The government needs to place more focus on the development of labor-intensive manufacturing industries, and the agricultural and mining sectors in order to maintain sustainable growth and reduce the country's high unemployment, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, The Jakarta Post reported Wednesday (26/12/07). Speaking at the chamber's year-end economic review last week, Kadin chairman Muhammad S.

The government may limit the number of licenses issued to cellular operators wanting to enter the telecommunications market, citing fierce competition in the industry that has led to "panic and excessive marketing efforts",The Jakarta Post reported Saturday (29/12/07).

The government has passed a law designed to restrict store locations for retail chain operators including Carrefour SA and PT Matahari Putra Prima, Bloomberg reported Friday (28/12/07). "The outlet locations of modern and traditional retailers should be administered more properly,'' Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said. Local governments in 33 provinces “will have the authority to implement this zoning rule,” she said.

The manufacturing sector is expected to grow by 7.4% in 2008, helped by growing demand in the automotive and information technology sectors, an industry ministry official said on Thursday (27/12/07), Reuters reported. The government estimates manufacturing output will grow 6.3% in 2007, less than predicted at the start of the year.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, launching a book of his articles and speeches at an opening of “the largest bookstore in South-East Asia” in Jakarta on Friday (28/12/07), called on his critics to admit that Indonesia was making progress in a number of areas, Kompas reported. If an objective and honest view was taken, Indonesia was being transformed and was now moving quickly forward after the extended crisis since 1997, he said.

TOKYO (Antara): Indonesia's ranking has improved to eighth from ninth last year in the top ten countries for Japanese investors, a survey has revealed. An official at the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo, M. Abas Ridwan, said Friday the survey was conducted by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). "It's a new year's gift for Indonesia," he said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will host the 2nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Bali on January 28-February 1. "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to open the conference," Director for Legal Affairs and International Agreement of the Foreign Ministry Eddy Pratomo said on Friday.

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Police chief Inspector General Rismawan has said he would ensure security for investors who wanted to invest in the province. "I will ensure the security and thus, the investors are welcomed because no criminal act will disturb them in Aceh," Rismawan said in a function to lead the transfer of duty of several district police chiefs in Banda Aceh on Friday.

Friday, 04 January, 2008 | 14:08 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The world ceramic company Royal Doulton will turn Indonesia into the center of its global production center. Through PT Doulton's subsidiary, the company will build a new factory this February with a capacity of 10 million pieces a year. “With the new additional factory, production capacity in Indonesia is 22.5 million pieces a year,” said PT Doulton's General Manager, Deny Maskat, yesterday (3/1).

 Originally Posted By: KuKuKaChu In the capital ownerships category, the government also scrapped in the list business and management consultation services, in which foreign investment was previously limited to 49 percent -- now completely open, ... now if this is true -- and that remains to be seen -- it will be a considerable advance!

Andi Haswidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government revised its so-called negative investment list -- a list of business sectors, wholly or partly closed to investment -- last week, aiming to clarify rules and fair treatment within the business community. A copy of the list obtained by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, basically separates business sectors closed to both local and foreign investment, and those open to investment with certain conditions.

Emanuel Shahaf, Jerusalem It is no secret that the Indonesian dairy industry is seriously undersized for the nation's 240 million population permitting a milk consumption of only 7 liters/capita/year. In comparison, consumption in Europe is frequently above 200 liters, Singapore is 60 liters and Malaysia is about 30 liters.

Singapore (ANTARA News) - The rupiah was Asia's worst-performing currency in 2007 and may struggle again this year if a global slowdown cuts demand for Indonesia's exports, but a healthy economy and an end to official rate cuts may help. Analysts say much may hinge on what the government decides to do about inflationary risks, with some betting that it will allow the currency to rise to combat imported inflation.

Karimun, Riau (ANTARA News) - Karimun District administration in Riau Islands province this year will soon build a container port on a 70-hectare plot of land which is only 25-minute sailing from Singapore and Malaysia. The container port is badly needed to meet market demand as well as to support the operation of the special economic zone (KEK) and to prepare a free trade era, Nurdin Basirun, Karimun district head said here on Thursday.