Japanese companies today favor investing in Southeast Asia as Tokyo’s economy slows, according to Shujiro Urata, a senior research advisor to the president of the think-tank Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
Trade
Indonesia’s wheat imports are expected to rebound in 2023-24, assuming an improved global economy, population growth and increasing demand from the upcoming general election, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.
A first for Southeast Asia is worth celebrating. But infrastructure spending still must prove itself effective.
President Joko Widodo has overseen an era of strong growth and rapid development. In an interview, he reveals far larger ambitions.
Indonesia’s gross domestic product is expected to grow 5.0-5.1 per cent year on year at 2023-end, supported by factors, including spending before 2024 General Elections, an economist of the University of Indonesia Teuku Riefky stated.
There are no official statistics on the cost of presidential campaigns in Indonesia. Fahri Hamzah, a senior politician, has estimated it at around IDR 5 trillion (US $317 million). Meanwhile, Ridwan Kamil, former governor of West Java, said it costs around IDR8 trillion (US $507 million) to run for president.
Two popular ex-governors have kicked off the race to succeed Indonesian President Joko Widodo, registering as candidates for the February election and promising more jobs and better public services in the world’s third-largest democracy.
Markus Rathsmann has got cattle in his yards at Mt Ringwood Station in the Northern Territory and points out which ones are currently barred from the live export trade to Indonesia.
Improving Indonesia’s logistics performance presents immense challenges. Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo promised to lower logistics costs during his first term campaign in 2014. But Jokowi’s efforts have not achieved their expected results.
The formation of a joint task force on the European Union’s anti-deforestation law gave Indonesia some hope that it would be able to conclude its overdue trade deal with the 27-member bloc, according to a senior minister.
Indonesia has paused exports from four Australian facilities after cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) were detected in animals from Australia.
The Indonesian leader “says he hopes to clinch a landmark deal” with Australia on electric vehicles that he believes can make the countries major players in a mega-industry dominated by China”.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said strategic cooperation with Australia on electric vehicle batteries was a priority after talks on Tuesday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that focused on green economy and regional security.
The governments of Australia and Indonesia have announced the completion of two facilities in Jakarta to improve safety measures across the maritime sector – a Solid Bulk Cargoes Testing and Training Facility and the Ship Safety Inspection Centre of Excellence.
Jakarta is cracking down on used clothing imports after reports of items donated for recycling ending up on sale.
Miners in Australia, the world’s largest producer of lithium, are moving off the ground floor of the global market for electric-vehicle battery materials through partnerships with big U.S. and Chinese processing companies.
