The budget targets Indonesia’s economic growth to rebound to 5 percent next year, following an expected contraction of 0.6 to 1.7 percent this year. [$]
Politics
We discuss Indonesia’s recent progress on poverty reduction, and the findings of a recent study on deprivation in remote eastern provinces.
Research led by UWA has revealed that human activity has created a breeding ground for viruses such as COVID-19, and there may be an even deadlier pandemic on the horizon.
The rise of Prabowo Subianto’s niece to deputy chair of the family party, Gerindra, is just a step in the family’s plan to place her at the helm of this political dynasty.
It is possible that the pandemic could end up further entrenching cleavages which have riven Indonesia’s religious and political life in recent years.
I noticed a recent media article that named the next Australian Ambassador to Indonesia. This was noteworthy in that there is in practice a lengthy process that needs to be followed before any appointment can be confirmed, and the current Ambassador, Gary Quinlan, remains in the role until mid 2021.
South-east Asia’s first bullet train is half-way there according to the Indonesian government, though some say the $7.8 billion project should never have begun.
In the fast-developing capital South Sulawesi, refugees are protesting the rights-less limbo some have now been stranded in for a decade.
Jokowi urged member states to forge stronger ties to alleviate the pandemic’s both health and socio-economic impact.
An AIC research program looks into the challenges that face rural young people in South Sulawesi forced to return home due to COVID-19.
Indonesian women carry the burden of unpaid work, including care-giving, due to persistent gender inequality in Indonesian society and segregation in the labour market.
An estimated US$2.7 billion’s worth of the country’s international trade was paid for using China’s currency in the first six months of 2020.
Indonesia’s development has been supported over several decades by one of the largest sustained multilateral aid efforts since WWII, from which Australia has also benefited.
The exchange’s short-term performance won’t have a big impact on the real economy – simply because not that many people are exposed to it.
Amid exacerbated systemic social and economic inequalities, there is renewed interest in sustainable investing and creating positive change for the world’s poorest.
During these times of heightened xenophobia, perhaps it is all the more important to remember the importance of people-to-people relationships.
