Quote: Originally posted by KuKuKaChu: Despite the deteriorating image of Indonesia overseas, At least people are now admiting it. Australia is making plant on how it handles millions of refugees from another Islamic state gone crazy....

Yudhoyono slams 'unfair' global trade practices Rendi Akhmad Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has criticized imbalances in the international trade regime supported by most developed nations that limit access to agricultural products from poor and developing nations.

Ailing economy a threat to RI democracy: Survey M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta More than 70 percent of Indonesians in a recent survey believe democracy is the best of all political systems but they are far less happy about the economy, and support for alternative authoritarian systems is growing, the pollster says.

Freeport's Work Contract Questionable Friday, 19 May, 2006 | 14:06 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) assumes the composition of PT Freeport Indonesia's work contract is inaccurate so Freeport has the potential to put the state at a loss. “Review Freeport's royalty payment and regular deposit,” Baharuddin Aritonang, a BPK member, told Tempo yesterday.

BRI to lend Rp 2t to corn growers The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) will extend some Rp 2 trillion (US$219 million) in loans to farmers to help turn Sulawesi Island into a center of corn production, National Corn Council chairman Fadel Muhammad said Thursday. Fadel said the loans would start to be disbursed this year during the planting season, with regional administrations in Sulawesi providing guarantees to enable local farmers to secure the loans.

S'pore trade chamber inaugurated The Jakarta Post, Jakarta About 80 business executives from Singaporean firms operating in Indonesia inaugurated a chamber of commerce Thursday to represent there interests here. The Singapore Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (SCCI), with its offices at the Singaporean embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, Central Jakarta, was officially inaugurated by Indonesian Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu and Singapore's ambassador, Edward Lee.

Stanchart plans 'Indonesian Day' in all branches in 56 countries The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite the deteriorating image of Indonesia overseas, Standard Chartered Bank plans to hold an "Indonesian Day" on Monday in all of its branches in 56 countries in a bid to increase awareness about Indonesia's economic potential among the bank's employees and clients.

Pertamina to import 7.5 mln barrels of fuel/month in June, July Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State oil-and-gas firm PT Pertamina plans to import 7.5 mln barrels of fuel a month in June and July, slightly higher than the 7.4 mln barrels planned for this month, marketing director Achmad Faisal said. "The current stock is at a safe level," Faisal was quoted by XFN-Asia as saying. The fuel products to be imported will be strictly premium gasoline and diesel fuel.

MOODY'S UPGRADES INDONESIA'S RATINGS New York New York Vincent J. Truglia Steven A.

May 18 22:10 Govt advised to be careful about Cemex`s shares sale Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government, the state enterprises ministry in particular, should be careful in handling the sale of Cemex`s 25.53-percent stake in PT Semen Gresik, an economic observer said.

May 18 20:54 Indonesia, Singapore to develop special economic zones Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Singapore plan to sign an agreement to develop special economic zones (SEZ) in Batam and Bintan in June, Singapore ambassador to Indonesia Edward Lee said here on Thursday. "The development of SEZ is expected to boost investors` confidence. If the SEZ project in Batam and Bintan proves successful it may later be developed in other parts of Indonesia.