - Indonesia will try to have the Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD)as an outcome of the World Ocean Conference (WOC) included in the United Nations General Assembly in September 2009.

President Asks Bizmen to be Patient in Facing Bureaucracy
Jakarta, - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asked businessmen to be patient in facing the problems posed by the country's bureaucracy which had yet to support the business world, saying it still needed to be reformed.

Obama's Mother Batik to be Displayed in New York
Indonesian consulate general in New York will organize an exhabition of traditional clothes of batik that belonged to US President Barak Obama's mother in July, says a top diplomat.

Indonesia Urges for SMTA to be Approved
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia is urging the 62nd World Health Assembly to approve the standard material transfer agreement (SMTA).

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
RI's Competitiveness Index Improves : SBY
Presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday said that the competitiveness index of Indonesia had increased significantly, meaning that the country's products can compete those from overseas.

Supreme Court Preparing 2,000 Corruption Judges
Semarang, - The Supreme Court is preparing two thousand judges to especially handle corruption cases.

RI Sees APT/EAS as Instrument to Strengthen Regional Cooperation
Jakarta, - The government of Indonesia saw the ASEAN Plus Three and East Asia Summit (APT/EAS) as two processes which mutually strengthen regional cooperation, a senior government official said.

Many Countries Agree to Launch CTI Program
Jakarta, - Many countries agreed to launch a program on the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Securities and Adaptation to Climate Change (CTI-CFFC) in Manado recently, Indonesia's marine affairs ministry said.

RI Hopes Advanced Countries Consistent on Virus Swap Issue
Jakarta, - Indonesia hopes advanced countries remain committed to supporting a new virus swap mechanism that is fair, transparent and equal at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18-22.

News Focus: Government to Finish Calculation of Newmont Divestment
Jakarta, - The government is resolved to finish calculating the value of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggra (NNT) assets this week so that an agreement can be reached with the giant mining firm on the price at which it is to acquire MNT shares this month.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
RI, Qatar Agree to Boost Economic, Investment Tees
Indonesia and Qatar have agreed to boost their economic and investment ties, with more deals reached during the visit of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Jakarta.

Continuity of BI's Policies Not Affected By Boediono's Resignation
Jakarta - Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Miranda S Goeltom said the continuity of the central bank's policies was assured although its governor , Boediono, had resigned.

RI to Host Shariah Economic Experts' Meeting
Jakarta - Indonesia will be the host for the 3rd meeting of shariah economic experts and practitioners as well as ulemas from across Southeast Asia here on May 25-26, 2009.

Kalbe Eyes Buy Back of 1.27 Billion Shares
The publicly listed PT Kalbe Farma pharmaceutical company is planning to buy back a 12.5 percent stake from the market, totaling 1.27 billion shares, Antara state news agency reported Tuesday.

Forestry Ministry Launches 'One Man, One Tree' Planting Program
Jakarta - The forestry ministry has launched a 'One Man, One Tree' Program to deal with the impact of climate change and to preserve forests.

Monday, May 18, 2009
RI Economy May Expand 3.9 Percent This Year: Citi
Indonesia's economy may expand as high as 3.9 percent due to a more domestic-oriented economy, which is the key to Indonesia's resilience amid the global economic downturn, Citi said Monday.

RI's E-Government Market Lucrative
The government's efforts to improve transparency and efficiency by applying IT-enabled services is providing a good opportunity for developers to tap deeper into the country's lucrative, but largely undeveloped, e-government market.

Manado Declaration 'Powerless' Without UN Recognition
Despite the governments of developing nations adopting the Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) recognizing the impact climate change has on oceans, Indonesia - the host and initiator of the world's first ocean conference - is now facing an uphill battle getting the MOD onto the negotiation table for the Copenhagen climate conference later this year. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered the Climate Change National Council (DNPI) to coordinate efforts to register the MOD with the UN system. DNPI executive chairman Rachmat Witoelar, also Indonesia's state minister for the environment, spoke with The Jakarta Post's Adianto P. Simamora on the sidelines of the ocean talks in Manado, North Sulawesi, from May 11-15, 2009.

Three Presidential Candidates to Compete in July 8 Race
Jakarta, - Three presidential candidates are now certain to compete in the race in Indonesia next July 8.

Government Preparing Three Steps to Overcome Power Crisis
Jakarta - The government through state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) is preparing three steps to deal with rising demand for electrical power in the country, a minister said.

Muhammadiyah Chief Seeking Peace in Pattani, Thailand
Jakarta, - General Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second biggest moslem organization, Din Syamsuddin, joined a peace mission of world religious leaders in Pattani, South Thailand, on Sunday.

Medco Eyes Acquisition of North West Java Sea Block
Publicly listed energy company PT Medco Energi Internasional (Medco) is planning to acquire BP Indonesia’s stake in the Offshore North West Java Sea (ONWJ) block, West Java.

Palu Publishes 'Doing Business in Palu'
Central Sulawesi capital Palu has been designated as part of the province's Integrated Economic Development Zones (Kapet), which requires it to continually draw investors to do business in the city.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Rupiah and Stocks Close Higher
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia shares rose 11.281 points on Tuesday (12/5) to close at 1,842.022 or 0.62 percent higher than Monday's closing. LQ-45 index a group of major shares also edged 0.18 percent or 0.641 to 358.983 on Tuesday.

Largest Gas Terminal in Southeast Asia to be Built in Banten
TEMPO Interactive, Serang: In the near future, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal with a capacity of one million metric tons per year will be built in Mangunreja Village, Bojonegara Sub-district, Serang, in Banten Province.

News Focus: WOC Expected to Produce Manado Ocean Declaration as Political Commitment
Jakarta - The ongoing World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi, is expected to produce the Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) at the end of the conference as a political commitment among nations wishing to promote the ocean in international conventions.

DKP-NOAA Cooperation to Cost US$12 Million
Manado, N Sulawesi - Cooperation between the Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Affairs (DKP) Ministry and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on maritime issues will require funds amounting to US$12 million, a senior DKP official said.

Development Planners Must Understand Regional Problems: President
Jakarta, - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said development planners must understand the problems faced by the regions so that the development programs they draw up will be what the people in the regions concerned really need. The president made the remark when he opened a national working meeting of National Development Planners at the Bumi Karsa hotel here on Tuesday.

IDX New System Ready July
The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) is set to launch its Investor Area system, with real-time access to investors' balance sheets by July: Most securities houses will be ready then.

ADB, GEF to Provide US$25.5m in Funding for CTI
As main partners in mobilizing resources to support the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) plan to generate a total of US$25.5 million in funding for Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.

Monday, May 11, 2009
Rupiah Strengthens Against US Dollar Late Monday
Jakarta - The rupiah strengthened against the US dollar in the Jakarta interbank spot market here on Monday afternoon as investors` interest in the local currency was still high.

Government Spending Still Slow Until April
Government spending remained low as of April, at about a fifth of its full-year allocation, depriving the country so far of the positive impact of the state budget and stimulus drivers to counter the global economic crisis.

Foreign Ownership of State Bonds Rp 85.10 Trillion
Jakarta - Foreign ownership of state bonds early in May 2009 reached Rp85.10 trillion of the total of tradable state bonds worth Rp550.86 trillion.

WOC Kicks Off, Oceans Take Center Stage
Officials from 80 countries and intergovernmental institutions begin the five-day World Ocean Conference (WOC) here Monday with an appeal to the international community to give the oceans a more central role at UN climate change talks.

WOC and RI's Sustainable Ocean Development
Perhaps there is no country in the world that might have a greater need than Indonesia to be concerned about its ocean space and resources. After centuries of being at the epicenter of international trade and commerce due to its geo-strategic location on the Asia Pacific Rim, Indonesia, which forms the world's largest archipelago (more than 17,500 islands) and possesses the greatest marine biodiversity of any region of the world, should be recognized as one of the most significant maritime nations.

UNESCO Indonesia Optimistic WOC to Yield Accord on Marine Issues
Manado -The chairman of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, Arief Rachman, expressed optimism the ongoing World Ocean Conference (WOC) will yield a global agreement on the world's marine issues.

Democratic Party Grabs 148 Seats, Golkar Receives 108 Seats
Jakarta - The General Election Commission (KPU) here on Sunday announced the distribution of seats at the House of Representatives (DPR) to nine political parties which had successfully passed a 2.5 percent parliamentary threshold of the legitimate national votes.

Invalid Votes 10%, Abstentions 30%
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced late Saturday the final results of the April 9 legislative elections, with around 40 percent of the more than 171 million registered voters abstaining or casting invalid ballots.

Thursday, May 7, 2009
BEI Index Rises 2.01 Percent
Jakarta - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) early Thursday opened 2.01 percent higher, on blue chip and small-cap share buying.

Bond Transactions Up 16.6% in April: IDX
The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) announced Wednesday that bond transactions went up by 16.6 percent in April as foreign investors returned to the market, following signs of economic recovery.

Tax Revenue Highest in April
The government recorded the highest monthly tax revenues so far this year in April, at Rp 58.7 trillion (US$5.6 billion), a sign that the projected state revenue for 2009 is still achievable, a ministry official says.

Deflation Not Indication of Drop in People's Purchasing Power
Jakarta - The deflation recorded in April 2009 is not an indication that the people’s purchasing power is now weakening, a senior economic minister said.

ASEAN-EU FTA Talks Frozen
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) have agreed to halt ongoing talks on the free trade agreement (FTA).

DNPI to Table Ocean Issues on Global Climate Talks
The National Council on Climate Change (DNPI) has pledged to help table output of Manado conference to international negotiations on climate change ahead of the ministerial meeting on climate change in Copenhagen.

ASEAN to Team up to Boost Textile Industry
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are working to support the region's textile and garment industries and retain or boost competitiveness, says Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
BI Rate Cut Creates Positive Sentiment in Market
Jakarta - The decision on Tuesday of Bank Indonesia (BI) to cut its BI Rate by 0.25 basis points to 7.25 percent will give a positive sentiment to the market, economic analyst Ryan Kiryantono said.

Female Legislators to Hit Record High
This year’s legislative election is almost certain to set a record high of around 18 percent female legislators in the House of Representatives (DPR), the highest since the first election in 1955.

Indonesia to Prioritize Boosting Domestic Gas Market
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday that the government would prioritize increasing the domestic gas market.

President: Oil, Gas Sector Still Promising
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said in Jakarta Monday the oil and gas sector in Indonesia is still very prospective even against the background of a global crisis.

Asia Economy to Rebound by End of 2010: ADB Chief
Asian Development Bank president Haruhiko Kuroda was confident at its 42nd annual meeting that Asian economies could bounce back to full recovery by the end of 2010.

BI: World Economy Now Contracting at Slower Pace
Jakarta - The world economy is still contracting but improvements in certain economic indicators suggest the process is now taking place at a slower pace, Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) said.

RI Selective in Choosing Foreign Arms Suppliers
Jakarta - Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Subandrio said Indonesia is more selective in choosing foreign arms producers to supply weapons to the Indonesian military (TNI), the air force (TNI AU) in particular.

Twenty Business Deals Inked in IPA Annual Convention
The Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) kicked off its 33rd annual convention and exhibition in Jakarta on Tuesday, by signing 20 contracts worth a total of US$1.37 billion.

US Delegation to Attend WOC in Manado
Jakarta, - The US government is sending a delegation of more than 40 representatives to participate in the World Ocean Conference (WOC), scheduled for May 11-15, 2009, in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Indonesia to Expand Coverage of Pandemic Simulations to Anticipate Swine Flu
Indonesia will expand the coverage of its flu pandemic simulations to a number of other regions in an attempt to anticipate lingering threats of bird flu and newly striking swine flu.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Indonesia Becoming More Attractive to Investors
Jakarta, - Indonesian is getting more attractive to foreign investors following the improvement in economic conditions, supported by a conducive social and political situation, an economic think tank said.

RI to Propose WOC Declaration as Part of UN Climate Talks
Indonesia, who will next week host the World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, has proposed including the conference's declaration on the agenda of the upcoming UN climate change talks in Copenhagen.

Rupiah's Appreciation Predicted to Continue Until Next Week
Jakarta, - BNI chief economist A Tony Prasetiantono has predicted that the rupiah will continue to strengthen until next week.

Banks Support BI Benchmark Rate Cut
Indonesian banks have expressed support for lower banks' lending rates following Bank Indonesia’s decision of cutting its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 7.25 percent on Tuesday.

Infrastructure Key to Addressing Poverty: Minister
Denpasar - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the development of infrastructure projects is one of several crucial issues discussed at the 42nd annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here on Monday to eradicate poverty.

International Batik Week Yields Transactions Worth Rp 1.47 Billion
Pekalongan, - The value of batik transactions at the week-long International Batik Week (PBI) here reached Rp1.47 billion, PBI organizing committee chairman Arie Putranto said on Tuesday.

RI Must Assert Sovereignty Over Its Waters at WOC: NGO
Jakarta, - Indonesia needs to take the opportunity at the World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, to assert its sovereignty over its territorial waters to the international community, a non-governmental organization (NGO) said.

Failure to Reach MDGs May Result in Unrest: Yudhoyono
Asia's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are at stake as the region focuses on ending the global financial turmoil, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said.

Monday, May 4, 2009
President Opens ADB Annual Meeting in Bali
Nusa Dua, Bali Province - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here on Monday.

RI to Raise Its Contribution to ADB By Rp2 Trillion
Denpasar, - Indonesia will raise its contribution to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) by Rp2 trillion in stages for four years, a minister said.

Pertamina Targets 88 Pct Investment Growth
Nusa Dua, - Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina is targeting 88 percent in investment growth until 2012 which is equal to Rp41.2 trillion.

Bappenas: 2009 Poverty Rate Still Can Be Lowered
Denpasar, - The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) has expressed optimism that the country's poverty rate in 2009 can be further lowered despite economic slowdown.

Local Party Confirms Supremacy in Aceh
Autonomy in Aceh has allowed local political elites to trump Jakarta's authority.

Islamic Finance Offers Tips to Correct Faulty Conventional system
The current global financial crisis stems from the absence of adequate market discipline, and Islamic finance can help fix it by injecting a greater discipline into the system, an expert at the Islamic Development Bank said.

President Yudhoyono Hopes ADB Meeting Produces Solution to Global Crisis
Jimbaran, Bali, - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed hope that the ongoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting here could produce a solution to the global economic crisis.

Kalla Could Present SBY With Tough Race, Runoff
The entry of Vice President and Golkar chairman Jusuf Kalla in the presidential election is expected to turn it into a three-horse race, and could force President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to a runoff.

Friday, May 1, 2009
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
The changes taking place in Indonesia today are among the most remarkable developments in the Muslim world. The country's transition from authoritarianism has proved that as a democracy, Indonesia can be culturally vibrant and economically prosperous.

NAM Must Redefine Its Goals: Analyst
As one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indonesia should help redefine the organization of 118 developing nations because the world is no longer defined by the two warring Cold War blocs, says an expert.

Government Expects CBM Gas Production to Start in 2011
Jakarta - The government has set itself a target of producing coal bed methane (CBM) gas starting in 2011, an Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry official said.

Veep: Global Crisis Eliminates "Intangible" Economy
Jakarta - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said the global economic crisis has changed the world economy from an "invisible" into a concrete economy.

Indonesia Issues Travel Warning
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government has issued a travel warning against Indonesians travelling to Mexico due to the elevated status of the swine flu pandemic from level 4 to level 5 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Indonesia Launches Self-Made Radar
Bandung - The electronic and communications research center of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences held a seminar and launched a self-made radar here on Thursday.

Antara Hands Over Book on Soeharto to US Embassy
Jakarta - Antara News Agency handed two books on Indonesia’s second president, Soeharto, it had published to the Library of the US Congress office at the US Embassy here on Thursday.

RI, Norway to Increase Cooperation in Democracy Development
Jakarta - Indonesia and Norway have made a mutual commitment to step up their cooperation in development of democracy, energy and fisheries.

Grand Coalition Set to Emerge
Following weeks of negotiations between political parties, a long-awaited coalition may finally be ready to fight the odds and challenge President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the favorite in the upcoming presidential election, a party executive said Thursday.