ho hum, you say. aussie bank invests in indonesian toll roads. but wait: the very same day, they announce a major move into a gambling cash cow in Europe ... which means, of course, that indoensian toll roads will be at least partly financed from the proceeds of gambling!! will this mean that these toll roads will be "haram" to muslims? where does the MUA stand on this? or more interestingly, where does the MMI stand on this issue?

The economy is expected to expand by 6 percent next year on the back of continued strong consumption and exports of selected commodities, economists say. Rising domestic demand will keep consumption robust, backed by declining inflation and interest rates -- the main ingredients for spurring consumer spending, according to ANZ Bank's chief international economist, Amy Auster.

As long as Indonesia is unable to fix its corrupt bureaucratic and legal system, the country will find it difficult to attract foreign investment from the U.S. or other countries, the U.S. envoy here says. Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe said in Jakarta on Wednesday that the meeting between U.S. President George W.

The central bank sees Indonesia's economy picking up further next year as both inflation and interest rates continue their downward trend, but warned that problems in the banking sector could undermine all the recent gains in macroeconomic stability. Growth "will continue rising to at least 6 percent in 2007" with inflation "having the prospect of coming in at between five and seven percent," Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Miranda S. Goeltom said Wednesday at a seminar.

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Australia's Macquarie Group has agreed to provide a Rp6.6 trillion (US$733 million) loan to build the Solo-Ngawi-Kertosono toll road project. Head of Toll Road Regulatory Body (BPJT) Hisnu Pawenang said Macquarie may provide a long term loan with guarantee in the form of revenue from the toll road after it is operational. Hisnu said Macquarie has a special investment mechanism for infrastructure projects offering a long term loan, a system not owned by banks.

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia's macro economy is likely to expand by six per cent in 2007, with the real estate sector showing signs of a revival and the nation's banks recording increases in lending, an observer said on Tuesday.

Automotive component producer Exedy Corporation, Japan, enters Indonesia with its plan to invest USD13 million to build motorcycle component manufacturing facility in Pulogadung, Jakarta. Exedy Corporation (Japan) and Exedy Globalparts Corporation (USA) have established PT Exedy Motorcycle Indonesia for that purpose. The plant will have the capability to produce 1.4 million pcs of multiplate clutch, 1.4 million pcs of carrier clutch assy, and 700,000 pcs one way clutch per year.