Many a quick fortune has been made in Sumatra, however after the logging and no replanting the question was asked what should be done with the empty land. The great idea was “let’s grow Palms for Palm Oil to supply the palm oil factories that we will build” . Oh dear, look at all these tree roots, better do something with them, ah- another idea, burn them.

Indonesia poised to be top palm oil producer March 30 2006 SINGAPORE: Indonesia may overtake Malaysia as the world's top palm oil producer by next year, much earlier than previously expected, as Jakarta encourages investments in plantations to profit from the demand boom, a senior official at Rabobank said yesterday.

Mar 30 17:20 RI developing nine free trade zones to spur investment, VP says Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is currently developing nine free trade zones (FTZs) to help boost investment and industry in the country, visiting Vice President Jusuf Kalla said here Thursday. "We are developing nine free trade zones, namely one each in Batam, Bintan, Aceh, North Sumatra, Banten, East Java, West Java, Kalimantan and Sulawesi," Kalla said in a dialogue with Malaysian businessmen.

It's a start!

East Asia Update - Indonesia Overview March 2006 The Indonesian economy ended 2005 with overall GDP growth of 5.6 percent, the highest rate in nine years. However, by year-end the growth story was mixed. The year had started strong with growth well over 6 percent but by the third quarter, economic activity had slowed as interest rates rose and consumers adjusted to increases in fuel prices (114 percent in October alone, and 143 percent for the year).

How mining companies could avoid political minefields Winarno Zain, Jakarta Investors seeking mining concessions in Indonesia have reason to envy the unique position that PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc. has been in for the last four decades. When Freeport signed its Contract of Work with the Indonesian government in 1967, Freeport served as a symbol of a new era for the Indonesian economy after it collapsed under president Sukarno's rule.