Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The standard minimum wage for workers (UMP) in Jakarta will be raised by 9.95 percent next year from Rp819.100 to Rp900,560, the chief of the province`s manpower service, Rusdi Mochtar, said here on Friday. "The new UMP will be implemented as of January 1, 2007," he said. The new UMP was approved by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso last October 18, after it had been agreed upon by Wage Council members.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Industry Minister Fahmi Idris boycotted a meeting of the Indonesia-Singapore joint steering committee on the further implementation of Batam, Bintan and Karimun special economic zones here on Friday.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Investment realization from Europe on the infrastructure sector in Indonesia is targeted at 40 billion euro or around Rp464 trillion. The amount is equal to five percent of Europe's investment ability in the infrastructure sector every year at 800 billion euro. Deputy Chairman of the European Business Chamber Michael Olson said that 200 companies owned by its 83 members will invest in Indonesia. All infrastructure projects were of interest except toll road projects.

TEMPO Interactive, Depok: An economist from Peru, who is known for his thoughts and writings on the informal economy, Hermando de Soto said poverty eradication in Indonesia can be started with the awareness of formalized property rights. Through property assets that are owned legally, he said that the public can develop them into a source of welfare because the property can be a guarantee to obtain capital (loan) from banks.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Thursday that local administrations must share the responsibility of defeating corruption and improving the country's economy by bringing in investors. The President cited cumbersome local regulations arising from the 1999 autonomy law. "Devolution of authority does not mean the decentralization of corruption ...

While he acknowledged that the government needs to enact further reforms to create a better business climate, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono said Thursday that Indonesia had gotten a positive response from foreign investors on developing infrastructure projects here. "With this summit we regain the momentum to boost the development of our infrastructure.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government is going to supervise as well as evaluate a number of regional regulations. According to Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaludin, the plan was made to synchronize legal construction of regional regulations so that they will be in line with Law number 10/2004 concerning Setting Up of Legal Provisions.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was positive that national per capita income can reach US$1,500 or around Rp13.6 million by the end of the year. The amount increases 15.4 percent, compared to last year at US$1,300 or around Rp11.8 million. The US$1,500, according to Yudhoyono, will be realized if the government can maintain the inflation rate at under 7 percent with economic growth of 5.6 percent. “In general, Indonesian economics has improved.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - On the sidelines of the 2006 infrastructure summit here on Thursday, Vice President Jusuf Kalla took a few moments of his time to discuss infrastructure development with the leader of the Asian Develoment Bank (ADB), coordinating minister for economy Boediono said.

Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - MTD Capital Bhd is likely to sign a toll road project agreement in Indonesia by the end of this month, the Edge Daily reported, quoting the company's managing director Azmil Khalid. Azmil said the company could not proceed with the signing until now as the Indonesian government has made moves to address several issues pertaining to risks sharing, land acquisition and default clauses.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The infrastructure fund that the government plans to establish has attracted serious interest from investors, including multilateral agencies and private institutions, State Enterprise Minister Sugiharto said. "We're now in the process of drafting legal agreements between prospective investors, including the Qatar Investment Authority," Sugiharto was quoted by XFN-Asia as telling a news conference.