Following Indonesia's slow recovery from the financial crisis, growth in the country's construction sector has been lagging. Will things stay this way going forward? Ten years after the financial crisis, construction activity has not fully recovered. The contribution of construction to GDP has been gradually increasing over the past five years, although it has not reached pre-crisis levels yet.

Indonesia's economy appears to be shaping up well, with the latest figures showing inflation remaining well under control, which should spur more spending and investment ahead. Consumer prices actually dipped 0.16 percent in April, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Tuesday, on the back of recent decreases in the prices of foodstuffs, particularly of rice, the country's staple. Year-on-year inflation stood at 6.29 percent.

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - South Korean investors have pledged to invest around US$3.31 billion in seven Indonesian energy projects. "Included amongst the projects is the development of the country's first nuclear power plant, to be built with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts," Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yugiantoro said after the signing a memorandum of understanding between Indonesian and South Korean companies.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Yusuf Kalla said with many state officials having been convicted for graft, the practice of corruption in the country was declining. "But although corruption is declining, it remains something forbidden," he told around 180 students of the Cipete Al Ikhlas elementary school during a dialogue at the vice presidential palace here on Tuesday. To avoid corruption, each state official should be sincere and adhere to religious tenets consistently. he said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The number of foreign tourists who arrived in Indonesia through 15 entry ports in the first quarter of 2007 was recorded at over 1 million or up by 14.21 percent from a corresponding period last year when the figure was 877,000, the country`s chief statistician said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said there was as yet no need to increase the export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) to countervail an increase in the domestic price of cooking oil. "No, there will be no increase (in the CPO export tax) since it is not necessary," the minister told the press after she and Industry Minister Fahmi Idris attended a meeting with representatives of a number of CPO producers` assocations here Tuesday.