Indonesia's manufacturing industry will need at least Rp 30.9 trillion (US$3.3 billion) in new investment to absorb 1.5 million workers in the coming three years. "According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the manufacturing industry will need total investment of Rp 8.6 trillion in 2007, Rp 10.4 trillion in 2008 and Rp 11.8 trillion in 2009 if it is supposed to employ 500,000 new workers per annum," Minister of Industry Fahmi Idris was quoted Wednesday by Antara as saying.

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - State-owned toll road building company PT Jasa Marga said it will team up with PT Astratel and Malaysia's Cahaya Mata Serawak Bhd in a tender for the construction of a toll road in Jakarta. Jasa Marga is eyeing the projects of Serpong-Kunciran and the Kunciran-Cengkareng sections of the Jakarta Outer Ring Road, expected to cost around Rp4.4 trillion (US$488.8 million).

The World Bank has banned 40 Indonesian firms and 29 individuals from participating in its projects for between 1 and 5 years due to their alleged involvement in fraud and corruption, the bank said in its latest report Wednesday. The 40 Indonesian firms include the subsidiaries of a major automotive manufacturer, private and state publishing companies, and public works contractors located in big cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya and Makassar.