Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s non-oil exports in April reached a total value of US$7.35 billion or down 3.75 percent from the previous month`s figure, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reports. The deputy head for economic statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Peitojo, said here on Monday the largest decline was recorded in the exports of electric machineries and equipment as well as seed commodities, iron crust and ash, and non-knitted garments.

The latest trade figures show that Indonesia's monthly exports declined 3.7 percent in April to US$8.85 billion from $9.19 billion a month earlier. The monthly decrease was due mostly to a 3.45 percent decrease in oil and gas exports and a 3.75 percent decrease in non-oil and gas exports, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Monday. The decline is the second time this year that exports have fallen, after dropping 0.44 percent from January to $8.32 billion in February.

At least three Austrian companies are investigating the possibility of becoming involved in the "green energy" business here to help boost the development of biodiesel. "Energea, BioDiesel International and the Christof Group are discussing the biodiesel business with a number of leading Indonesian agribusiness companies," Austrian Commercial Counsellor Raymund Gradt told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

To help ease the threats of power shortages in remote areas, state electricity firm PT PLN plans to build 30 power plants which will be powered by coal or geothermal. The plants are planned for outside Java with an estimated total capacity to reach 1,852 MW by 2010.

PT Astra International sees total domestic vehicle sales at 180,000 units in the first half of 2007, company director Johnny Darmawan said on Tuesday (29/5/07). The company had said that total domestic vehicle sales may top 400,000 units this year, recovering from a slowdown in 2006 when the market was hit by high interest rates and weak purchasing power. "Sales in the next few months are seen reaching 35,000 units a month.

After a year in which it put on 19% improved net profit, PT Unilever Indonesia will spend around Rp500 million this year on increasing production capacity, The Jakarta Post reported. Unilever Indonesia booked a net profit of Rp1.72 trillion ($194.68 million) in 2006, up from Rp1.44 trillion in 2005. This increase was attributed in part to a 13% growth in hygiene and personal care products, with laundry detergents Rinso and Surf and Ponds skin lotion the largest contributors.

PT Telkom may spend as much as $2 billion this year to expand its networks and fend off competition, its president commissioner Tanri Abeng said. The state company expects sales to rise more than 20% in 2007 with the addition of millions of users to its mobile network, Abeng said Monday (28/5/07) in an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of an Islamic conference in Kuala Lumpur. The company is also focusing on expanding its pay television, broadband and satellite businesses, he said.

Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said the government will issue a regulation restricting the expansion of hypermarkets to protect small retail traders, Antara reported on Tuesday (29/5/07). Pangestu said her department will issue the regulation. She added that hypermarkets will need to secure approval from the Public Works Department to be able to open new outlets. The country has three hypermarket operators -- Carrefour with 29 outlets, Hypermart with 27 outlets and Giant with 17 outlets.

Several foreign investors have shown interest in investing in low-cost apartments for rent, to be built in various regions in Indonesia, Housing Minister Yusuf Asyari said, according to Antara. "Several foreign investors have already come to Indonesia, including from Malaysia and the Middle East, while others are still in the process," he said at the completion of the "Elnusa" integrated village restoration program.