Economy

Malaysia's national flag flutters at a construction site in Kuala Lumpur. In recent years, Malaysia has fallen behind giant neighbor Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment.
Economy

Malaysia trails Indonesia in attracting foreign direct investment

Experts say reforms, political stability are essential for country to narrow gap

21 March 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed a new regulation on March 6 offering tax holidays for investments in Indonesia's planned new capital, Nusantara. (Source photo by AP and Erwida Maulia)
Economy

Indonesia's Jokowi approves new list of tax holidays for Nusantara

Capital authority receives 100 letters of intent, including from China, U.S.

9 March 2023
Workers stand overlooking the Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia's Papua province. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to ban copper experts tentatively in the middle of the year.
Commodities

Indonesia eyes extending export bans to bauxite, copper and beyond

Jokowi aims to develop downstream industries at home, but risks trade frictions

7 March 2023
President Joko Widodo visits the site of Nusantara, which he envisions as Indonesia's next capital, on the island of Borneo, on Feb. 23. (Photo courtesy of Indonesia's presidential office)
Politics

Jokowi promotes Indonesia capital project as Asia's fintech hub

Bigger Nusantara role hints at president's haste on legacy bid before term ends

5 March 2023
An aerial view of a residential area amid the fire that began at a Pertamina fuel storage station in Jakarta. (Antara Foto via Reuters)
Fires

Fire at Pertamina fuel storage station in Jakarta kills 17

Neighbors flee; Indonesian company says cause of blaze under investigation

4 March 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, right, meets with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Jakarta on Feb. 22. (Photo courtesy of Presidential Secretariat)
International relations

Jokowi seeks support from China for Indonesia's new capital

Beijing's new foreign minister vows Belt and Road projects to finish 'on schedule'

22 February 2023
Onions are displayed at a public market in Manila in January, when inflation hit a 14-year high of 8.7%.
Economy

Philippines raises key interest rate to 6%, Indonesia holds steady

Manila's hike of 50 basis points follows fastest price rises in 14 years

16 February 2023
Fumio Kishida, left, shakes hands with Joko Widodo in Nusa Dua, Bali, in November 2022: Japan must make an extra effort to be chosen as a viable economic partner.
Opinion

Japan must show why it should stay Indonesia's partner of choice

Two nations have much room to take advantage of commonality and complementarity

16 February 2023
Indonesia wants to form closer ties with India, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati tells Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Kosuke Imamura) 
Interview

Indonesia seeks closer India ties to strengthen Global South role

Developing countries 'source of solution' for world problems: Finance Minister

14 February 2023
Containers at the Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta on Aug. 3, 2022. Indonesia's economy last year grew at the fastest pace since 2013.
Economy

Indonesia's GDP grew 5.31% in 2022, hitting 9-year high

Economic growth back to pre-COVID level but global slowdown weighs on 2023 outlook

6 February 2023
The Erawan Shrine in Bangkok is on the itineraries of many Chinese visitors to Thailand. (Photo by Yohei Muramatsu)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand, Indonesia battle for Chinese group tours post-COVID

Southeast Asia airlines, hotels have edge on Japan, U.S. as travel resumes

5 February 2023
From left: Anies Baswedan, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo: Baswedan criticized plans to move the capital but the other two are likely to push for it if one becomes the next president. (Source photos by Reuters and Getty Images)
Politics

Indonesia's capital relocation set to shape 2024 presidential poll

Former Jakarta governor calls out 'minimal public engagement' on Nusantara

24 January 2023
Bank Indonesia, the country's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate for the sixth month in a row on Jan. 19 as it tries to put a lid on rising prices.
Economy

Bank Indonesia lifts benchmark rate to over 3-year high of 5.75%

As Malaysia holds fast, Jakarta's central bank moves to quell inflation

19 January 2023
Bank Indonesia Gov. Perry Warjiyo speaks to central bank stakeholders at an annual meeting in November.
Politics

Indonesia central bank bond law raises independence concerns

Fears arise that government could arbitrarily declare crisis to monetize debt

4 January 2023
Japan will host the 2023 Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the hometown of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left). China hosts the delayed Asian Games in 2023 (center). China eases border controls on Jan. 8 (right). (Source photos by Kyodo, Reuters and Getty Images) 
1 January 2023
Workers load fresh bunches of palm oil fruits for transportation to a factory.
Commodities

Indonesia to tighten palm oil exports from Jan. 1 to ensure supply

Exporters to be allowed to ship six times their domestic sales volume

30 December 2022
Women browse shops for Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in Jakarta on Dec. 12. Economists say robust household spending will support Indonesia's economic growth in 2023.
Economy

Malaysia, Indonesia 2023 GDPs revised up on firm spending: JCER

Economist consensus shows 5 ASEAN countries to expand 4.3%, India 5.6%

26 December 2022
Bank Indonesia has raised its benchmark interest rate for a fifth consecutive month.
Economy

Indonesia raises key interest rate to 5.5%, highest in over 3 years

Central bank remains hawkish but shows confidence it can ease inflation

22 December 2022
A port in Pomala, Southeast Sulawesi province, Indonesia: The Southeast Asian nation will ban exports of the primary source of aluminum in June.
Commodities

Indonesia's Jokowi bans bauxite exports from June, China likely hurt

Move comes despite country's defeat to EU on nickel restrictions

21 December 2022
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist arrivals in Asia are expected to return to 2019 levels next year -- putting at risk once again the region's rich environmental and cultural heritage.
Asia Insight

Can ASEAN avoid overtourism as arrivals return to pre-COVID levels?

Governments struggle toward a more sustainable and equitable hospitality sector

20 December 2022
Workers stand beside an Electric Multiple Unit high-speed train at the Tegalluar train depot in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, on Oct. 13. Service begins in six months.
Caixin

How China helped build Indonesia's high-speed railway

Xi Jinping team agreed to transfer technology and hire local workers

16 December 2022
From late 2024 at the earliest, new rules in Singapore will require ride-hailing and food delivery companies to contribute to social security savings schemes for their workers.
Technology

Singapore's gig economy braces for 'complex' safety net rules

ASEAN's first protections for platform workers have regional implications

8 December 2022
A factory in Vietnam operated by Matsuoka Corporation, a Uniqlo supplier. (Photo courtesy of Matsuoka Corporation)
Business trends

Vietnam, Cambodia draw Japanese apparel makers away from China

Uniqlo suppliers and others lured by lower labor costs and RCEP tariff reductions

8 December 2022
Demonstrators gather near Indonesia's parliament building in Jakarta on Dec. 6 to protest passage of a law that restricts personal freedoms.
Politics

Indonesia's new criminal code spurs democracy, business concerns

Curbs widely criticized, though some say worries of impact on tourism overblown

7 December 2022
Vietnamese technical interns work at a construction site in Tokyo. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Japan immigration

Japan to lose pay appeal for Vietnamese, Indonesian workers by 2032: study

Stagnant Japanese wages risk making Southeast Asians look elsewhere for jobs

5 December 2022