The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has requested inclusion of guidelines for bilateral and multilateral trade agreements in the coming trade law in a bid to create a better fit between trade and industrial policies. Kadin representatives present in a hearing Wednesday with House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing trade and industry expressed concern over Indonesia's aggressive moves towards market liberalization through various forms of free trade agreements (FTAs).

The state electricity monopoly (PLN) raised again its ugly head with more extensive damages as rotating power blackouts, previously limited mostly to areas outside Java, have now hit even the capital city, the centre of political and commercial power.

Concerned investors are asking why two government agencies approved Carrefour’s purchase of subsidiary PT Alfa Retailindo just two years ago if it was clearly in breach of antimonopoly regulations, as the country’s antitrust watchdog claimed this month when it ordered the French retailer to sell the company. Some blamed overlapping and vague antimonopoly regulations. Others warned companies to look more closely at antimonopoly regulations before making any future acquisitions.

Indonesia and the European Union signed a new trade and investment agreement on Monday, but a free trade agreement with the EU remains a distant dream. Martua Sihombing, the Trade Ministry’s director of bilateral cooperation, said an Indonesia EU-FTA is still a long way off. One of the main hurdles is that many domestic exporters have not been able to meet the EU’s export regulations, especially environmental regulations.

Demand for all types of property in Jakarta grew during the third quarter due to increasing consumer confidence about the domestic and global economies and lower interest rates, property consultancy PT Procon Indah said on Wednesday. Procon managing director Hendra Hartono said demand for office space, retail, condominium and residential property is expected to rise further next year in tandem with accelerating domestic growth.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Government's revenue from mining industry and concessions in the last 13 years has been below the supposed amount, the Indonesia Corruption Watch reported on Wednesday. Legal violations in mining sector also spanned from licensing, spatial and environment management, up to sociological impact management.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japanese automotive company Suzuki plans to relocate its motorcycle plant from Thailand to Indonesia in 2010, citing the huge market as one of its reasons. "Suzuki originally wanted to develop (motorcycle industry) in Thailand but it later decided to switch to Indonesia," PT Suzuki Indomobil Motor (SIM) President Director Yoshiji Terada said here on Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chairman of the US Chamber of Commerce Robert S Milligan said that infrastructure is the most attractive sector US businessmen want to invest in Indonesia. "It seems that the infrastructure sector was the most attractive one. The sector we can develop is, for instance, toll roads," Milligan said following a meeting with Vice President Boediono at the latter`s office here on Wednesday.