Indonesia

Indonesian author Pramoedya Ananta Toer, left, and Australian translator Max Lane, who in his recent book, "Indonesia Out of Exile," writes of his collaboration on the novels that inspired a generation. (Courtesy of Max Lane)
Books

'Indonesia Out of Exile' shines light on literary masterpiece

New history recounts writer-activist Pramoedya’s brave fight against persecution

13 July 2023
Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, left, has confirmed a meeting with ousted and imprisoned Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (File photos by AP) 
Myanmar Crisis

Thai foreign minister says he met with Myanmar's Suu Kyi

Ousted leader 'in good health,' Don Pramudwinai says at ASEAN meeting

12 July 2023
Indonesian cosmetics brands such as Rose All Day are taking on European and U.S.  competitors by emphasizing the needs of local customers. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Consumer

Indonesian halal cosmetics brands take on L'Oreal, Unilever

Local beauty industry leverages halal certification in majority-Muslim country

12 July 2023
A scene from "A Tourist's Guide to Love": Vietnamese media and tour operators are already offering guided tours to the film's main shooting locations. (Courtesy of Netflix) 
Tea Leaves

Dark side of 'A Tourist's Guide to Love'

Hit movie gives Vietnam fresh image, but risks unsustainable visitor boom

12 July 2023
Foreign ministers from ASEAN member countries gather in Jakarta on July 11. (Pool photo/Reuters)
International relations

ASEAN meetings begin amid Myanmar crisis, 'complex' challenges

10-member bloc, China to adopt guideline for South China Sea code conclusion

11 July 2023
Japan's Aeon and other Asian retail companies see promise in Indonesia's young and growing population. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Retail

Indonesia draws Asian mall operators targeting growth

Despite regulation, Japan's Aeon and others see promise in rising economy

10 July 2023
Copper and gold miner Amman Mineral Internasional is the latest Indonesian resource company to test investor appetites by listing on the stock market. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti) 
IPO

Amman Mineral closes up 3.5% after Indonesia's biggest 2023 IPO

Copper and gold miner raised $709m, eyes demand boost from clean energy

7 July 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
Japan's Emperor Naruhito, right, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, view a Super Red Arowana on June 19. (Photo courtesy of Indonesian presidential palace)
International relations

'Fish diplomacy' deepens ties between Indonesia, Japan

President Jokowi shows hospitality to Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako

2 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
GRP sought to create an open ecosystem in which idea generation would not be centralized among key family members and to tap the potential of the entire team. (Courtesy of Gunung Raja Paksi)
Opinion

How to sustain an Indonesian family business -- and the environment

With generational transition, steelmaker GRP has embraced professionalization

2 July 2023
Patrick Walujo was appointed president director and CEO at GoTo's general shareholder meeting in Jakarta on Friday. (Photo courtesy of GoTo)
Technology

GoTo shareholders approve investor Patrick Walujo as CEO

Northstar Group co-founder targets profitability amid intense competition

30 June 2023
Florika Fink-Hooijer, European Commission's director general for environment, speaks during an interview in Kuala Lumpur on June 28. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

EU, Malaysia, Indonesia create task force over deforestation rule

First meeting set for August amid lingering worries among palm oil farmers

30 June 2023
A vendor serves a customer at a market in Jakarta. Credit cards have only 5% penetration in Indonesia.
Finance

Indonesia's growing consumer credit market draws Japanese investment

Orico inks partnership with local fintech startup Honest Financial

27 June 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks about Nusantara in Singapore on June 7: The new capital aims to be a futuristic green city with zero waste.
Opinion

Indonesia will chart a circular economy path with its new capital

Nusantara aims to be a futuristic green city with zero waste

27 June 2023
Traffic is seen in the Kuningan business district in Jakarta. Auto sales in the country surged 18% to 1.04 million units in 2022, according to an industry group.
Business deals

Japan's MUFG to buy Indonesian car loan company

Megabank will become leader in promising field

26 June 2023
Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako take part in a ceremony at a military cemetery in Jakarta on June 20.
International relations

Japan emperor's Indonesia visit puts spotlight on female succession

Local media says imperial family, Yogyakarta sultan face same male heir challenge

24 June 2023
Electrum CEO Pandu Sjahrir, right, poses at the groundbreaking ceremony of the company's first factory. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Technology

Indonesia's GoTo-affiliated e-scooter maker starts building factory

Facility outside Jakarta part of $1bn investment by joint venture Electrum

23 June 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
Finture operates buy now, pay later aggregator Yup Indonesia. (Source photo by Getty Images and logo from Finture's official LinkedIn account)
DealStreetAsia

Indonesian buy now, pay later operator Finture pulls in $15m

Pre-Series B round led by $6m from Beijing-based venture capital firm XVC

22 June 2023
The author's paternal great-grandmother, center, is pictured here with in 1940. To her right sits the author's grandmother, holding the author's father. (Courtesy of the author)
Tea Leaves

Family history mirrors attitudes among China's diaspora

Why pride in the 'old country' still sustains Sino-Indonesians

21 June 2023
Anindya Bakrie, president commissioner of VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas, speaks during the company's first day of share trading at the Indonesia Stock Exchange on June 19. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
IPO

VKTR, BYD's Indonesian partner, closes up 11% in stock debut

Bakrie group subsidiary preparing local assembly of electric buses and trucks

19 June 2023