What's new

Indonesia Economy Forum

Indonesia to promote, expand trade in S. Africa, Nigeria
  • Stefani Ribka
    The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, July 19, 2017 | 05:37 pm
2017_07_05_29451_1499225204._large.jpg
Trade Minister Enggartiasto “Enggar” Lukita (JP/Stefani Ribka)
A trade mission team is ready to visit South Africa and Nigeria on July 20 to 26 in a bid to expand trade with the non-traditional markets, which have large populations and high growth rates.

“Both South Africa and Nigeria are gateways to access the larger African market,” said Trade Minister Enggartiasto “Enggar” Lukita in a press statement released on Wednesday.

“South Africa is key to access members of SACU [Southern African Customs Union] while Nigeria is a gateway to Ecowas [Economic Community of West African States].”

Read also: Indonesia's trade surplus up by 23.6 percent in May
He added that the visit was slated to accelerate the signing of preferential trade agreements (PTA) between Indonesia and each of the two African countries.

Representatives from 21 firms will join the team. They will offer, among others, agricultural and automotive products, coffee, crude oil, construction, food processing, furniture, palm oil products, paper, spices, footwear, textiles, building materials, poultry and finance.

Enggar said government to government trade was also possible as Indonesia, for example, needed oil and gas as well as weapons from the countries, while Indonesia might sell transportation equipment and palm oil to them.

South Africa has a population of 55 million with 18.10 inflation rate in June and Nigeria has 182 million people, while the entire continent is home to some 1.62 billion people with solid population growth.

In 2016, Indonesia saw a US$437 million trade surplus with South Africa, but a $969.2 million deficit with Nigeria as a result of oil and gas imports from that country.

However, Indonesia enjoyed a $302.7 million non-oil-and-gas trade surplus with Nigeria. (bbn)
 
2017-02-14T101451Z_1073305153_RC148A106250_RTRMADP_3_BANK-MANDIRI-RESULTS.jpg
Bank Mandiri Profit Soars 33% in H1 on Strong Loan Growth, Fee-Based Income

Jakarta. Bank Mandiri booked a 33.7 percent year-on-year increase in net income in the first half of 2017, on the back of strong loan growth and a surge in fee-based income.

In its consolidated financial report published on Wednesday (19/07), the state-controlled bank booked Rp 9.5 trillion ($713 million) in net income in the January-June period, compared with Rp 7.08 trillion in the same period last year.

"We are grateful for our positive financial achievements in the first half of this year. This proves that our efforts to improve the business since last year have delivered a significant result," Bank Mandiri president director Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said in a statement.

The bank's net interest income – income from lending money to customers after deducting the costs of paying depositors – grew by 6 percent to Rp 25.7 trillion, while noninterest income – income from fees, commissions and foreign exchange gains – increased by 18.5 percent to Rp 10.8 trillion.

Bank Mandiri's total outstanding loans stood at Rp 682 trillion in the first half of this year, having increased by 11.6 percent from the same period last year due to robust growth in consumer loans and micro-loans.

For its long-term strategy until 2020, the company plans to focus on salary-based loans and consumer loans, including automotive financing.

The lender saw its ratio of gross nonperforming loans (NPL) narrow by 3.82 percent from 3.86 percent in the corresponding period in 2016, while its net NPL also shrank to 1.44 percent from 1.53 percent.

Bank Mandiri's total assets increased by 9.9 percent to Rp 1,067.4 trillion, strengthening its position as the country's biggest lender by assets.
 
Misi Mengejar Perdagangan Indonesia dan Afrika
Anto Kurniawan
Kamis, 20 Juli 2017 - 05:12 WIB

misi-mengejar-perdagangan-indonesia-dan-afrika-rHc.jpg

Indonesia kian giat meningkatkan kerja sama perdagangan dengan Afrika, lewat misi dagang ke Afrika Selatan dan Nigeria. Foto/Ilustrasi
A+ A-

JAKARTA - Indonesia kian giat meningkatkan kerja sama perdagangan dengan Afrika. Lewat Misi Dagang ke Afrika Selatan dan Nigeria pada 20-26 Juli 2017 mendatang, Menteri Perdagangan (Mendag) Enggartiasto Lukita berharap dapat mempercepat terbentuknya Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) agar dapat mendorong perdagangan yang seimbang dengan negara-negara di Afrika.

“Bapak Presiden menekankan bahwa untuk membangun bersama Afrika harus dilakukan tanpa merusak Afrika. Oleh karena itu, Kemendag mendorong kerja sama bilateral yang seimbang dengan Afrika sehingga akses arus barang ekspor Indonesia ke pasar negara-negara di Afrika juga akan lebih lancar,” ujar Enggar di Jakarta seperti dilansir laman resmi Kemendag.

Menurutnya negara-negara di dunia telah mempraktikkan perdagangan bebas, namun tetap melindungi produk dalam negeri mereka dengan membatasi masuknya produk asing. “Kemendag telah melakukan kajian komprehensif sehingga bisa menetapkan hal-hal yang masuk dalam daftar penawaran dan daftar permintaan yang dituangkan dalam PTA,” jelasnya.

Dengan populasi penduduk mencapai lebih dari 60 juta, pasar Afrika dinilai begitu menjanjikan. Selain itu, baik Afrika Selatan maupun Nigeria adalah pintu gerbang untuk mengakses pasar Afrika. Afrika Selatan dengan Southern African Customs Union (SACU), sementara Nigeria dengan Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas).

Selain menjajaki kerja sama bilateral, Misi Dagang Afrika juga memboyong 21 perusahaan Indonesia, di antaranya dari sektor produk agrikultur, otomotif, kopi, minyak mentah, konstruksi, pengolahan makanan, furnitur, produk minyak sawit, kertas, bumbu/rembah, sepatu, tekstil, bahan bangunan, produk ternak, dan keuangan. Para pelaku usaha Indonesia bakal menjajaki pasar Afrika lewat forum bisnis dan one-on-one business matching, studi banding dan kunjungan pasar, sehingga lebih fokus dan terarah dalam mencari mitra dagang atau peluang bisnis.

Guna mendorong terjadinya realisasi ekspor antara peserta misi dagang dengan pelaku usaha di negara tujuan misi dagang, Pemerintah juga akan memanfaatkan skema imbal dagang (counter trade) bagi produk-produk tertentu yang pengelolaannya masih melibatkan peran antarpemerintah, misalnya produk energi (minyak dan gas) dari Afrika yang dapat dibarter dengan produk alutsista, transportasi, dan kelapa sawit Indonesia.

“Afrika bukan lagi termasuk kawasan yang bisa dipandang sebelah mata. Pertumbuhan ekonomi di Afrika tinggi dan diiringi tingkat inflasi yang tinggi. Para pelaku usaha perlu datang dan melihat langsung bagaimana prospek bisnis di Afrika. Selain penjajakan PTA, pemerintah juga membantu dari segi government to government lewat skema imbal dagang, serta melalui perwakilan di luar negeri, baik ITPC maupun Atdag,” tandas Mendag.

Sekilas Perdagangan Indonesia-Afrika Selatan & Indonesia-Nigeria Afrika Selatan merupakan negara tujuan ekspor Indonesia ke-32, dan menjadi negara tujuan ekspor pertama di negara Afrika. Total perdagangan kedua negara mencapai lebih dari USD1 miliar di tahun 2016, dengan nilai ekspor Indonesia mencapai USD727,8 juta dan impor senilai USD290,8 juta.

Hal ini memberikan surplus bagi Indonesia senilai USD437 juta. Pasar Afrika Selatan merupakan salah satu target dan tujuan utama ekspor Indonesia yang diharapkan meningkat ke depannya. Produk ekspor Indonesia ke Afrika Selatan antara lain kelapa sawit, karet, otomotif produk, bahan kimia, sepatu, dan kakao. Sementara produk impor Indonesia dari Afrika Selatan adalah bubuk kayu, alumunium, buah-buahan, dan tembaga.

Indonesia merupakan negara pemasok ke-18 ke Nigeria atau urutan ke-2 dari ASEAN, setelah Malaysia. Nigeria adalah salah satu mitra dagang penting bagi Indonesia di Afrika. Pada 2016, total perdagangan antara kedua negara mencapai USD1,6 miliar, dengan nilai ekspor mencapai USD310,8 juta dan nilai impor USD 1,28 miliar.

Defisit bagi Indonesia sebagian besar Berasal dari impor minyak dan gas. Meskipun demikian, Indonesia mengalami surplus USD302,72 juta pada perdagangan nonmigas. Produk ekspor nonmigas Indonesia ke Nigeria antara lain kertas, kelapa sawit,dan turunannya seperti halnya ekspor utama negara-negara Asia Tenggara ke Afrika yaitu antara lain obat-obatan dan bumbu-bumbu.

(akr)
 
Skytrain Bandara Cengkareng Uji Coba 2 Minggu Mulai Akhir Juli
Citra Fitri Mardiana - detikFinance

dd05f6df-ed16-4021-a17d-306f75ac367f_169.jpg
Foto: Dok. AP 2
Jakarta - Tak lama lagi, uji coba skytrain atau automated people mover system (APMS) yang akan dioperasikan di Bandara Internasional Soekarno-Hatta, akan dilaksanakan pada akhir Juli 2017 ini.

Manager Publik Relation PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II, Yado Yarismano, mengatakan uji coba memang telah dijadwalkan pada Juli 2017 ini. Namun akhir bulan ini baru bisa dilaksanakan mengingat sebelumnya AP II tengah difokuskan pada angkutan Lebaran.

"Jadi memang (uji coba) direncanakan di bulan Juli, tapi belum dipastikan tanggalnya kapan. Direncanakan akhir bulan Juli untuk uji cobanya karena di awal-awal Juli kita masih fokus buat angkutan Lebaran, jadi akhir Juli ini," ungkap Yado saat dihubungi detikFinance, Jumat (21/7/2017).

Menurutnya uji coba nantinya akan dilakukan oleh jajaran Direktorat Jenderal Perkeretaapian. Selama uji coba yang akan berlangsung dalam 2 minggu, skytrain masih akan diuji coba menggunakan masinis.

"Uji coba di verifikasi dari Ditjen kereta api. Lama uji coba 1-2 minggu dan masih pakai masinis, masih disupirin. Nanti driverlessnya kalau sudah full operation," terangnya.

Dalam uji coba tersebut, akan ada sejumlah pengetesan yang meliputi uji infrastruktur lintasan, uji rangkaian kereta serta Standar Operasional Prosedur (SOP) guna mengetahui seberapa aman skytrain saat dioperasikan.

"Terkait rangkaian keretanya sendiri, SOP keamanan dan keselematannya. Kalau terjadi apa-apa bagaimana penanggulangannya. Terkait infrastrukturnya (lintasannya) juga di uji coba dilewati keretanya," ujar Yado.

Seperti diketahui, pengoperasian Skytrain ditujukan untuk memfasilitasi seluruh terminal di Bandara Soekarno-Hatta dengan total panjang lintasan 3,1 km yang diprediksi akan rampung tahun 2017. Namun untuk rencana pengoperasian tahap pertama, skytrain lebih dulu akan menjangkau Terminal 2 menuju Terminal 3 atau sebaliknya, dengan panjang lintasan sekitar 1,8 km.(hns/hns)

new Autobahn section in West Java

Kondisi Terkini Pembangunan Tol Cijago Seksi II
Grandyos Zafna - detikFinance
Pengerjaan Jalan Tol Cinere-Jagorawi (Cijago) Seksi II terus dilakukan. Jalan tol ini membentang dari Jalan Raya Bogor hingga Kukusan, Beji, Depok.
1 dari 7

ecf74fe0-4de4-409a-9465-bf423ea2fefb.jpg

Ruas Seksi II A antara Cisalak sampai Margonda, saat ini progres pembebasan tanahnya sudah mencapai 97,65 persen.

Proses pengerjaan fisik tol tersebut mencapai 71,5 persen.

2 dari 7

6f23e309-1dfa-44df-8982-0bdea4d6eb9c.jpg

Proses pengerjaan fisik tol tersebut mencapai 71,5 persen.

Jalan Tol Cijago membentang dari Cimanggis hingga Cinere sepanjang 14,6 kilometer.

4 dari 7

0ec04de3-ba84-45b4-9612-cd7a7bc99825.jpg

Jalan Tol Cijago membentang dari Cimanggis hingga Cinere sepanjang 14,6 kilometer.
 

Batik Air starts flight to India
Senin, 24 Juli 2017 16:28 WIB - 120 Views

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Batik Air, an airline under the management of Lion Air Group, started operations on a new route to Chennai, India, in order to help develop Indonesias tourism by attracting more foreign tourists.

"For this new flight, our international destination is Chennai, the capital of Indias Tamil Nadu State," Public Relations Manager of the Lion Air Group Andy M. Saladin noted in a press release received by ANTARA on Monday.

The airline started flying to Chennai on July 23, 2017, with a scheduled daily flight from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to later transit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before heading to India.

The flight from Denpasar will depart at 11:10 p.m. Bali local time to Kuala Lumpur and will continue the trip to Chennai at 6:20 a.m. Malaysia local time.

The flight from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur will depart at 8:55 a.m. India local time and then continue the journey to Denpasar at 4:35 p.m. Malaysia local time.

Since June 2017, Batik Air has been serving two international routes: Cengkareng-Kuala Lumpur and Denpasar-Perth.

In the near future, the airline will start new flights from Indonesia to several cities in Australia.

Batik Air, which began operating in 2013 and currently operates 49 aircraft comprising the Boeing 737-800/900ER Airbus A320CEO, has also secured the highest international safety and security management standard IOSA, or the IATA Operational Safety Audit, and recognition from the European Union with the removal of a flight ban to Europe in 2016.

This demonstrates that Batik Air has always prioritized safety and security aspects in its operation to serve its loyal customers.(*)
Editor: Heru

COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2017
 
20170723antarafoto-pembangunan2-lrt.jpg



Pembangunan LRT JabodebekSuasana pembangunan proyek transportasi masal Light Rail Transit (LRT) di sepanjang Tol Jagorawi, Kampung Makasar, Jakarta Timur, Minggu (23/7/2017). Direktur Utama PT Adhi Karya Tbk, Budhi Harto mengungkapkan, nilai pembangunan prasarana LRT Jabodebek di kontrak awal sebesar Rp23,39 triliun sudah termasuk PPN 10 persen. Namun, setelah dihitung lagi, ongkos konstruksi LRT dapat ditekan lebih murah menjadi Rp 19,7 triliun dan belum termasuk PPN 10 persen dan sesuai arahan Presiden Jokowi, pemerintah akan tetap mengejar target penyelesaian proyek LRT Jabodebek pada awal 2019. (ANTARAFOTO/Yulius Satria Wijaya)

20170716antarafoto-proyek-pembangun.jpg





Proyek Pembangunan LRT JakartaProyek pembangunan kereta ringan atau Light Rail Transit (LRT) disamping ruas tol Jagorawi kawasan Cililitan, Jakarta Timur, Sabtu (15/7/2017). Kementerian Perhubungan memastikan kereta ringan atau Light Rail Transit (LRT) rute Cawang-Cibubur terus dikerjakan dan hingga kini pembangunannya sudah mencapai 30 persen, ditargetkan selesai dan beroperasi pada 2019.

20170723antarafoto-menhub-tinjau-pe.jpg



Menhub Tinjau Proyek Stasiun ManggaraiMenteri Perhubungan Budi Karya Sumadi (kanan) berbincang dengan Dirut PT KAI Edi Sukmoro (kiri) saat meninjau pengembangan Stasiun Manggarai, Jakarta, Minggu (23/7/2017). Kunjungan kerja tersebut dilakukan untuk meninjau perkembangan konsep transit oriented development (TOD) untuk mendukung percepatan pergerakan penumpang ke lokasi tujuan, yakni dengan mendekatkan stasiun dengan fasilitas moda transportasi lainnya. (ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja)




20170724antarafoto-menhub-3tinjau-p.jpg


Koneksi Transportasi PublikMenteri Perhubungan Budi Karya Sumadi (tengah) Dirut PT KAI Edi Sukmoro (kedua kanan) dan Kepala Dinas Perhubungan dan Transportasi DKI Jakarta Andri Yansyah (keempat kiri) mengecek halte Transjakarta Stasiun Tebet di Jakarta, Minggu (23/7/2017). Kunjungan kerja tersebut dilakukan untuk meninjau perkembangan konsep transit oriented development (TOD) untuk mendukung percepatan pergerakan penumpang ke lokasi tujuan, yakni dengan mendekatkan stasiun dengan fasilitas moda transportasi lainnya. (ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja)
 
How the Asian Financial Crisis Reshapes Emerging Markets

28_proyek-infrastruktur1-ant-1024x681.jpg

lg.php

The Asian Financial Crisis that began 20 years ago this month had lingering effects well into 1998, casting a long shadow over many of the region’s economies for several years. Since that time, the lessons of that crisis have played a critical role in broadly reshaping emerging markets, particularly in Asia but also around the world.

I was living in Asia during the height of the crisis and saw the devastating effects it had on local economies. Countries like Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines were hit hard by massive depreciations of their currencies, rapidly magnifying their external vulnerabilities.

Now two decades on, several countries have worked hard to build up their resilience to external shocks. Many of today’s policymakers that lived through the crisis and learned from it have been working to minimize the chances of repeating it.

Some of these countries have spent years increasing their external reserve cushions, bringing their current accounts into surplus or close to balance, improving their fiscal accounts and reducing their US-dollar liabilities by turning to domestic sources of funding. These adjustments have had profound effects on their economies; today there is a subset of emerging markets that have stronger growth and healthier balances than many developed economies.

We see several undervalued investment opportunities across the local-currency markets, particularly among countries that directly learned from the lessons of the Asian financial crisis and worked for decades to fortify their economies against future shocks.

Resilience in Indonesia

Indonesia is a strong example of a country that has actively reduced its external dependencies since the crisis in 1998. After living through its devastating effects, Indonesia moved to an ambitious structural reform program that sought to strengthen its economy, balance its growth drivers and accelerate domestic development. These ongoing structural reforms have fortified its underlying economy and positioned it better to deflect external shocks.

But it’s not just mere speculation as to whether those structural reforms have worked — they have been actively tested by real exogenous shocks over the last decade. In 2008, the global financial crisis roiled economies around the world. However, Indonesia had far fewer external liabilities and a more balanced, domestically diversified economy than it did in 1997. Consequently, there was no repeat of the crisis in Indonesia this time around, despite the risk-off currency depreciations across emerging markets.

More recently, Indonesia proved it could handle a sharp decline in commodity prices, such as the collapse in oil prices in the fourth quarter of 2014 and its continued deepening through early 2016. Concurrent with that substantial decline in oil prices, markets began to fear a contraction in China’s economy in mid-2015 as its rate of growth moderated. The collapse in oil prices coupled with fears over China largely drove investors out of emerging markets, leading to broad currency depreciations across the asset class.

However, Indonesia’s economy remained resilient throughout these events, averaging year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth of around 5 percent. Twenty years ago it would have been difficult for countries like Indonesia to weather a commodity price shock, an exchange-rate shock and a trade shock all at the same time. But today, many countries have greatly reduced these external vulnerabilities. We see highly compelling value in Indonesia’s local-currency market, and the country’s longer-term prospects continue to look promising.

Domestic Markets

One of the most important steps that many emerging markets have taken over the past decade is the expansion of their domestic financial markets.

In the past, the lack of a strong domestic investor base often magnified the consequences of financial volatility. In contrast, domestic institutional investors today are far more prevalent in many domestic markets, and often act as a stabilizing force when asset prices collapse by stepping in to buy assets when foreign investors may be fleeing them.

Overall, the transition to domestic funding has improved financial resilience within many countries. Additional measures taken have included:

· Keeping exchange rates flexible, which has enabled quick adjustments to exogenous shocks; · Maintaining substantial stocks of foreign exchange reserves; · Following prudent fiscal policies over an extended period, which reduces immediate vulnerabilities while leaving room for fiscal stabilizers to help cushion shocks; · Supporting a balanced macro policy mix, with independent, credible central banks in better position to keep inflation anchored while supporting growth in coordination with fiscal policy; · Strengthening balance sheets, notably at the government and financial sector level — though in some countries, corporations have instead increased debt levels; and · Developing robust and stable banking sectors that operate in better-regulated environments.

Overall, several emerging markets in Asia and around the world have greatly reduced their dependence on external financing and strengthened their overall financial stability; we see promising futures for a number of these countries. While the AFC had painful consequences 20 years ago, the lessons of that crisis have guided many countries toward far better solutions today.

Michael Hasenstab is the executive vice president and chief investment officer at Templeton Global Macro

http://jakartaglobe.id/business/asian-financial-crisis-reshapes-emerging-markets/
 
How the Asian Financial Crisis Reshapes Emerging Markets

28_proyek-infrastruktur1-ant-1024x681.jpg

The Asian Financial Crisis that began 20 years ago this month had lingering effects well into 1998, casting a long shadow over many of the region’s economies for several years. Since that time, the lessons of that crisis have played a critical role in broadly reshaping emerging markets, particularly in Asia but also around the world.

I was living in Asia during the height of the crisis and saw the devastating effects it had on local economies. Countries like Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines were hit hard by massive depreciations of their currencies, rapidly magnifying their external vulnerabilities.

Now two decades on, several countries have worked hard to build up their resilience to external shocks. Many of today’s policymakers that lived through the crisis and learned from it have been working to minimize the chances of repeating it.

Some of these countries have spent years increasing their external reserve cushions, bringing their current accounts into surplus or close to balance, improving their fiscal accounts and reducing their US-dollar liabilities by turning to domestic sources of funding. These adjustments have had profound effects on their economies; today there is a subset of emerging markets that have stronger growth and healthier balances than many developed economies.

We see several undervalued investment opportunities across the local-currency markets, particularly among countries that directly learned from the lessons of the Asian financial crisis and worked for decades to fortify their economies against future shocks.

Resilience in Indonesia

Indonesia is a strong example of a country that has actively reduced its external dependencies since the crisis in 1998. After living through its devastating effects, Indonesia moved to an ambitious structural reform program that sought to strengthen its economy, balance its growth drivers and accelerate domestic development. These ongoing structural reforms have fortified its underlying economy and positioned it better to deflect external shocks.

But it’s not just mere speculation as to whether those structural reforms have worked — they have been actively tested by real exogenous shocks over the last decade. In 2008, the global financial crisis roiled economies around the world. However, Indonesia had far fewer external liabilities and a more balanced, domestically diversified economy than it did in 1997. Consequently, there was no repeat of the crisis in Indonesia this time around, despite the risk-off currency depreciations across emerging markets.

More recently, Indonesia proved it could handle a sharp decline in commodity prices, such as the collapse in oil prices in the fourth quarter of 2014 and its continued deepening through early 2016. Concurrent with that substantial decline in oil prices, markets began to fear a contraction in China’s economy in mid-2015 as its rate of growth moderated. The collapse in oil prices coupled with fears over China largely drove investors out of emerging markets, leading to broad currency depreciations across the asset class.

However, Indonesia’s economy remained resilient throughout these events, averaging year-on-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth of around 5 percent. Twenty years ago it would have been difficult for countries like Indonesia to weather a commodity price shock, an exchange-rate shock and a trade shock all at the same time. But today, many countries have greatly reduced these external vulnerabilities. We see highly compelling value in Indonesia’s local-currency market, and the country’s longer-term prospects continue to look promising.

Domestic Markets

One of the most important steps that many emerging markets have taken over the past decade is the expansion of their domestic financial markets.

In the past, the lack of a strong domestic investor base often magnified the consequences of financial volatility. In contrast, domestic institutional investors today are far more prevalent in many domestic markets, and often act as a stabilizing force when asset prices collapse by stepping in to buy assets when foreign investors may be fleeing them.

Overall, the transition to domestic funding has improved financial resilience within many countries. Additional measures taken have included:

· Keeping exchange rates flexible, which has enabled quick adjustments to exogenous shocks; · Maintaining substantial stocks of foreign exchange reserves; · Following prudent fiscal policies over an extended period, which reduces immediate vulnerabilities while leaving room for fiscal stabilizers to help cushion shocks; · Supporting a balanced macro policy mix, with independent, credible central banks in better position to keep inflation anchored while supporting growth in coordination with fiscal policy; · Strengthening balance sheets, notably at the government and financial sector level — though in some countries, corporations have instead increased debt levels; and · Developing robust and stable banking sectors that operate in better-regulated environments.

Overall, several emerging markets in Asia and around the world have greatly reduced their dependence on external financing and strengthened their overall financial stability; we see promising futures for a number of these countries. While the AFC had painful consequences 20 years ago, the lessons of that crisis have guided many countries toward far better solutions today.

Michael Hasenstab is the executive vice president and chief investment officer at Templeton Global Macro

http://jakartaglobe.id/business/asian-financial-crisis-reshapes-emerging-markets/

Indonesian economic growth also brought fortunes to Indonesians studying abroad. As Indonesian market grows, foreign companies are racing to get the share of the honey. Many German companies are expanding to Indonesia and in doing so, they open recruitments for Indonesian students to be their employee. 10 years ago, people would have to go back to Indonesia after the graduation because it was simply too hard to compete with Germans for jobs that are more suited for German minded and speaking employees. So, please, whoever sits on the throne now, DO NOT FCUK THE PROGRESS UP !
 
Indonesia targets Nigerian market: Minister
Rabu, 26 Juli 2017 05:16 WIB - 1.674 Views

Lagos (ANTARA News) - Trade Ministry is now targeting the Nigerian market to serve as the alternative for exporting the Indonesian products, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita stated here on Tuesday.

As one of the developing countries, Nigeria has some market potentials, including the large populations, Lukita remarked.

The minister further said the Indonesian companies should take the opportunities to expanding their businesses in Nigeria.

In order to actualize the plan, the ministry, according to Lukita, would facilitate further meeting between two countries companies.

"The economic forum has served as a good option to bring together the two countries companies," Lukita told Antara in Lagos, Nigeria on Monday local time.

The two countries earlier had held an economic forum on establishing Nigeria as a business hub for the West Africa region.

About 300 participants, including the companies, the governments representatives, and the trade chambers attended the forum.

During the event, some 21 Indonesian companies had promoted their products to the Nigerian firms.

In 2016, the total trade volume of two countries reached US$1,6 billion, with US$310.8 million exports and US$1.28 billion imports to Indonesia. Meanwhile in term of non-oil and gas sector, Indonesia received surplus of US$302.72 million.

Indonesia had exported some products, including paper, palm oil and its derivations, medicines, and spices to Nigeria.

A similar forum, previously, had been held in South Africa, and as a result, about eight Indonesian companies, including PT Wijaya Karya (Wika) would launch a further cooperation with the South African companies.

Apart from Wika, Rainbow Roof would also sign a trade agreement with the South African distributor companies.

"We hope the meeting would pave the way for Indonesian companies to expand not only in some connecting countries, but also target all markets in Africa," Lukita noted.

Hence, the Indonesian government has prepared some schemes, including the counter trade mechanism to improve the exports to Nigeria.

The scheme would allow some products such as oil and gas to be swapped with the defense instruments, vehicles and other transportation modes, and palm oils.(*)
Editor: Heru

COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2017
 
Palembang Light Railway Transit progress

201707282968.jpg



Pembangunan LRT PalembangFoto udara pembangunan Light Rail Transit (LRT) di Zona Ampera pembangunan LRT Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Kamis (27/7/2017). Perkembangan pengerjaan LRT/Kereta Ringan sepanjang 23,4 km dari Bandara Internasional Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II dan berujung di Jakabaring Sport City (JSC) tersebut saat ini sudah mencapai 46,68 persen dan pembangunannya terus dikebut. (ANTARA /Nova Wahyudi)

201707282969.jpg



Pembangunan LRT PalembangFoto udara pembangunan Light Rail Transit (LRT) di Zona Ampera pembangunan LRT Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Kamis (27/7/2017). Perkembangan pengerjaan LRT/Kereta Ringan sepanjang 23,4 km dari Bandara Internasional Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II dan berujung di Jakabaring Sport City (JSC) tersebut saat ini sudah mencapai 46,68 persen dan pembangunannya terus dikebut. (ANTARA/Nova Wahyudi)



201707282970.jpg



Pembangunan LRT PalembangSejumlah pekerja memasang atap stasiun Light Rail Transit (LRT) Ampera di Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Kamis (27/7/2017). Perkembangan pengerjaan LRT/Kereta Ringan sepanjang 23,4 km dari Bandara Internasional Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II dan berujung di Jakabaring Sport City (JSC) tersebut saat ini sudah mencapai 46,68 persen dan pembangunannya terus dikebut. (ANTARA/Nova Wahyudi)

201707282971.jpg



Pembangunan LRT PalembangFoto udara pembangunan Light Rail Transit (LRT) di Zona Ampera pembangunan LRT Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Kamis (27/7/2017). Perkembangan pengerjaan LRT/Kereta Ringan sepanjang 23,4 km dari Bandara Internasional Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II dan berujung di Jakabaring Sport City (JSC) tersebut saat ini sudah mencapai 46,68 persen dan pembangunannya terus dikebut. (ANTARA/Nova Wahyudi)
 
20170729antarafoto-pembangunan-fly-.jpg



Pembangunan Fly Over KeramasanFoto udara pembangunan jalan layang Keramasan, Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Sabtu (29/7/2017). Pembangunan jalan layang Keramasan yang memiliki panjang 650 meter dan lebar 17,5 meter tersebut ditargetkan rampung Maret 2018 untuk mendukung pelaksanaan Asian Games 2018. (ANTARA FOTO/Nova Wahyudi)

20170729antarafoto-pembangunan-fly-.jpg



Pembangunan Fly Over KeramasanFoto udara pembangunan jalan layang Keramasan, Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Sabtu (29/7/2017). Pembangunan jalan layang Keramasan yang memiliki panjang 650 meter dan lebar 17,5 meter tersebut ditargetkan rampung Maret 2018 untuk mendukung pelaksanaan Asian Games 2018. (ANTARA FOTO/Nova Wahyudi)

201707111137.jpg



Pembangunan Jembatan Musi VI PalembangFoto udara pembangunan Jembatan Musi VI Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Selasa (11/7/2017). Jembatan Musi VI yang menjadi sarana prioritas dan penunjang transportasi Asian Games 2018 itu ditargetkan rampung akhir tahun 2017. (ANTARA/Nova Wahyudi)




201707111136.jpg


Pembangunan Jembatan Musi VI PalembangFoto udara pembangunan Jembatan Musi VI Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Selasa (11/7/2017). Jembatan Musi VI yang menjadi sarana prioritas dan penunjang transportasi Asian Games 2018 itu ditargetkan rampung akhir tahun 2017. (ANTARA /Nova Wahyudi)
 
Indonesia, Laos Sepakat Tingkatkan Kerjasama

Menandai 60 tahun kerjasama Indonesia-Laos, Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi dan Menteri Luar Negeri Laos Saleumxay Kommasith pada Kamis (27/7) menggelar pertemuan bilateral di Jakarta.

339788_20160304092544.jpg

Ilustrasi produk Pindad [ryan boedi] ●

Selain mengadakan pertemuan bilateral, Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi dan Menteri Luar Negeri Laos Saleumxay Kommasith pada Kamis (27/7) juga menghadiri pertemuan kelima JCBC (Komisi Bersama untuk Kerjasama Bilateral).

Pertemuan kedua menteri luar negeri tersebut sekaligus menandai 60 tahun usia hubungan diplomatik antara Indonesia dan Laos. Kedua tokoh membahas rencana lawatan perdana menteri Laos ke Indonesia, serta membicarakan peningkatan kerja sama ekonomi, terutama investasi, dan pengembangan sumber daya manusia.

Nilai perdagangan Indonesia dan Laos tahun lalu mencapai US$ 10,071 juta, meningkat ketimbang di 2015, yakni US$ 8,55 juta. Sedangkan investasi Indonesia di Laos saat ini sebesar US$ 1,1 juta antara pengusaha perfilman Raam Punjabi dengan Major Cinema dari Thailand untuk membuka jaringan bioskop.

Dalam jumpa pers bersama usai pertemuan, Retno Marsudi menjelaskan sebagai bagian dari peringatan ulang tahun ke-60 hubungan diplomatik Indonesia-Laos, akan diselenggarakan beragam kegiatan di kedua negara, termasuk pertujukan kebudayaan, seminar, pameran foto, pameran dagang dan pariwisata, dan festival film untuk memajukan hubungan bilateral kedua negara.

Kedua menteri luar negeri juga membahas kerja sama di bidang politik dan keamanan.

"Menteri Kommasith dan saya membahas cara-cara untuk memperkuat kerja sama dalam mencegah dan memberantas kejahatan terorganisir antar negara, termasuk penyelundupan narkotik, terorisme, termasuk pendanaan bagi terorisme. Saya sangat senang mendengar angkatan bersenjata Laos akan memperkuat kerja sama dengan PT Pindad," ujar Retno.

Retno menambahkan dirinya dan Kommasith membahas pula mengenai peningkatkan kerja sama di bidang ekonomi. Keduanya sepakat ada banyak kelompok yang bisa secara cepat meningkatkan kerja sama perdagangan, investasi, dan pariwisata. Dia mengakui untuk menaikkan interaksi dagang dan investasi dapat dilakukan bila komunitas bisnis kedua negara memahami potensi ekonomi masing-masing negara.

Karena itu, menurut Retno, Indonesia serta Laos mendorong saling kunjung antara delegasi dagang dan investasi kedua negara.

Dalam kesempatan itu, Retno menyatakan pemerintah Indonesia berterima kasih atas dukungan Laos terhadap pencalonan Indonesia sebagai anggota tidak tetap Dewan Keamanan Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa untuk periode 2019-2020.

Saleumxay Kommasith mengatakan pembahasan hari ini sangat penting karena menyangkut sejumlah isu yang menjadi kepentingan bersama kedua negara. Dia menambahkan kunjungannya kali ini juga signifikan sebab bertepatan dengan 60 tahun umur hubungan diplomatik Indonesia dan Laos.

Kommasith mengakui sejak awal hubungan dan kerjasama negaranya dengan Indonesia sudah berjalan sangat baik.

"Satu-satunya hal yang perlu kita tingkatkan dalam kerja sama bilateral adalah di sektor ekonomi, pariwisata. Ini bukan sesuatu yang unik bagi kedua negara tapi ini sebuah isu yang perlu dipromosikan di kalangan negara-negara ASEAN. Kami membahas bagaimana ASEAN seharusnya bekerja sama untuk memajukan bukan hanya soal persatuan dan sentralitas ASEAN, namun juga mempromosikan kerja sama ekonomi demi kepentingan warga negara ASEAN," ujar Kommasith.

Lebih lanjut Kommasith mengatakan dirinya dan Retno menekankan pembahasan mengenai bagaimana memajukan sektor pariwisata Indonesia dan Laos, serta konektivitas antara kedua negara.

Selama di Indonesia, Kommasith juga akan mengadakan pertemuan dengan Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla dan kunjungan ke PT Pupuk Kujang di Cikampek, Purwakarta. [fw/al]

VoA
 
Back
Top Bottom