Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
International relations

Indonesia's bid to join OECD faces opposition by Israel

Muslim-majority Asian nation had criticized Israel's attacks on Gaza

4 February 2024
Indonesia's creativity in literature is casting a spotlight on developing more opportunities for intellectual property adaptation. (Source photos by Devin Jimie)
Media & Entertainment

Netflix drama 'Cigarette Girl' highlights Indonesian IP adaptation

Country's trove of literary creativity offers business potential for publishers

3 February 2024
Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo delivers a speech during a campaign rally Jan. 21 in Bandung, the capital of West Java province.
Indonesia election

Ganjar Pranowo, Indonesia's once-rising star aiming to regain support

Ruling party's presidential candidate struggles as Jokowi backers shift to Prabowo

3 February 2024
Palestinians walk past a house destroyed by an Israeli strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, in early January.
International relations

Indonesia and Sri Lanka blast EU for 'double standards' on Gaza

Indo-Pacific and ASEAN meetings with Europe underscore divided views

3 February 2024
Indonesia's new presidential palace is taking shape in Nusantara, as workers scramble to finish construction by August, when the country marks its independence.  (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Editor-in-Chief’s Picks

Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Capital costs

Shin Nakayama shares his weekly reflections and recommendations

2 February 2024
Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan delivers a speech while campaigning in Pamekasan, East Java province on Jan. 31. (Antara Foto via Reuters)
Indonesia election

Anies Baswedan, ex-Jakarta governor who wants to break from Jokowi policies

Academic-turned-politician trails front-runner Prabowo in presidential race

2 February 2024
Rising Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD plans to roughly double its sales outlets in Singapore and the Philippines this year. (Photo by Dylan Loh)
Electric cars in China

Chinese EV leader BYD makes aggressive push in ASEAN

Tesla rival eyes doubling outlets in Singapore, Philippines after entering Indonesia

31 January 2024
The Indonesia Stock Exchange expects just over 60 companies to go public in 2024, down from 79 last year. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
IPO

IPO fundraising plunged in Thailand and Indonesia in second half of 2023

Total raised in region dropped 60% amid political uncertainty and China worries

31 January 2024
Singtel is positioning the data center business as its next pillar of growth. (Source photos by Reuters)
Telecommunication

Singtel partners with Nvidia in AI data center push in ASEAN

Regional telecom giant sees strong demand across bloc and beyond

31 January 2024
An aerial view of the ongoing construction of Nusantara, Indonesia's new capital on Borneo island, seen in December 2023. The large building in the foreground will be a grand presidential palace. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
The Big Story

Indonesia's new capital hinges on election as Jokowi set to exit

With most funding from private sector, Nusantara struggles to convince investors it is here to stay

31 January 2024
Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, Left, has won the backing of radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir
Indonesia election

Radical Indonesian cleric gives backing to presidential hopeful Anies

Abu Bakar Bashir was once spiritual leader of extremist group behind Bali bombings

30 January 2024
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and current President Joe Biden. Asian countries are watching closely how the U.S. presidential election will play out and what impact it will have on their countries should Trump be elected.
Comment

Asia braces for Trump comeback and major U.S. policy reversal

Fears mount the former president might kill Biden-led IPEF economic deal

25 January 2024
The main determiners of Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14 will be millennials and Generation Z, who make up 60% of voters. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Asia Insight

Indonesian election highlights young voters' employment concerns

Jokowi's successor faces reform challenge to create middle-class jobs

23 January 2024
Indonesian vice presidential candidates Mohammad Mahfud MD, left, Muhaimin Iskandar, center, and Gibran Rakabuming attend a debate on Jan. 21. (Photo captured from General Elections Commission's YouTube)
Indonesia election

Indonesia election race heats up over Jokowi's nickel strategy

Gibran defends father's industrialization push that rival slams as 'reckless'

22 January 2024
China's BYD has launched passenger EVs in Indonesia, its latest Southeast Asian market for the vehicles. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Automobiles

China's BYD debuts passenger EVs in Indonesia

Company says 'on track' to start constructing local plant later this year

18 January 2024
Indonesia's Joko Widodo toured VinFast's factory in Hai Phong, as the EV producer prepares to expand beyond Vietnam and sell cars all over Southeast Asia. (Vingroup)
Automobiles

VinFast expands EVs to Indonesia with thumbs up from Jokowi

Vietnamese carmaker's factory, ride-hail plans offer ASEAN foothold

16 January 2024
Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and running mate Gibran Rakabuming, who is the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, appear at a debate in Jakarta on Jan. 7.
Indonesia election

Jokowi boosts policy support for Prabowo as Indonesia vote nears

Leading presidential candidate benefits from incumbent's high popularity

15 January 2024
In 2023, Indonesia recorded 79 IPOs that raised 54.24 trillion rupiah ( $3.5 billion) compared to 59 listings in 2022 gathering 33.06 trillion in proceeds.
DealStreetAsia

Indonesia may see major listings in 2024, but after election

IPO hopefuls need compelling narrative amid tough economic landscape

15 January 2024
BYD's vehicles line up at its manufacturing base in Hefei, in China's Anhui province. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
Your Week in Asia

BYD's Indonesia foray, China GDP, JAXA lunar landing

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

14 January 2024
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on Jan. 11. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Economy

OECD chief says Indonesia's membership application 'exciting'

Southeast Asian country brings voice of emerging economies

11 January 2024
Indonesian President Joko Widodo signs the guestbook at  Malacanang Palace on Jan. 10, as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. looks on.
International relations

Indonesia's Jokowi seeks ASEAN unity as term winds down

Code of conduct for South China Sea on agenda during final regional tour

11 January 2024
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meet in Manila on Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy of Indonesia's Presidential Palace)
International relations

Philippines and Indonesia agree to strengthen security cooperation

Marcos and Jokowi discuss South China Sea issues and ASEAN unity

10 January 2024
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, right, greets his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, on May 10, 2023.
International relations

Indonesia's Jokowi begins trip to Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei

Talks to include economy and defense as China's clout grows

9 January 2024
VinFast says it will construct a sprawling factory in the world's most populous nation as its founder takes over as CEO, overseeing major international expansion plans. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Automobiles

Vietnam's VinFast to spend up to $2bn on India car, battery plant

Young Nasdaq-listed automaker also plans full factory in Indonesia

8 January 2024
Indonesian Defense Minister and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto speaks during a televised debate at the Istora Senayan stadium in Jakarta on Jan. 7.
Indonesia election

Indonesia's Prabowo grilled over fighter jet plan in third debate

Presidential hopeful vows 'good neighbor' policy amid South China Sea tensions

8 January 2024