Indonesia has managed, at least for now, to avoid grave impacts from the U.S. economic slowdown, as it is less dependent on the United States and has diversified its non-oil and gas exports, a report revealed Thursday. The United States is the world's biggest importer and a slowdown in its economy was predicted to hurt export-dependent countries such as Indonesia.

Thursday, 10 July, 2008 | 15:27 WIB TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The State Electricity Company (PLN) suggested large consumer like industries and offices to reduce the electricity usage by 50 percent. “We can economize more,” said PLN's General Manager for distribution in Jakarta-Tangerang, Purnomo Willy yesterday. He claimed large industries and offices consume most of the electricity supply in Jakarta.

Fed up after six years of neglect, investors in Batam have called on the government to do something about seriously damaged roads and port facilities that have caused billions of rupiah in business losses. Head of the Riau Islands chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Johannes Kennedy Aritonang, told the Jakarta Post recently that many roads in Batam were badly damaged, but central and local government failed to repair them.