Indonesia

A Gramedia shop inside conglomerate Kompas Gramedia's office compound in Jakarta. The company operates a network of over 100 such stores nationwide. (Photo by Devin Jimie)
Media & Entertainment

Indonesian book giant turns to tech to fight piracy

Kompas Gramedia unit sees promise in blockchain to defend intellectual property

6 January 2024
Parts of Asia are getting ready for major elections in 2024, while many people across the globe look forward to enjoying the Paris Olympics. In August, Indonesia will transfer some top government functions from Jakarta to Nusantara, its new capital. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi, AP and Dimas Ardian)
31 December 2023
Visitors view an example of Indosat's latest tech at the telecom's headquarters in Jakarta. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri)
Telecommunication

Indonesia's Indosat pursues evolution from telecom to tech company

CEO Sinha stresses need for digital service ecosystem alongside 5G investment

30 December 2023
Suntory Beverage & Food's exit from the Indonesian soft drinks market is expected to be complete in the first half of 2024. (Photo by Yoichi Iwata)
Food & Beverage

Suntory to exit Indonesian soft drink business

Japanese company to sell stake in joint venture to partner Garudafood

29 December 2023
Industry experts expect an improvement in the fundraising market next year, which will help mitigate turbulence in the Indonesian startup ecosystem. (File photo by Ken Kobayashi)
DealStreetAsia

Indonesia startup shakeout leaves tech firms facing hard choices

Despite setbacks, industry insiders remain optimistic for 2024

27 December 2023
Bangladesh, Taiwan, South Korea and Sri Lanka are also set to go to the polls next year, while Asia's focus will shift to the U.S. Presidential race later in 2024. (Photo by Ken KobayashI)
Asia Insight

From India and Pakistan to Indonesia, Asia set for election-packed 2024

Over a billion people will be voting but democracy questions cloud some races

26 December 2023
Evermos's co-founder and President Arip Tirta, far right, and other co-founders (Photo courtesy of Evermos)
Nikkei Asia Award

Indonesian social commerce platform for SMEs wins Nikkei Asia Award

Startup helps 600,000 entrepreneurs -- mostly women -- achieve economic independence

25 December 2023
Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming speaks at an Indonesian vice presidential debate in Jakarta on Dec. 22.
Indonesia election

Jokowi's son talks AI, capital move in Indonesia's 2nd election debate

Gibran in spotlight as vice presidential nominees contrast economic platforms

23 December 2023
According to a DealStreetAsia report, at least 20 fintech and e-commerce and commerce enabler startups in Indonesia raised fresh capital as of November. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
DealStreetAsia

Indonesia's investment mainstays remain fintech and e-commerce

Risk management, execution key to success amid stiffer competition

22 December 2023
From left, Ganjar Pranowo, presidential candidate of Indonesia's ruling PDI-P, and his running mate, Mahfud MD, pose for photographs after registering at the election commission headquarters in Jakarta on Oct. 19.
Indonesia election

Indonesia VP hopeful pledges to stamp out corruption, cut red tape

Mahfud MD threatens to throw graft convicts into prisons where terrorists are held

22 December 2023
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visits a construction site in Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, on Dec. 21. (Cabinet Secretariat of Indonesia)
Economy

Jokowi breaks ground for police station, hospital in new capital

Construction of key facilities underway as Indonesia prepares for relocation

21 December 2023
Travelers walk through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Dec. 20. As the number of tourists surges across Southeast Asia, so too are COVID cases. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Coronavirus

Malaysia and Singapore put guard up as COVID cases surge

Southeast Asia asks public to mask up and get vaccinated as travel season begins

21 December 2023
Darmawan Junaidi, Bank Mandiri's president director, calls its digital banking platform Livin' "the real superapp." (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Bank Mandiri)
Finance

Indonesia's Bank Mandiri 'strikes back' at fintech rivals

Apps now core of state-owned lender's expansion, president director says

20 December 2023
A Mubadala Energy drillship used in the Layaran-1 deepwater well in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Sumatra. (Mubadala Energy)
Energy

Indonesia hopes Mubadala gas discovery off Sumatra draws investment

Find described as 'globally significant' but development obstacles cloud outlook

20 December 2023
Olivier Rabourdin, president director at Thales Indonesia. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding "for strategic cooperation" regarding a smart city in the country's new capital of Nusantara. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Technology

Thales aims for smart city development in Indonesia's new capital

European company keen to provide expertise in Nusantara as relocation approaches

18 December 2023
Indonesia's high-speed railway has increased service frequency and maintained occupancy above 80%. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri) 
Transportation

Indonesia's new train offers chance to improve views of China

With occupancy above 80%, discontent about project turns into praise for technology

17 December 2023
Visitors at a Kopi Titik Koma cafe in Jakarta. Indonesia is forecast to be the world's fourth-biggest coffee producer in 2023-2024. (Photo by Devin Jimie)
Food & Beverage

Indonesian coffee shops tempt customers with mix of local, foreign beans

Abundant varieties spark experimentation as domestic output falls

17 December 2023
Most of the electric bikes on Jakarta's streets are rented to taxi and delivery drivers. (Photo by Hirofumi Yamanaka)
Transportation

Electric 2-wheelers in Indonesia make inroads with Gojek and Grab

Battery-swappable models used by taxi and delivery drivers

17 December 2023
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, back left, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida applaud as Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, front right, and Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi shake hands during a document exchange ceremony on Dec. 16. in Tokyo.
Trade

Indonesia and Japan agree on removing more trade barriers

Tokyo to remove tariffs on processed fishery items, sides to improve banking relations

16 December 2023
Michael Widjaja, group CEO of Sinar Mas Land, hopes to cooperate with Japanese companies in the construction of Indonesia's new capital. (Photo by Shigeru Seno) 
Economy

Indonesia's Sinar Mas CEO calls for Japanese investment in country

New capital project offers opportunities for businesses: Michael Widjaja

15 December 2023
Freeport Indonesia's newly expanded copper smelter in Gresik, East Java province, on Dec. 14. (Screenshot from the Indonesian Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel)
Commodities

Freeport Indonesia launches newly expanded copper smelter

Jakarta to increase stake by 10% in miner in exchange for permit extension

14 December 2023
Indonesian presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo, left, Prabowo Subianto, center, and Anies Baswedan attend a televised debate in Jakarta on Dec. 12.
Indonesia election

Prabowo attacked on human rights in Indonesia's 1st presidential debate

Frontrunner also grilled over how he was able to name Jokowi's son his running mate

13 December 2023
Limited partners in Seraya Partners' first fund include the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Alberta Investment Management and BlackRock funds and accounts. (Photo by Hiroki Endo) 
Finance

Singapore's Seraya Partners closes $800m infrastructure fund

BlackRock-backed fund to invest in Asian data centers, clean energy

12 December 2023
Chinese-owned TikTok will take a controlling stake in GoTo's Tokopedia unit and will invest over $1.5 billion in the "enlarged entity over time." (Nikkei montage/Source photos by GoTo group and AP) 
Business deals

China-owned TikTok to invest $1.5bn in Tokopedia, take 75% stake

Move comes after Indonesia banned direct e-commerce on social media platforms

11 December 2023
SMBC is betting that Indonesia's population growth heralds growing demand for car loans.
Business deals

Japan's SMFG follows MUFG foray into Indonesian car loan business

Megabank subsidiary to take 51% of shares in Oto Multiartha and Summit Oto Finance

11 December 2023