Indonesia

Palm oil, derived from the fruit seen here, is widely used as a vegetable oil and is an ingredient in processed foods and many other products, including cosmetics. 
Agriculture

Palm oil faces headwinds amid China lockdowns, EU phaseout

Indonesia sees 'stable' prices in coming months, but future outlook dim

8 November 2022
The Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta on Aug. 3. Indonesia's exports between January and September reached $219 billion, up 33% from the first three quarters of last year.
Economy

Indonesia's GDP grew 5.72% in July-September quarter

Economic growth accelerated from Q2, buoyed by exports of coal, palm oil

7 November 2022
October saw fatal crushes at a soccer stadium in Indonesia, left, and a Halloween parade in South Korea, center, as well as mass shooting in Thailand by a former police officer. (Source photos by Reuters)
Society

South Korean, Indonesian police slammed for fatal crowd crushes

Mass shooting by Thai ex-cop also raises questions over law enforcement

7 November 2022
Yasuhito Hirota, president and CEO of ASICS, believes the growing popularity of running in Southeast Asia and South America will give the shoemaker a lift. (Photo by Toyofumi Amano) 
Consumer

Asics expanding production in Indonesia and Cambodia: CEO

Japan's shoemaker aims to cash in on jogging boom in emerging markets

5 November 2022
IBC President Director Toto Nugroho speaks to Nikkei Asia in London at the Indonesia Investment Forum on Oct. 27. (Photo by Rhyannon Bartlett-Imadegawa)
Companies

Indonesia Battery Corp. in talks with European automakers on EVs

IBC also plans to acquire Australian lithium mines, says top official

4 November 2022
Southeast Asian countries are hosting three major international conferences in November, coming at a time when the world is faced with highly divisive issues. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
International relations

Southeast Asia hosts rush of global meetings in November

Political tug of war likely to unfold amid intensifying U.S.-China tension

2 November 2022
A vendor sells food for iftar -- the meal that breaks the fast in the evening -- on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at a traditional food market in Jakarta. 
Tea Leaves

Why expatriates should stop moaning

Reflections on the not-so-subtle art of living in a foreign country

2 November 2022
Indonesian state electricity utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara plans to sell some of its aging coal-fired power plants. (Photo courtesy of Perusahaan Listrik Negara).
Climate Change

Indonesia's new SOE scheme puts focus on coal phasedown

Investors skeptical over potential cost of deal amid broader clean energy push

31 October 2022
Indonesian Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia says his country can offer value-added tax exemptions and swifter licensing for investors in the proposed new capital on the island of Borneo. (Photo by Rhyannon Bartlett-Imadegawa)
Interview

Indonesia to extend land permits up to '100 years' in Nusantara

Investment minister '100% certain' of finding investor funding for new capital

29 October 2022
ASEAN foreign ministers expressed frustration over the lack of progress in resolving Myanmar's civil conflict at a meeting on Oct. 27, at a meeting in Jakarta. (Pool photo)
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN stresses need for 'time-bound' Myanmar peace plan

Foreign ministers discuss options ahead of bloc's summit next month

27 October 2022
Caring Pharmacy operated 120 stores in East Malaysia and one store in West Malaysia as of 2019, according to its website. (Source photo from Caring Pharmacy website)
DealStreetAsia

Carlyle in advanced talks to invest in Malaysian drugstore chain

Caring Pharmacy is majority-owned by 7-Eleven Malaysia

27 October 2022
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo visits construction sites in Nusantara on Oct. 25, citing "good progress." (Photo courtesy of presidential office)
Politics

Jokowi tries reassuring investors on Nusantara

Indonesia president offers tax holiday, stresses 'good progress' on new capital

26 October 2022
Fazz CEO Hendra Kwik sees "a huge funding gap" separating the needs of small and midsized businesses and what banks can provide. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Interview

Indonesia's Fazz looks to triple users on digital pay platform

CEO Hendra Kwik says limited access to capital hinders business growth

24 October 2022
A palm oil plantation in Indonesia. Kao plans to introduce a grievance mechanism initially for 50 farmers in the country to report on suspected human rights abuses. (Photo courtesy of Kao)
Business trends

Japan consumer goods sector buys into sustainable procurement

Kao, UCC among companies examining human rights and other supply chain issues

24 October 2022
A GrabKitchen site in Singapore. (Photo by Kentaro Iwamoto)
DealStreetAsia

Grab to close cloud kitchen services in Indonesia

Company says 'tough step' will help ensure 'continuity' of its other businesses

24 October 2022
Indonesia's surging inflation in September forced the country's central bank to continue tightening monetary policy.
Economy

Indonesia hikes key interest rate to 4.75%, highest in over 2 years

Central bank keeps hawkish stance as inflation leaps to near 7-year high

20 October 2022
The belching chimneys of Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, a nickel processing complex in Central Sulawesi province, are powering the move to electric vehicles. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
The Big Story

Dirty metals for clean cars: Indonesian nickel could be key to EV battery industry

Rich nickel reserves attract Chinese investment but environmental hurdles remain

19 October 2022
Pertamina and Rosneft are working together on a refinery project in Indonesia. (Source photos by AP and Pertamina's website) 
Energy

Pertamina moves forward on $24bn Rosneft project

Indonesian, Russian state companies pursue energy cooperation amid Ukraine war

18 October 2022
Indonesia's Blibli is the latest Southeast Asian e-commerce company to announce plans to go public. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
IPO

Indonesia's Blibli seeks to raise up to $528m in local IPO

Pioneer in business-to-consumer e-commerce plans market debut next month

17 October 2022
Mourners pray for the victims of the Bali bombings during the Oct. 12 commemoration at the memorial in Kuta, Indonesia. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Terrorism

20 years after Bali bombings, Indonesia confronts extremism online

Fading memories are the real enemy to fighting terrorism, says survivor

13 October 2022
A still from "Bali 2002," a four-part miniseries released on the Australian streaming service Stan to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombings. (Credit: Tony Mott)
Life

Australian miniseries revisits 2002 Bali bombings

Critics say production does not do full justice to tragic event

12 October 2022
Opportunistic pricing and data privacy are concerns as startups bring insurance tech to Indonesia and Vietnam, where people often sell motorbike policies on the roadside. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Technology

Vietnam and Indonesia don't get insurance. Can fintech help?

Can 'insurtech' achieve profits and data privacy with bite-size products?

12 October 2022
Indonesian ride-hailing and delivery company Gojek says offering more choice on meal sizes can help consumers and businesses better deal with inflation. (Photo courtesy of Gojek) 
Inflation

Indonesia's Gojek urges more food size choice to fight inflation

Segment head says smaller portions can save consumers money, avoid waste

11 October 2022
Sumitomo Corp. is taking part in the Kayan Cascade project in Indonesia, the first big hydropower project for Japanese company in the country. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
Energy

Japan's Sumitomo joins $17.8bn Indonesia hydropower project

Kayan Cascade, part of China's Belt and Road, on track after 10-year delay

7 October 2022
A Sat Nusapersada plant in Batam. The Indonesian electronics manufacturing service has automated many processes, but workers check products visually. (Photo by Koya Jibiki)
Electronics

Indonesia's Satnusa taps manufacturing shift away from China

Contract smartphone builder woos new U.S. and European clients

7 October 2022