Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 December 2002

88 articles found

Tangerang offers secure home for investors

Tangerang offers secure home for investors The regional autonomy law, which was introduced two years ago, has woken up most of the regencies in the country from their long slumber.Tangerang regency, one of four regencies in the newly established Banten province, is no exception. With 2.

Gus Dur ready for reelection

Gus Dur ready for reelection JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid reiterated his desire on Thursday to run again for the 2004 direct presidential election if asked by Muslim clerics."If ordered by ulemas (Muslim clerics) to run for president in 2004, I will do so," the Antara news...

Bali bombing takes heavy toll on SE Asia

Bali bombing takes heavy toll on SE AsiaLawrence Bartlett, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur The political and economic fallout from the Bali bombing hangs like a radioactive cloud over Southeast Asia, poisoning the region long after the sound of the explosion has died away.

Living with another lean year

Living with another lean yearIndonesia is going to add another pale year to its post-Soeharto era. Its already tarnished image as a state was severely damaged again after the Bali bombing, which demonstrated undeniably how vulnerable Indonesia had become to acts of terrorism.

The private capture of common good

The private capture of common goodB. Herry-Priyono Driyarkara School of Philosophy Jakarta The year 2002 began with torrential floods battering Jakarta and many other cities. Nature cares nothing for our logic; she has her own, which we do not acknowledge until we are crushed under her wheel.

FOR ADS

FOR ADS SHOE FACTORY: Minister of Manpower Jacob Nawa Wea (center, wearing glasses) visits one of the shoe factories in Tangerang regency. Shoe manufacturing, which employs about 50,000 workers, is one of the regency's most important industries.

Promising giant Tangguh LNG project launched

Promising giant Tangguh LNG project launchedNethy Dharma Somba and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially opened the giant Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Papua on Thursday, promising the local administration huge revenues in the future.

Puncak packed with visitors

Puncak packed with visitors BOGOR: The road along Cisarua and the hilly Puncak area in Bogor regency was jammed by travelers who visited recreation sites on the day after Christmas on Thursday.Vehicles were seen moving bumper to bumper along the road toward Puncak, but the traffic flowed smoothly...

IBRA disappoints ahead of early closure next year

IBRA disappoints ahead of early closure next yearReiner S., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Officials at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) have been quietly talking about a severance package for themselves after Chairman Syafruddin Temenggung announced an ambitious plan to close the...

1. POLISI: 50 PT, 2 COLS, 4 x 12

1. POLISI: 50 PT, 2 COLS, 4 x 12 Terrorism may prompt police to neglect other issues 2. DISHUB: 30 PT, 3 COLS, 1 x 28 Council objects to gas pistol plan 3. OTONOM: 28 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 29 Autonomy not visible in Tangerang 4.

Massive development projects planned for coastal areas

Massive development projects planned for coastal areas While PT Trans Indo Duta Utama is conducting feasibility studies for the construction of a container terminal in Cikupa, a sea port in Tanjung Pasir and a 50-kilometer toll road that will link the port with Soekarno-Hatta International Airport,...

Christmas was peacefully celebrated in all corners of the

Christmas was peacefully celebrated in all corners of the globe, including Indonesia, where -- two years ago -- churches in several towns were rocked by bombs, which killed 19 people.Millions of Christians in the archipelago felt secure to go to church to celebrate Christmas, despite warnings from...

This caption for Photo A (left) and B (right)

This caption for Photo A (left) and B (right) Credit A - JP/I Wayan Juniartha Credit B - JP/Arief SuhardimanPASTIKA AND BA'ASYIR: Head of the Bali bombing joint investigative team Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika (left) smiles, confident that the police will be able to uproot the terrorist network...

Crash GAM if they betray

Crash GAM if they betray The public was shocked to learn from the army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) had shot Acehnese and members of the Indonesian military. According to the Indonesian military, since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement...

Another man confesses Bali bombing

Another man confesses Bali bombingI Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali The police on Thursday transferred a resident of Klaten, Central Java to Bali for further investigation in connection with his self-confessed role in the Oct.

Indonesia manufactures presidential aircraft

Indonesia manufactures presidential aircraftYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java State-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia handed over two CN-235 planes to South Korea, the last aircraft of an eight- plane package ordered by Korea's airforce under a US$130 million...

Absurdity of our

Absurdity of our legislatorsFrom Koran Tempo Some members of the House of Representatives are attempting to interpellate President Megawati Soekarnoputri regarding two matters. The Reform faction of the House wants to exercise its right to interpellation regarding the sale of assets of state- owned...

Jl. Barito becoming barren

Jl. Barito becoming barrenFrom KompasThe South Jakarta administration is building an office for the city parks agency in a green area of Jl. Barito II, Kramat Pela subdistrict, formerly known as Barito park. An artesian well is also under construction as part of the building.

Recreation centers report few visitors

Recreation centers report few visitors JAKARTA: Many recreation centers across the capital were quiet on Thursday with only a few visitors to be seen despite the lingering Christmas holiday mood.The Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) and Ragunan Zoo, both of which are normally packed by Jakarta...

2 X 23

2 X 23 Year-end reflection: An urgency for paradigm shift Yanuar Nugroho Director, The Business Watch Indonesia Lecturer, Sahid University at Surakarta Researcher, Uni Sosial Demokrat Jakarta yanuar-n@unisosdem.org 2.

Many fly from Medan for New Year

Many fly from Medan for New Year MEDAN, North Sumatra: Thousands of local residents will fly out of North Sumatra province to enjoy New Year parties overseas next week despite the protracted economic crisis, airport officials here said on Thursday.

Lessons to learn from Sipadan-Ligitan

Lessons to learn from Sipadan-LigitanSiswo Pramono, Ph.D. Graduate Program, Political Science, International Relations, School of Social Science, The Australian National University, Canberra The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia.

Political battle between Amien and Laksamana heats up

Political battle between Amien and Laksamana heats upMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A political battle is close to peaking ahead of the 2004 elections between People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais and State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi as the two...

Using foreign policy to deal with domestic problems

Using foreign policy to deal with domestic problemsFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Activities at the foreign ministry this year demonstrated that foreign policy can be advantageous to domestic interests.

Rahardi mulls quitting Golkar over conviction

Rahardi mulls quitting Golkar over convictionThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former trade minister Rahardi Ramelan said on Thursday that he was considering resigning from the Golkar Party after he was convicted of corruption and given a two-year prison sentence.

Living with another lean year

Living with another lean yearIndonesia is going to add another pale year into its post- Soeharto era. Its already tarnished image as a state was damaged again severely following the Bali Bombing, which demonstrated undeniably how vulnerable Indonesia has become to acts of terrorism.

JP/ /

JP/ / Five-and-a-half years after the economic crisis struck the country, Indonesia's economy remains sluggish. The Bali bombing dealt another major blow to the still fragile economy, while the pullout of major investors and the drop in new investment indicated the economic crisis was still far...

`Bali attack result of internal politics'

`Bali attack result of internal politics'Supalak Ganjanakhundee, The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok Visiting American Indonesianist Benedict Anderson said here on Thursday that internal political affairs were more likely behind the Oct.

Police to keep guarding churches

Police to keep guarding churchesTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Even though two major religious events -- Idul Fitri and Christmas -- have passed off peacefully, the National Police will continue to maintain tight the security at certain churches and other public places nationwide in the...

Banking sector improving, but in snail's pace

Banking sector improving, but in snail's paceDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Much has been done for the country's banking sector. Five years after the crisis however, its pace towards recovery is still yet to reach full swing.

2002 a 'year of grace' for Aceh?

2002 a 'year of grace' for Aceh?Kornelius Purba The Jakarta Post JakartaThe year 2002 has been marked by the historically significant signing on Dec. 9 of the cessation of hostilities agreement, facilitated by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), to end the 26-year-old Aceh conflict that has...

Autonomy not visible in Tangerang

Autonomy not visible in TangerangMulta Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang The implementation of regional autonomy policy in the Tangerang municipality has apparently still to be felt by residents, subdistrict and district officials, although a number of senior officials and councillors have...

Reinventing globalization

Reinventing globalizationYanuar Nugroho Director The Business Watch IndonesiaIf there is one word that has been the most frequently mentioned by people around the world over the past three to five years, it has been globalization.

Council objects to gas pistol plan

Council objects to gas pistol planAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A councillor and a public lawyer questioned on Thursday the Jakarta Transportation Agency's proposal to purchase additional gas pistols worth a total of Rp 1.

Renomination of Lt. Gen.(ret) Sutiyoso, Approved Sutiyoso's,

Renomination of Lt. Gen.(ret) Sutiyoso, Approved Sutiyoso's, a suspect in the bloody takeover of renomination, sacked Megawati-led PDI's headquarters in 1996, dissident Tarmidi as Jakarta governor Suharjo Corruption involving House of Representative Allowed legal Speaker Akbar Tandjung process...

Sidewalk vendors

Sidewalk vendors in GlodokFrom Warta Kota In the last few days, sidewalk vendors selling VCDs and other wares near Harco Shopping Center, Glodok, have disappeared. Still, the area remains messy, with fences made from iron sheeting here and there.

Cirebon police to crush extorters

Cirebon police to crush extorters CIREBON, West Java: Police here have vowed to crack down on thugs blamed for rampant extortion on buses and other vehicles traversing the Cirebon-Jakarta highway along the north coast of Java.Cirebon Police chief Sr. Comr.

Speed up reform, avoid return to protectionism

Speed up reform, avoid return to protectionismImelda Maidir, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta The government of Megawati Soekarnoputri throughout this year has kept the IMF-supported program on track, but macroeconomic targets fared better than structural reforms.

The economy wavers

The economy wavers The verdict of independent analysts is unanimous. Even though the political situation this year is much more stable than it was in turbulent 2001, economic growth is likely to remain stagnant at last year's 3.

Year-end reflection: An urgency for paradigm shift

Year-end reflection: An urgency for paradigm shiftYanuar Nugroho, Director, The Business Watch Indonesia, Lecturer, Sahid University at Surakarta, Researcher, Uni Sosial Demokrat Jakarta, yanuar-n@unisosdem.org Humanity involves a pilgrimage across space and time.

The instrument of crisis management

The instrument of crisis management The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency has a vital role to play to help fuel economic recovery through its loan restructuring programs to restore thousands of businesses to normal operations, and to sell thousands of operating companies to raise funds to lessen...

Constitutional amendments

Constitutional amendments Satya Arinanto Lecture and Vice Dean School of Law University of Indonesia Jakarta arinanto@cbn.net.id One of the biggest legal issues during 2002 -- and the years immediately preceding it -- was the question of further amending the 1945 Constitution.According to S.E.

Economic reforms show mixed results in fight against poverty

Economic reforms show mixed results in fight against povertyBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Behind all the talk about economic reforms, the one thing that often slips our attention is how they affect the poor.

Army involved in Papua ambush: Police

Army involved in Papua ambush: PoliceNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura Police investigators have found evidence linking the Indonesian Army to an ambush on Aug. 31 which killed two American teachers and an Indonesian near the American-owned PT Freeport Indonesia in Papua.

On Sipadan and Ligitan

On Sipadan and Ligitan The bad news has finally arrived, and concerned Indonesian citizens must accept the fact. This is the second time that Indonesia must "give up" her territory after the secession of East Timor four years ago.

Once shady Jl. Barito

Once shady Jl. Barito becoming barren From KompasThe South Jakarta administration is building an office for the city parks agency in a green area of Jl. Barito II, Kramat Pela subdistrict, formerly known as Barito park. An artesian well is also under construction as part of the building.

GAM withdraws troops as JSC deploys teams

GAM withdraws troops as JSC deploys teamsNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Hundreds of armed members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) returned to their bases on Thursday as part of the peace accord it signed with the government earlier this month, as teams of observers prepared to fan out...

Prospect for law enforcement in 2003

Prospect for law enforcement in 2003Satya Arinanto Lecturer and Deputy Dean School of Law University of Indonesia Jakarta arinanto@cbn.net.idThe discourse on law enforcement usually starts from the issue of the legal system. According to Lawrence M.

As was the case in 2001, this year we are happy to provide our

As was the case in 2001, this year we are happy to provide our loyal readers with a wide variety of yearend articles covering the main issues that have been dominating the life of the country for the past 12 months.

Terrorism shakes Southeast Asia, but strengthens ASEAN

Terrorism shakes Southeast Asia, but strengthens ASEANVeeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta This year's terror attacks in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, including the deadly Oct. 12 Bali blasts and the arrests of alleged members of a regional terror network in Singapore and...

Art enjoyable as ever amid underlying tension

Art enjoyable as ever amid underlying tension Carla Bianpoen Contributor Jakarta For the ignorant art lover, the year 2002 was as enjoyable as ever, with many exhibitions, both local and international. But underneath all this lay the tension that the issue of goreng menggoreng had evoked.

Policemen miss out on spending time with families

Policemen miss out on spending time with familiesYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java Bomb and terror threats looming over Christmas and New Year celebrations in the country have required many policemen throughout the country to work during the holiday season instead of spending...

Tourism, a glittering jewel in a tattered crown

Tourism, a glittering jewel in a tattered crownRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "Down in the dumps" could well describe the condition of the country's tourism industry after the Oct. 12 terrorist attacks rocked Bali, the heart of the country's tourism industry and one of the world's most...

Local films stimulate inspiring phenomenon

Local films stimulate inspiring phenomenonJoko E.H. Anwar Contributor JakartaLocal multiplexes this year experienced an unusual but inspiring phenomenon which has not been seen for more than a decade, with posters of locally-made movies displayed side by side at cinemas -- a thrilling sight for...

It's a good year for agricultural sector

It's a good year for agricultural sectorAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It was a good year for the country's agricultural sector.As the manufacturing sector struggled to cope with a variety of problems, farmers and farm product traders ended the year with smiles on their faces.

Fiscal sustainability: How sustainable will it be?

Fiscal sustainability: How sustainable will it be?Muhammad Chatib Basri Looking at the prospects of the world economy in 2003 is like looking at a silhouette. You can see the big picture, but you cannot tell the details.

Piracy still haunts local music industry

Piracy still haunts local music industry Hera Diani The Jakarta Post JakartaMany consider the 1980s the best period for the local contemporary music scene. Come to think of it, the opinion is quite valid as among the best collections of Indonesian popular music emerged during that particular decade.

Enjoying Spas in Sleman Regency

Enjoying Spas in Sleman RegencyIt is every one's dream to become an appealing individual with a perfect shape both physically and mentally. Appearing fit and healthy is a necessity for all the people no matter who they are.

Power politics 2003

Power politics 2003 Chusnul Mar'iyahThe years that followed the epochal students, civil society and political victory in 1998 were a lonely time for realists in Indonesia. The 1999 election, for instance, had a bad impact on Indonesian politics.

1. The sale of PT Indomobil Sukses Makmur, a company owned by the

1. The sale of PT Indomobil Sukses Makmur, a company owned by the Salim group, for Rp 625 million to a consortium led by Trimegah Securities. The company was worth Rp 2.14 trillion when IBRA took it over 1998.The transaction aroused suspicions that Salim had bought back the company. 2.

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JP/ / Indonesia's major economic events and market performance throughout 2002 Jan. 2 :The rupiah ends its first day of trading of the year at 10,380 against the U.S. dollar, while the Jakarta Composite Index closes at 383.45 points. Jan.

Corruption of the Republic

Corruption of the RepublicB. Herry-Priyono Driyarkara School of Philosophy Jakarta The herd of that social vice called corruption rumbles on unabated. The year 2002 has seen a rapid escalation of this contagion, even though the chorus of criticism grows louder.

RP legislator handed over to U.S. officials: A wealthy Filipino

RP legislator handed over to U.S. officials: A wealthy Filipino legislator was handed over to American officials on Thursday who will escort him to the United States to face charges that he made illegal campaign contributions to the Democratic Party and former President Bill Clinton. Manila Rep.

Terrorism may prompt police to neglect other issues

Terrorism may prompt police to neglect other issuesDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The police could be overburdened with dozens of unresolved cases if they are asked to deal with more terrorism-related cases, says one legal observer.

Hotel fires 18 for cooking rice

Hotel fires 18 for cooking rice PURWOKERTO, Central Java: As many as 18 workers from the Wijaya hotel here staged a protest at Banyumas legislative council on Thursday against their recent dismissals after having been discovered cooking fried rice at the hotel.

Customs to cut bureaucracy in clearance procedure

Customs to cut bureaucracy in clearance procedureRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Directorate General of Customs and Excise has issued a new policy in a bid to streamline bureaucracy to help smooth the flow of goods into the country.

Megawati comforts Papuans on Christmas

Megawati comforts Papuans on ChristmasNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura President Megawati Soekarnoputri celebrated Christmas in Papua and marked the granting of concessions under the special autonomous status to help improve the welfare of Papuans.

Essential services in 2003: Who owns (and thus, trades) our life?

Essential services in 2003: Who owns (and thus, trades) our life?Yanuar Nugroho Director The Business Watch IndonesiaLife is a game of power. The powerful rulers have their power not because others want it, but because the former use the latter for their own benefit.

* Headlines:GAM withdraws troops as JSC deploys teams2

* Headlines:GAM withdraws troops as JSC deploys teams2 * National:Rahardi mulls quiting Golkar3 * City:Council objects to gas pistol plan4 * Sports: Oram guides NZ to nervy one-day win5 * Opinion: Lessons to learn from Sipadan-Ligitan 7 * Features: Temple provides sanctuary to AIDS victims9 *...

Five in custody on suspicion of bombing attempts in Manado

Five in custody on suspicion of bombing attempts in ManadoJupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi Police in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, arrested on Wednesday night five people suspected of attempting to stage a string of bombings on Christmas Eve in the predominant Christian...

please keep bolding of the pub names

please keep bolding of the pub namesYear of ups and downs for Jakarta pub sceneBill Blade Contributor JakartaThere's no doubt about it, it's been one heck of a hard year, what with glugging down copious quantities of the amber nectar, endless elbow-bending, and trying to get reimbursed for my...

Luas Samudera

Luas Samudera Contributor JakartaThe introduction of several new private TV stations -- Trans-TV, Lativi, TV7 and Global-TV -- earlier this year has changed the map of local TV. The top three are still in the hands of the oldtimers: Indosiar, RCTI and SCTV, although the new Trans-TV has taken a...

;JP;REI

;JP;REI ANPAf..r.. IBRA-yearender IBRA disappoints people ahead of early closure next year JP/ /IBRA disappoints ahead of early closure next yearReiner S. The Jakarta Post Jakarta Officials at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) have been quietly talking about a severance package for...

JP/ /

JP/ /Our businesspeople are spoiled President Megawati Soekarnoputri admonished last week the country's businesspeople for being too picky about markets. She said they only took advantage of existing markets, were reluctant to explore new ones, were unwilling to make a real effort and sought profit...

Gloomy year for manufacturing sector

Gloomy year for manufacturing sectorJohannes Simbolon, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's manufacturing industries were mostly in the doldrums at the beginning of the year. Twelve months later, most of them remain in bad shape and are anticipating another gloomy year.

Sour note ends this year's performing arts arena

Sour note ends this year's performing arts arenaYusuf Susilo Hartono Contributor JakartaStaging a performance, especially of international caliber in Indonesia in 2002, proved difficult and expensive. The reasons include the difficulty in obtaining funds and sponsors since many companies have gone...

Fitri Wulandari

Fitri Wulandari The Jakarta Post JakartaSamsung has seen rosy days in Indonesia, despite the economic woes that have plagued many electronics producers here in recent years.While many players in the electronics industry struggled to cope with a variety of problems, including weakening demand,...

Champ Thai not assured of victory

Champ Thai not assured of victoryAgence France-Presse, Jakarta For the third time in four tournaments, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia will do battle on Friday for a place in the final of the Tiger Cup.

Asian stocks seen outperforming after another `annus horribilis'

Asian stocks seen outperforming after another `annus horribilis'David Vujanovic, Agence France-Presse, Hong Kong Asian bourses had another grim year in 2002, emulating global stock markets amid the economic downturn, but the region is expected to outshine the rest of the world next year despite...

Economic integration in Southeast Asia: Making AFTA work

Economic integration in Southeast Asia: Making AFTA workPuspa Delima Amri Centre fore Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) JakartaThe year 2002 marked an important era for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, as they embarked on the long evolving plan to realize the...

Challenges in public services delivery

Challenges in public services deliveryYanuar Nugroho Director, The Business Watch Indonesia Lecturer, Sahid University in Surakarta Researcher, Uni Sosial Demokrat Jakarta Clean water, health care and access to energy are the three most essential of basic human needs, with education perhaps the...

`I'm sure the busway won't solve traffic problems'

`I'm sure the busway won't solve traffic problems' In an attempt to alleviate traffic around the areas of Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta and to encourage more commuters to use public transit, the city administration plans to start a new project called the busway system on a trial...

`Musang' a lesson for would-be Don Juans

`Musang' a lesson for would-be Don JuansYusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta A comedy by playwright Jose Rizal Manua, Musang Berjanggut (The Bearded Civet) presenting popular actress Tamara Blezynski as leading cast will help brighten up the year with its performance at Gedung Kesenian...

Indonesia in for another year of sluggish growth

Indonesia in for another year of sluggish growthVincent Lingga, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is likely to end its fifth consecutive year of economic crisis with moderate growth but is in for another slowdown in expansion in 2003 as the country grapples with adverse internal factors and an...

Another muddling through scenario

Another muddling through scenarioMuhammad Chatib Basri How do we mark the economic performance in 2002 and what is the prospect for 2003? The average real GDP growth (y-o-y) up to the third quarter of 2002 was recorded at 3.4 percent.

Crush GAM if

Crush GAM if they betrayThe public was shocked to learn from the army chief of staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) had shot Acehnese and members of the Indonesian military. According to the Indonesian military, since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement...

Sour note ends this year's performing arts arena

Sour note ends this year's performing arts arenaYusuf Susilo Hartono Contributor JakartaStaging a performance, especially of international caliber in Indonesia in 2002, proved difficult and expensive. The reasons include the difficulty in obtaining funds and sponsors since many companies have gone...

Small cars to enjoy fastest growth next year: Experts

Small cars to enjoy fastest growth next year: ExpertsA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Automotive industry experts predict that small cars will enjoy the fastest sales growth next year in an otherwise slow market.