Exports of food and beverages will grow by between 10 and 15 percent this year from the US$2 billion in earnings estimated for 2006, the Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Associations (GAPMI) says. "It is only an interim estimation as we haven't completed all the calculations for last year. However, the first six months of produced more than $2 billion," association chairman Thomas Dharmawan told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The country's exports broke yet another record in November at US$8.92 billion, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Tuesday, adding weight to predictions that full-year exports will hit $100 billion for the first time. "According to our records, the $8.92 billion recorded in November, which is slightly higher than the figure for August, is the highest in the history of this republic," BPS director Rusman Heriawan said Tuesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News)- The government has predicted that investment in general and geothermal mining may reach over US$1.5 billion in 2007, while that in 2006 reached only $1.307 billion, a spokesman said. The increase was likely caused by investment of the mining companies, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry`s mineral, coal and geothermal management program chief Bambang Setiawan said here Tuesday.

State-owned gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) will invite bids next year for the construction of a $600 million pipeline linking Riau and North Sumatra, The Jakarta Post reported. PGN president director Sutikno said that the 360-km pipeline, which will transmit between 200 million and 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD) from Duri, in Riau, to Medan, North Sumatra, was expected to come onstream by the end of 2007.

Pertamina Retains Distribution Rights State oil firm Pertamina will retain its exclusive rights to supply and distribute subsidized oil products in 2007 in the domestic market, an official at the country's downstream oil regulator (BPH MIGAS) said on Thursday, Reuters reported. Pertamina is the only company with the infrastructure to deliver to all of Indonesia’s thousands of islands. Last year it delivered an estimated 37.9 million kilolitres (238 million barrels).

State power utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), says the country needs $41 billion to develop new power plants between 2006 and 2015, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Tuesday (26/12/06). PLN President Eddie Widiono said the amounts of investment required were $26.36 billion for plant development, $7 billion for transmission facilities and $8 billion for distribution. "These are the total amounts for the whole of Indonesia," Widiono said.

Retailers say they are looking at a quieter year for sales in 2007, amid strong expansion programs by major domestic and international operators. Retailers expect 17% growth this year compared to an estimated 20% last year, in which they made an estimated Rp50 trillion. AC Nielsen said hypermarkets and mini-markets will grow by 25%, exceeding the estimated 15% of the overall consumer goods market.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday (28/12/06) signed a government regulation ordering the government to inject funds into 12 state-owned enterprises, State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra told reporters. "The president hopes the state enterprises will increase their performance after obtaining additional capital from the government," he said, according to Antara.

Indonesia is ready to support the realization of ASEAN's electronic export-import system called the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), scheduled to become operational in 2008, a senior official said on Tuesday (26/12/06), Antara reported. "At the end of 2008, we will have no problem joining ASEAN's ASW system.

Property developer PT Ciputra Development plans to build Rp1.2 trillion ($132.2 million) worth of projects that were delayed by the Asian economic crisis, Investor Daily reported on Wednesday (27/12/06). Ciputra finance director Tulus Santoso said the firm, through its subsidiary PT Ciputra Adigraha, plans to develop a shopping mall, a hotel and an apartment building in Jakarta in the first quarter of 2007.

The government guaranteed the security of foreign investment in Indonesia, needed to help boost the country’s economic growth, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS said. "Security is a matter of perception. The important thing is how to manage problems well. We are inviting foreign investment here and we guarantee their security," Widodo said after a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono on Tuesday (26/12/06).