Indonesia

Indigenous children near the site of Indonesia's future capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan province: Kalimantan is generally short of power and lacking in adequate infrastructure.
Opinion

Indonesia needs a better power network for itself and ASEAN

Nation's far-flung renewable energy resources would be asset for bloc's grid

13 September 2023
The forest is being cleared to make way for Indonesia's planned new capital of Nusantara on the island of Borneo.
Tea Leaves

Indonesia's lessons in capital relocation

Nusantara risks becoming a pint-sized version of Jakarta

13 September 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden at an event during the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20.
G20 Summit

Biden to host Indonesia's Jokowi in November: White House

Two leaders hold talks on sidelines of G20 summit

10 September 2023
Ride-hailing companies are introducing more electric motorcycles in Indonesian capital Jakarta, with a government target of having 9 million e-bikes on the road by 2030. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Automobiles

Indonesia's Gojek to replace all gasoline-powered two-wheelers by 2030

Services using electric motorcycles expand in Southeast Asia

9 September 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone during the handover of ASEAN's presidency at the closing ceremony of the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. 
International relations

ASEAN makes deals but no progress on South China Sea, Myanmar

Indonesia chair focuses on economy, investment over geopolitical issues

7 September 2023
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Sept. 7: Guterres came to ASEAN with a plea to show leadership in the fight against climate change. (Pool photo)
Climate Change

U.N. chief calls for ASEAN to help globe out of climate gridlock

Effective debt mechanism needed for energy transition financing, Guterres says

7 September 2023
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, takes a test ride with Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, on a China-backed high-speed railway in Indonesia on Sept. 6. (Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment/Kyodo)
US-China tensions

China deepens ties with ASEAN as Biden skips Jakarta summits

Partnerships forged despite map furor; Li test rides Indonesia high-speed rail

7 September 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, briefly met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, on Sept. 6 in Jakarta, according to a Japanese government official. (Photos by pool photo/Reuters) 
International relations

Japan PM, China premier trade barbs over Fukushima water release

Kishida calls for 'scientific' talk as Li points finger at Tokyo at Jakarta summit

6 September 2023
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, left, is greeted by Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo upon his arrival at the ASEAN summit in Jakarta on Sept. 6.
South China Sea

ASEAN leaders meet Chinese Premier Li amid map controversy

Jokowi calls for 'mutually beneficial' cooperation at Jakarta summit

6 September 2023
Ride-hailing tech giant Gojek has paired up with electric vehicle startup Selex to expand the network of drivers sharing EV batteries at stations in Vietnam. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Automobiles

Indonesia's Gojek ties up with Vietnam EV battery-swap startup

Delivery and ride-share platform joins electric motorbike maker Selex's network

6 September 2023
The seat reserved for the leader of Myanmar is left empty during the plenary session at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on Sept. 5.
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN to engage Myanmar in 'troika' model to cool political unrest

Current, previous and next chairs to work together, seeking a sustainable approach

6 September 2023
ASEAN leaders listen to a presentation during the inaugural ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta on Sept. 5. (Photo courtesy of Indonesia’s presidential office)
International relations

ASEAN pitches 93 projects worth $38bn at summit-related forum

Aluminum smelter, port development among offerings in 'flagship' initiative

5 September 2023
Launched in 2018, Staffinc has evolved into an end-to-end digital staffing company. (Screenshot from Staffinc's website)
DealStreetAsia

Indonesian job platform Staffinc's Series B-1 round hits $9.2m

Altara Ventures, Antler, Japan's Mynavi and others provide funding

5 September 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta on Sept. 5. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
International relations

ASEAN summit begins as China's new territorial map fuels tensions

Biden skips regional platform; Cambodia's Hun Manet makes diplomatic debut

5 September 2023
Leaders of ASEAN and G20 nations gather this month with climate change, and how to finance tackling it, looming large after one of the hottest summers on record. Illustration by Hiroko Oshima
Asia Insight

Indonesia climate deal in $20bn gridlock as Vietnam, India on hold

'Breakthrough' funded by G7+ investors misses deadline; Hanoi's $15.5bn plan delayed

5 September 2023
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet delivered a keynote address at a business forum in Jakarta on Sept. 4. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Cambodia's new leadership

Cambodia's Hun Manet shares 'high-income' goal in diplomatic debut

New prime minister also vows commitment to rule-based order at ASEAN event

4 September 2023
VinFast CEO Thuy Le speaks at the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit in Jakarta on Sept. 4. She said the electric vehicle maker has achieved what many thought impossible. (Screenshot from ASEAN-BAC Indonesia 2023's YouTube page) 
Automobiles

VinFast CEO unfazed by stock volatility, sees potential in ASEAN

Thuy Le touts Southeast Asia's EV strengths to regional business leaders

4 September 2023
A worker loads harvested palm fruits in Malaysia. Major exporters Indonesia and Malaysia are pushing new uses for the tropical oil in the face of market headwinds.
Market Spotlight

Indonesia, Malaysia push biofuel to offset palm oil price downturn

Falling prices hurt companies; risks loom from El Nino and EU deforestation law

4 September 2023
Temasek CEO Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara says Southeast Asian countries should develop a "digital single market and a unified capital market" to boost technology company growth. (File photo by Reuters) 
Technology

ASEAN needs digital single market to spur decacorns: Temasek CEO

Tech companies to see 'clearer exit pathways' from macroeconomy headwinds

3 September 2023
Eucalyptus pellita trees are fast-growing, reaching heights of 25 meters in around six years. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Climate Change

Sumatra forest becomes decarbonization lab for Japan's Marubeni

Pulp plantation in Indonesia to be used for emissions trading and biomass R&D

2 September 2023
U.S. and Indonesian soldiers use heavy machine guns in Baturaja, South Sumatra province, during the Super Garuda Shield exercises on Aug. 12, 2022. 
Defense

Indonesia, U.S. begin expanded drills amid South China Sea tensions

Exercises going ahead even as Jakarta tries to avoid friction with Beijing

31 August 2023
Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group is building new data centers in Malaysia and Indonesia. (Image courtesy of PDG)
Technology

Singapore data centers look to Malaysia, Indonesia to satisfy demand

Less space, more environment issues push operators into neighbor nations

31 August 2023
A train of LRT Jabodebek, the country's latest light rail system, passes over a highway in Indonesia. The project is entirely state-backed. (Courtesy of Kereta Api Indonesia)
Transportation

Indonesia's Widodo launches greater Jakarta light rail service

Country's third such project hits $2.1bn after cost overruns, multiple delays

28 August 2023
Investors remain focused on tech companies' ability to generate cash amid an increasingly competitive environment. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Getty)
Market Spotlight

Grab shares jump but Sea's dive as investors applaud cost cuts

Southeast Asian tech stars face increasing pressure to generate profit

28 August 2023
A Jakarta shopping district. The cross-border QR code payment arrangement will make it easier for Southeast Asians to pay for items in other countries in the region.
Economy

Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei to join cross-border QR payment scheme

ASEAN-wide arrangement would ease reliance on U.S. dollar

26 August 2023