Indonesia

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will make an official working visit to Japan from Wednesday to Feb. 12.
Your Week in Asia

Philippines' Marcos visits Japan, Indonesia GDP, Toyota results

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

5 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
ASEAN's foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, which ended on Feb. 4, reaffirmed their common position on the conflict in Myanmar. (Photo courtesy of Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN urges unity on Myanmar peace plan, avoids splitting bloc

Indonesia works to paper over splits shown in December meeting

4 February 2023
Amanda Murphy, HSBC's head of commercial banking for South and Southeast Asia, is looking to set up a lending fund in Indonesia. (Source photos by HSBC and Reuters)
Finance

Banks, investors fill ASEAN tech funding gap with loans

HSBC eyes Indonesia as part of lender's Southeast Asian 'growth engine'

3 February 2023
Visitors examine a Wuling Air electric vehicle, right, at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, Indonesia, on Aug. 18, 2022. 
Business Spotlight

Indonesia's nickel riches spur local company EV, battery ambition

Old economy conglomerates, businesses pounce as government pushes industry takeoff

3 February 2023
Joko Widodo, center, and other leaders after the opening ceremony of the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh in November 2022: Indonesia should decisively respond to the region's crises.
Opinion

After success with G-20, Indonesia now must rally ASEAN to act

Myanmar and China have to be made to take regional group more seriously

2 February 2023
Indonesia's geothermal resources are estimated at 27.8 gigawatts, but last year its installed geothermal capacity stood at around 2.3 gigawatts. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
IPO

Indonesia's Pertamina Geothermal Energy aims for $653m IPO

Company sees 'strategic role' in achieving country's net zero goal

2 February 2023
Singapore-based Coda Payments was among the handful of new Southeast Asian unicorns last year, and Lazada ranked first in the region in overall deal value. (Source photos by screenshot from Coda Payments' website and Reuters) 
Startups

ASEAN startup fundraising slumped in 2022 but still up from 2019

Investors turn to early-stage deals amid dimmer IPO prospects for tech ventures

1 February 2023
Indonesia is second only to Singapore in number of startups produced among Southeast Asian countries.
Startups

Japan's MUFG launches $100m fund to back Indonesian startups

Megabank looks to boost Indonesian subsidiary Danamon with tech collaborations

1 February 2023
Soaring prices across the globe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rapid interest rate hikes have prompted investors to shy away from bets on young companies. (Nikkei montage/AP/GoTo)
Market Spotlight

Grab, Coupang shares rebound as investors cheer cost-cutting

IPO prospects remain uncertain despite gains by Asian tech stars

30 January 2023
BYD India Senior Vice President Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, right, at the unveiling of the company's Atto 3 electric SUV at India's Auto Expo 2023.
Your Week in Asia

BYD's EV debut in Japan, Samsung results, ASEAN foreign ministers meeting

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

29 January 2023
The Muara Laboh geothermal plant, where Inpex is planning to double production through expansions. (Photo courtesy of Supreme Energy Muara Laboh)
Energy

Indonesia's geothermal plants billow with foreign investments

Japan's Inpex, Singapore's Start Energy join rush to develop renewable energy source

25 January 2023
Police in Indonesia take up positions on Jan. 16, two days after deadly violence at a nickel smelting plant on the island of Sulawesi. The country hopes its vast reserves of the metal can help it build a domestic electric vehicle industry.
Politics

Violence at Chinese-owned nickel smelter in Indonesia raises alarm

Analysts say government, company action on labor is essential to prevent spread

24 January 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
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, on Nov. 16.
South China Sea

Indonesia boosts South China Sea security ahead of energy project

Oil and gas development near Natuna Islands could spur tension with China

24 January 2023
A detail of a poster for "Sri Asih," the second film in the Bumilangit Universe of superheroes created by writer and producer Joko Anwar. (Courtesy of Upi Avianto)
Arts

Indonesia's first female superhero is back

Cinematic rebirth of 'Sri Asih' coincides with women's rights crisis

20 January 2023
Foreign tourists at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of Bangkok's most popular attractions, on Jan. 10.
Business Spotlight

Thailand and Indonesia gear up for return of Chinese tourists

After a three-year lull, is Southeast Asia's travel sector ready for a rush?

20 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
Creative Gorilla Capital wants to help startups tap Indonesia's growing digital business ecosystem. (Source images from Reuters and Creative Gorilla Capital website)
DealStreetAsia

Creative Gorilla launches $20m fund to back Indonesian startups

Debut fund is looking to invest in consumer-focused companies

18 January 2023
Shanghai-headquartered Versus Programming Network oversees live feeds for the 2022 PUBG Mobile Global Championship in Jakarta on Jan. 8. (Photo by Randy Mulyanto)
Media & Entertainment

Esports organizer VSPN eyes growth in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia

Shanghai-based company expects end to China's zero-COVID to boost industry

17 January 2023
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at a news conference in Jakarta on Oct. 27, 2022. Indonesia is showing its determination to not let the Myanmar situation hold ASEAN "hostage."
Myanmar Crisis

Indonesia to set up office of ASEAN special envoy on Myanmar

Foreign minister to lead mission as Naypyitaw fails to move on 5-point consensus

11 January 2023
Singapore-based Welovesupermom has a presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. (Source photo from Supermom website)
DealStreetAsia

Singapore parenting platform Welovesupermom bags $6m in funding

Company offers price comparisons and hosts parent communities

11 January 2023
Indonesian President Joko Widodo attends a news conference after the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 16, 2022.
The Nikkei View

ASEAN chair Indonesia has big role in upholding regional order

Jakarta's most urgent task is to press Myanmar's military regime to conform

11 January 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo wave to journalists during their meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, Indonesia, on Jan. 9.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar makes diplomacy debut in 1st Indonesia trip

New PM aligns with Jokowi on Myanmar crisis, new Nusantara capital

9 January 2023
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sets off this week on a weeklong trip to meet counterparts in France, Italy, the U.K., Canada and the U.S. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Your Week in Asia

Biden-Kishida summit, India motor show, China inflation data

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

8 January 2023