Economy

The Thai baht touched a 26-year high against the yen this month.
Currencies

Baht, won soar against yen as smaller Asian economies outperform

Thai, South Korean currencies bolstered by rate hikes and years of current-account gains

10 August 2023
Indonesia's GDP grew 5.17% in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, buoyed by strong consumer spending during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Indonesia Q2 GDP growth accelerated to 5.17% on strong spending

Consumption during Ramadan helped expand Southeast Asia's largest economy

7 August 2023
 The Indonesian International Motor Show in 2018: The country's main trade group will hold the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show starting Aug. 10
Your Week in Asia

Indonesia auto show, Cambodia PM transition, Taiwan's Lai visits U.S.

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

6 August 2023
A new presidential palace is going up in Nusantara: Some government functions will be transferred from Jakarta to the new capital in 2024. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Economy

Indonesia's new capital aims to be 'economic growth center'

Nusantara construction 'on schedule'; 60,000 people expected in 2024: officials

2 August 2023
"The potential growth of SOEs is massive," Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir said in an interview. (Photo by Dimas Ardian) 
Interview

Three Indonesia state company IPOs could raise $3bn total: minister

But Pertamina's upstream unit and Pupuk Kaltim still assessing market conditions

7 July 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, speaks as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese listens during a joint statement in Sydney on July 4.
International relations

Australia extends business visas for Indonesians

Leaders Albanese and Widodo promote economic ties at Sydney meeting

4 July 2023
Commuters crowd onto a railway station platform in Mumbai, India. Economists are concerned about generative AI's impact on employment in the nation of 1.4 billion people.
Economy

Economists fear generative AI's impact on India, Indonesia

Survey shows experts worried about fallout in countries with big young populations

3 July 2023
Indonesian leader Joko Widodo's tenure has seen improved diplomatic and economic ties with neighbor Australia. (Source photos  by AP, Reuters and Getty)
International relations

Indonesia's Jokowi eyes EV lithium deals on Australia visit

Boosting trade in focus at meeting with PM Anthony Albanese

3 July 2023
Container terminals in Singapore. The city-state's economy is highly sensitive to external economic conditions. 
Economy

Singapore, Indonesia outlook downgraded on weak China: JCER

Political instability emerges as top concern in Thailand post-election

2 July 2023
Scorching conditions from the El Nino weather pattern are expected to crimp production at palm oil plantations like this one in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province. 
Economy

From Indonesia to Vietnam, El Nino fans fears of fires and drought

Returning climate pattern set to hit key crops as well as industrial sector

23 June 2023
Indonesia's massive supplies of nickel -- a key component in batteries -- are helping meet increasing global demand for electric vehicles. (Source photo by Reuters) 
Market Spotlight

Nickel surplus seen widening in 2023 as Indonesian output soars

EV batteries to lead demand growth; prices under pressure but still historically high

16 June 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya, Malaysia on June 8. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia Prime Minister's Office)
International relations

Malaysia, Indonesia to fight EU palm oil 'discrimination'

Jokowi says collaboration should be 'strengthened' to protect commodities

8 June 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks at a conference in Singapore on June 7, touting investment opportunities in the country's capital relocation project. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Politics

Jokowi stresses Nusantara continuity under next president

Indonesian leader calls for funding new capital as investors voice concerns

7 June 2023
Indonesians and Malaysians are being brought closer together by an ASEAN initiative that makes cross-border payments easier and cheaper. (Source photos by Getty Images and logo from ASEAN BAC INDONESIA's website)
Finance

Indonesia-Malaysia QR code payments get started under ASEAN system

Cross border scheme could cut transaction costs by 30%, offer exchange rate buffer

6 June 2023
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo hopes banning exports of raw bauxite and other minerals will draw investment to the country.
Asia Insight

Indonesia bets on critical mineral export bans as deadline nears

History of policy flip-flops could hamper climb up resource value-chain

23 May 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and delegates attend a sideline meeting during the ASEAN summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 11.
International relations

ASEAN urges cool heads on South China Sea as summit ends

Indonesia's Jokowi laments 'no significant progress' on Myanmar crisis

11 May 2023
Leaders of ASEAN countries pose for photos during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10.
Economy

ASEAN's patchy economic growth suggests long road to recovery

At regional summit, leaders discuss how to push bloc past COVID pains

10 May 2023
A technician stands on a crane at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta.
Economy

Indonesia's GDP up 5.03% in Q1, beating expectations

Export volume offsets lower commodity prices for Southeast Asia's largest economy

5 May 2023
Global business leaders and investors gathered at the annual Milken conference in Los Angeles from April 30 to May 3. 
Business trends

India, Indonesia CEOs woo global investors as 'China plus one' options

Emerging Asia's other big economies vie for attention at Milken Conference

5 May 2023
Asian Development Bank President Masatsugu Asakawa speaks on May 3 in Incheon, South Korea, at the bank's annual meeting.
Finance

Asian ministers warn on Western banking turmoil at ADB meeting

IMF Asia chief cites uncertainty over BOJ policy and risk of global spillovers

5 May 2023
President Joko Widodo attends a motor show in Jakarta on Feb. 16. Indonesia has large reserves of materials crucial for electric vehicles, like nickel.
Materials

Jokowi squeezes key EV material exports to spur Indonesian industry

U.S.-China tensions give Jakarta opening to pursue nationalist trade strategy

23 April 2023
Bank Indonesia headquarters in Jakarta.
Economy

Indonesia holds rates at 5.75% for third straight meeting

Central bank expects inflation to ease to 2-4% target range in September

18 April 2023
Indonesia Investment Authority is preparing a EV-focused fund and is already "reviewing a deal pipeline," says Chief Investment Officer Stefanus Ade Hadiwidjaja. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Interview

Indonesia sovereign fund steps up EV plans with China's CATL

INA preparing pipeline of Nusantara projects, chief investment officer says

13 April 2023
The Mt. Marion lithium mine in the Goldfields region of Western Australia: The country is home to the second-largest reserves of lithium. (Handout photo from Ganfeng Lithium) 
Opinion

Australia and Indonesia should forge business ties in lithium

Missing ingredient for Widodo's vision for EV sector is close at hand

3 April 2023
A truck transports a container at a port in Shandong province, China. Economists expect exports of goods and services to China to support ASEAN economies.
Economy

Thai, Malaysian outlooks improve on tourism, China recovery: JCER

Economists say U.S. bank fallouts emerge as new concern for Asia

2 April 2023