While the economy is expanding at a descent clip, the growth achieved to date has done little to help mitigate poverty as most of it has taken place in non-labor intensive sectors, an economic think tank says.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - US President George Walker Bush`s visit to Indonesia could increase foreign investors` confidence in Indonesia, economist Umar Juoro said. "Bush`s visit could make foreign investors -- those intending to come here and those who already operate in the country -- more confident about doing business in Indonesia," Umar said here on Monday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - GDP could grow 7 pct next year if the government speeds up infrastructure projects, Bank Internasional Indonesia's chief economist Ferry Latuhihin said. "There is a chance for the economy to grow 7 pct next year, if the government accelerates the development of infrastructure projects," Latuhihin told a seminar here as reported by XFN Asia.

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - Japan will accept nurses, care workers and hotel trainees from Indonesia under a bilateral economic partnership agreement in the final stages of talks, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, without citing sources.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the Indonesian and the US governments have agreed to cooperate in the development of biofuel to enable the two countries to become less dependent on oil. "On energy, we (Indonesia and US) are going to cooperate in biofuel development. The US government is ready share technologies and other matters related to the development of alternative energy," Yudhoyono said during a joint media briefing with the US President George W.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Capital market analysts have predicted that investors will be focusing on Bakrie group's shares after PT Energi Mega Persada Tbk controversially sold Lapindo Brantas Inc to a foreign investor. There were also some analysts who have recommended that investors buy the shares selectively. However, there were also some others who have evaluated that investors should avoid buying the shares. Energi Mega is a gas and oil company affiliated with the Bakrie Group.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Ismanu Soemiran, Head of the Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers, is of the opinion that cigarette excise duty rise to Rp10 per cigarette starting January 2007 will create financial losses for the state. This is because, according to him, in addition to burdening small- and medium-scale cigarette producers, it will inflict losses on consumers. Consumers will therefore change to buying illegal cigarettes which are sold at cheaper prices.