Pertamina to provide free bio-diesel supply for Idul Fithri Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As part of efforts to introduce bio-diesel, Indonesia`s state oil/gas company Pertamina will give free supply of 90,000 liters of bio-diesel to those serving Lebaran/Idul Fithri public transport. "We want to introduce bio-diesel to the public as fuel produced from vegetable oil has various advantages since this fuel is friendly to the environment and renewable," Pertamina Managing Director Arie Sumarno said here.

Korean businessman to invest in US$300 mln resort project in Bintan Batam, Riau islands (ANTARA News) - A Korean businessman will invest in a resort amounting to US$300 million in Pulau Bintan, Na Hyeon Chui, director of Raja Wali Koresia said here Wednesday. A number of businessmen from 12 South Korean companies in the company of the organisation`s execuitve board met with Ismeth Abdullah, Riau islands governor. In the meeting, the governor gave a briefing on business opportunities.

PGN to produce coal bed methane in cooperation with three foreign partners Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State-owned gas company PGN will initiate cooperation with three foreign partners in the production of coal bed methane (CBM) in South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan.

Indonesia-Japan to sign MoU on import duty on agricultural products Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan shortly on the import duty on agricultural and plantation commodities in each of the two countries.

Enercoal resources obtains $200 million loan Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Enercoal Resources said on Wednesday it has obtained a US$200 million loan from the Credit Suisse`s branch in Singapore. The loan may increase but the rise would not be more than $100 million, Bumi Resources Finance Director Eddie J Soebari said in a report to the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX). Enercoal is a subsidiary of Bumi Resources which also acts as underwriter for the loan.

Indonesia free from IMF pressures after paying off its debts Jakarta (ANTARA News) - House Speaker Agung Laksono said that the House of Representatives (DPR) lauded the government`s step in paying off its debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it would politically and economically free the country from foreign pressures.

National Team to Handle TNI’s Business Wednesday, 18 October, 2006 | 17:47 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: In order to handle the businesses of the Indonesian Military (TNI), the government is establishing a National Team for TNI Business Transformation. This team’s duty is to handle the taking-over of businesses within the TNI.

Indonesia pushes for geothermal renewal By ROBIN MCDOWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER SALAK MOUNTAIN, Indonesia -- Indonesia, land of earthquakes and volcanos, is literally sitting on top of the solution for its energy needs: Vast reservoirs of hot water deep beneath the earth's crust can be harnessed to generate electricity. What's more, it's a clean, renewable energy source. Yet the country continues to import millions of barrels of oil and fuel annually.

Bank Permata reshuffles management Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Bank Permata, Indonesia's seventh largest bank by assets, has revamped its board of commissioners and directors after recent changes in the ownership structure, corporate secretary Imam Teguh Saptono said. Bank Permata is now 89 pct owned by a consortium of Standard Chartered Bank and PT Astra International after they recently acquired an additional 25.9 pct stake in the lender from the government.

Japan's Inpex plans final test drilling at Indonesian gas field Tokyo (ANTARA News) - Inpex Holdings Inc said it has decided to shortly launch a final test drilling at an offshore natural gas field in Indonesia to verify reserve levels and to determine whether to go ahead with commercial production there.

Astra Argo Lestari 9 month-CPO sales 711,901 tons Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Astra Agro Lestari said its crude palm oil (CPO) sales volume rose 14.4 pct to 711,901 tons in the nine months to September from 622,396 tons the year before. The company said high grade "Super" CPO accounted for 59.6 pct, or 424,603 tons, of the total. The CPO output increase was supported by a 9.2 pct increase in harvested fresh palm fruit (FFB) to 2.8 mln tons, from 2.6 mln the year before. (*)

Indonesia's Jan-Sept FDI approvals $10.52 bln Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Approved foreign direct investment (FDI) in the nine months to September declined in value to 10.52 bln usd from 10.66 bln in the same period last year. The National Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) said in a report that the decline was due to a drop in value of both new projects, as well as expansions.

Indonesia September motorcycle sales rise to 494,111 Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Industry-wide motorcycle sales rose to 494,115 in September from 440,288 in August, according to a report compiled by the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI). The September sales were the strongest for any month since Sept last year, when they came in at 452,876.

Indomobil upbeat on vehicle sales in 2007 on easing interest rates The Jakarta Post, Jakarta PT Indomobil Sukses International, the second largest automotive distributor and manufacturer in the country, says it is upbeat that the central bank's plan to further lower interest rates will help boost vehicle sales.

U.S. protests ban on fruit imports The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The U.S. government has lodged a protest with the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry for its decision to ban the importation of several types of fruit from the U.S. The director of the ministry's quarantine agency, Syukur Iwantoro, said Tuesday that the U.S. had lodged its complaints during a World Trade Organization meeting on sanitary and phytosanitary measures in Geneva recently.

Pro-business customs law on the cards for enactment Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Exporters and importers may finally be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel as the House of Representatives appears set to approve amendments to the Customs Law that promise to cut bureaucracy and improve services.