Pegadaian sees robust demand ahead of Idul Fitri celebration The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned pawn-shop operator Perum Pegadaian has set aside a total of Rp 500 billion (US$55 million), a rise of almost 70 percent from last year's Rp 300 billion, to prepare for rising demand ahead of Idul Fitri, a company official said Monday.

Noodle giant to enter biofuel sector Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The world's biggest instant noodle maker, PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, plans to enter the biodiesel industry and, as part of the venture, to acquire 60 percent stakes worth Rp 125 billion (some US$13.6 million) in three oil-palm plantation firms. "It's our long-term objective to become one of the players in the biodiesel industry," company director Thomas Tjhie said after chairing a shareholders meeting Monday.

BI finds consumer confidence improving The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Consumer confidence rebounded slightly in September, the latest survey from the central bank shows, as more people said they expect rises in their incomes and better employment prospects. The encouraging findings are tempered, however, by expectations that the prices of goods and services will continue increasing up until the year's end, and the fact that consumer confidence has not yet returned to an optimistic level.

Bank Jabar to Hold Public Offering Next Year Tuesday, 17 October, 2006 | 15:54 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah of West Java (Bank Jabar) is planning to hold an initial public offering (IPO) next year. Director of Credit of Bank Jabar Abas S Soemantri said that the target of share sales will be 10 percent. The target of funds that will be obtained is between Rp800 billion to Rp1 trillion.

Gas Cylinder Manufacturers Complain about Pertamina Tuesday, 17 October, 2006 | 16:00 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian Gas Cylinder Manufacturers Association (Asitab) will complain to Vice President Jusuf Kalla because Pertamina will import gas tubes for the conversion of kerosene to gas. According to Asitab, in addition to future losses, Pertamina’s tender delay will cause the lack of 800,000 tubes.