July inflation below one percent: Economist
Rabu, 30 Juli 2014 20:46 WIB | 783 Views
Illustration of food as commodity inflation determinants. (ANTARA/Wahyu Putro A.)
Cirebon, West Java (ANTARA News) - The Head of Bank Mandiri Economists, Destry Damayanti, has predicted that inflation rate in July will remain below one percent, with 0.75 percent (month-to-month) and the yearly inflation 4.6 percent (year-on-year).
Destry said inflation was annually impacted by price hike during fasting month Ramadhan and Eid Holidays, but it was well-controlled this year.
Market demands had also increased as a result of school year and presidential momentum in 2014.
"I believe the government has been successful enough in controlling price hike, especially food," Destry noted.
Destry pointed out that the collapse of Comal Bridge in Pemalang District, Central Java, had caused the logistic cost increase, which has had an impact on price hike.
"That is not significant however, as the government has provided a quick response to stabilize market price," she said.
The low inflation in July, Destry added, was also triggered by gold price drop.
The gold bar price of PT Aneka Tambang, a state-owned mining company, in few days ahead of Eid dropped from Rp529 thousand to Rp528 thousand per gram, as well as its buyback, which was Rp468 thousand per gram, Rp1,000 lower than the same period last year.
Destry added that the strengthened rate of rupiah to US dollar had also curbed inflation in July.
"We have been helped by rupiah appreciation throughout July," she said.
However, the second time increase of electricity fare for industries in early July, Destry noted, might cause an increase in inflation.
"As food price is under control, inflation probably will remain below one percent," she said.
The inflation rate in June 2014 was 0.43 percent compared with the Eid Holidays in previous years, which had always been up to one percent, but this years inflation is low.
The inflation on the Eid Holidays in August 2013, for example, had reached 1.12 percent.
(Reported by Indra Arief Pribadi/translated and edited by Azi Fitriyanti/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
July inflation below one percent: Economist - ANTARA News
Ancol Dreamland Jakarta attracts 78 thousand holidaymakers
Selasa, 29 Juli 2014 17:54 WIB | 950 Views
Holiday at Ancol Beach, Jakarta. (ANTARA/Pradita Utama)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Ancol Dreamland Recreational Center in North Jakarta was visited by about 78 thousand holidaymakers on the second day of the post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran holidays on Tuesday.
The Ancol Dreamland Communication Manager Metty Yan Harahap has forecast on Tuesday that the number will increase by evening.
"We predict that the number will continue to increase in the evening because the data we have revealed was recorded till 12 noon," Matty informed ANTARA News.
She pointed out that the number of visitors will peak on Wednesday and Thursday, but the Ancol Dreamland Recreational Center has made the necessary preparations to handle the flow of visitors until a week after the Monday-Tuesday Idul Fitri D-Day.
In the meantime, some 40 thousand visitors are expected to throng the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII), also popularly known as Taman Mini, on Tuesday, stated TMII Information Center Manager Suryandoro.
"By 12 noon today, some 25 thousand people had visited the park, and by 2 p.m., the number had increased to 30 thousand visitors. We predict that the visitor count will reach between 35 and 40 thousand," Suryandoro claimed here on Tuesday.
He added that the figure showed a 25 percent increase as compared to those visiting TMII on the first day of the post-fasting month of Idul Fitri or Lebaran on Monday.
A total of 20,159 people visited the East Jakartas park on Monday (July 28).
Surandoro expressed hope that the number of visitors this year will increase by 10 percent from that in 2013, which was 350 thousand visitors.
The TMII spokesman earlier noted that the management has set a target to attract 400 thousand visitors during the 2014 Lebaran holidays.
"The number of visitors to Taman Mini during this years Lebaran holiday season is forecast to increase by 10 percent as compared to last year," Suryandoro remarked.
He noted that a total of 350 thousand people visited Taman Mini during the Lebaran holidays last year, and the number during the same period this year is expected to reach at least 400 thousand.
Suryandoro expressed optimism that the target of 400 thousand visitors can be achieved as the Lebaran festivity coincides with the school holiday.
"The school holiday, which is in conjunction with the Lebaran festivity, will contribute to an increase in the number of visitors to Taman Mini," he pointed out.
According to Suryandoro, during the Lebaran holiday season this year, Taman Mini will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. to attract as many visitors as possible.
He noted that particularly from July 28 to August 10, 2014, the entry ticket fare to Taman Mini will be raised from Rp10 thousand to Rp12 thousand per person.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Ancol Dreamland Jakarta attracts 78 thousand holidaymakers - ANTARA News
Investors awaiting final decision on presidential election
Selasa, 29 Juli 2014 11:51 WIB | 916 Views
The landscape of Jakarta from the height. (ANTARA FOTO/Andika Wahyu)
Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Share investors are awaiting the final decision of the Constitutional Court on the result of the July 9 presidential election , an analyst said.
Investors are spending the long Idul Fitri holidays waiting for the decision to be announced to create political certainty, a branch manager of securities company PT Danareksa Sekuritas in Semarang Melcy RS Makarawung said on Tuesday.
Prabowo, the losing candidate contesting the election had filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court against the decision of the Election Commission.
Prabowo accused the Commission of being unfair saying there were massive rigging of the election in favor of rival candidate Joko Widodo.
Melcy said the share prices tend to decline in August because of the start of academic year especially with the Islamic holy day celebrations .
However, he described the market trend as positive and foreign investors who make up 60-65 percent of the investors in the domestic market believed the final result of the election would be as expected by the market.
"The investors believe the condition of political uncertainty would soon be over," he said
He said the composition of the cabinet would also has its impact on the market trend as the composition would determine the government policy.
"Among a number of crucial issues that need serious addressing by the new government include the plan to raise the electric tariff and price of subsidized oil fuels.
"Investment would be safe if the impact of the price hike could be controlled." he said.
Investors awaiting final decision on presidential election - ANTARA News
Fish consumption rises by 60 pct during fasting month
Selasa, 29 Juli 2014 20:26 WIB | 704 Views
Pewarta: Andi Abdussalam
Photo document of traditional fish market at Banda Aceh, Aceh. (ANTARA/Ampelsa)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As fish is one of the staple food items, the demand for processed fish in the country has increased drastically to about 60 percent during the fasting month.
"During the fasting month and in the face of the Lebaran festivities this year, the demand for processed fish products rose by about 50 to 60 percent," Director General for Processing and Marketing of Fishery Products of the Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Ministry (KKP) Saut Hutagalung remarked on Tuesday.
However, despite the increase in the demand for processed fishery products, there was no undue escalation in prices as they were under control and the increase only ranged between 20 and 30 percent.
Indonesia, which had a per capita fish consumption of 30.4 kilograms per annum in 2010 and has begun viewing its maritime sector as a key source of economic gain, has set a fish production target of about 21 million tons this year.
KKP spokesman Yulistyo Mudho noted that the countrys per capita fish consumption in 2010 was recorded at 30.47 kilograms per annum, an increase from 29.08 kilograms noted in 2009.
"The increase in fish consumption helped to improve the peoples intelligence levels and utilize the national fish production, which is set to reach 22.39 million tons in 2014," Mudho stated several years ago.
Even though the per capita fish consumption of its people is still relatively low, yet during the recently concluded fasting month, Indonesia saw increasing demand for processed fish.
According to the director general, processed fishery products that were increasingly in demand by consumers were otak-otak or fish paste, smoked and deboned bandeng (milk fish), and fish meat balls.
The director general stated that on the basis of observation across modern retail markets, processed fish products became a prima donna commodity purchased by consumers in the face of the Lebaran holidays.
"Basically, it is the same as two to three years ago, when milk fish was part of the menu served in family kitchens," he added.
Fortunately, there was no price turmoil during the fasting month and in the run up to the Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities.
"During the fasting month and in the lead-up to the Idul Fitri holidays, fish stocks remained adequate with prices relatively under control," asserted Hutagalung on Tuesday.
The fish stocks remained adequate in several big cities such as the capital city of Jakarta, South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar, East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, Medan of North Sumatra, Bandung of West Java, Semarang of Central Java, Yogyakarta, and Padang of West Sumatra.
The director general admitted to a decline in saltwater fish stocks in line with reduced activities of fishermen and traders at the retail markets such as in Muara Baru in Jakarta and the Caringin Market in Bandung.
He added that most of the fish stocks or about 65 percent at the Caringin Market were saltwater fish while the remaining 35 percent were freshwater fish.
The fish supplies to the Ciroyom Market meanwhile accounted for about 70 to 80 tons per day, most of which were shrimps and milk fish.
Milk fish is one of the varieties of saltwater fish, which has been in high demand. Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, is the main supplier of milk fish. More than 140 tons of milk fish were dispatched from Makassar to East Java, from where they were then supplied to various markets in Java, including Jakarta.
The main supply of ready-to-serve processed milk fish comes from Sidoarjo in East Java and Semarang in Central Java. It is then supplied to Jakarta, Bandung (West Java), Bogor (West Java), Malang and Surabaya in East Java.
Boiled fish supplied to the markets in the run up to Lebaran came from the cities of Rembang, Pati, Juwana, Prigi, Pelabuhanratu, Sukabumi, Bekasi, Tangerang, Serang, and Bogor.
"The markets are also filled with supplies of various other types of processed products such as fish dumplings, tekwan fish, milk fish sausages, smoked catfish, shredded fish, and milk fish satay (which is locally produced by small scale businesses). Of course, fish pempek is also abundant in the market," he added.
In the meantime, Jakartas fish requirement reached about 600 tons per day, which is met with supplies from the Muara Angke Market. The Muara Baru Market contributes 350 tons while the remaining 250 tons are supplied by the Seribu Islands. Jakartas freshwater fish requirement is met with supplies from West Java.
Hutagalung pointed out that the production of processed fish has drastically increased over the past 3 to 4 years.
He emphasized that the increase in the demand for fish indicated the growing awareness among the people on the importance of fish consumption. Fish is a main source of animal protein. Fish contributes some 58 percent of the total animal protein needs of the people. In villages, fish even contributed about 70 percent of the required animal protein.
Hutagalung earlier stated that the fishery sector was important to maintain food sovereignty in Indonesia, which has a large population reaching 250 million.
"Fishery is a main pillar for the Indonesian peoples nutritional resilience," he added.
(Uu.A014/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Fish consumption rises by 60 pct during fasting month - ANTARA News
30 kilos in 2010, i expect it has reached 40 kilos this year
Hotel occupancy rate in Bali rising sharply
Sabtu, 26 Juli 2014 17:09 WIB | 1.345 Views
Photo document of holiday in Bali. (ANTARA/Muhammad Iqbal)
Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The hotel occupancy rate in Bali is predicted to rise at an average 70 percent during the current long post-fasting holiday.
"We are predicting it will increase up to 70 percent," deputy chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), I Gusti Ngurah Rai Surya Wijaya, said here on Saturday.
The long holiday will contribute positively to the tourism industry in the island especially in tourist destination regions such as Denpasar, Kuta, Nusa Dua and Gianyar, he said.
"The long holiday builds up a good momentum especially for hotels in the tourist destination regions," he said.
Despite the holiday season the hotel room rates would not be raised because there are a lot of hotels on the island and that has made competition very tight, he said.
Domestic tourists would dominate visitors to the island this time, although a lot of tourists from Australia and several other foreign countries would also be here, he said.
Millions of Indonesians have been traveling to their home villages and towns to celebrate the Islamic post-fasting holiday of Lebaran with their friends and families.
Bali, meanwhile, is one of the favorite destinations for a holiday.
(Reporting by Dewa Wiguna/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Hotel occupancy rate in Bali rising sharply - ANTARA News
Transaction in Priok seaport should be in rupiah
Senin, 21 Juli 2014 23:12 WIB | 1.471 Views
Tanjung Priok seaport (ANTARA FOTO/M Agung Rajasa)
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Chairul Tanjung has reminded all parties that every transaction in Jakartas Tanjung Priok seaport should be conducted using rupiah currency in accordance with the Law No. 7 of 2011.
The senior minister said here on Monday that his side in coordination with the national police will impose strict legal sanctions on violators.
"If someone wishes to conduct a transaction, it should be done using rupiah. I will ask the criminal and detective agency of the national police to enact the legal action," he said.
Earlier, the government had discovered that various financial transactions in Tanjung Priok, and some other ports, were being done using US dollar.
The US dollar is used in the seaports because financial or commercial transactions are conducted with international business partners from foreign countries.
"However (the use of rupiah) is a mandate of the law and must be obeyed," the minister added.
Reported by Indra Arief Pribadi
Transaction in Priok seaport should be in rupiah - ANTARA News
