Lawmakers have demanded that Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu make available the feasibility studies on the proposed free trade agreements (FTAs) following business community concerns that losses may outweigh gains. In a hearing between Mari and the House of Representatives’ Commission VI for trade, business and state companies late on Monday, lawmakers were questioning Mari’s judgement in promoting these FTAs at bilateral or regional levels. “There’s a transparency issue here.

In addition to defense and security matters, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has created a new position, an economic deputy, to advise the agency on potential economic threats. Newly appointed BIN chief Gen. (ret) Sutanto said the new position was intended to prevent any potential economic disasters that could threaten Indonesia’s sovereignty in the future.

Fertilizer firms need more than $6.2 billion from the private sector to upgrade their aging factories but cannot attract the money because of the problems they face in securing a reliable supply of natural gas to keep the factories running, the head of a state fertilizer firm said this week. The government has included the revitalization of fertilizer factories among its top priorities during its first 100 days.

The Indonesian Textile Association on Tuesday hailed the government’s plan to require four major seaports to operate around the clock as part of its commitment to boost trade this year. Ade Sudradjat, deputy chairman of the association, known as the API, said the plan would speed up the flow of imports and exports through ports. “Customs and excise offices should have operated 24 hours a day since a few years ago like other seaports in Malaysia and Singapore,” Ade said.

Indonesia’s small-scale palm oil farmers are not acquiring certifications as environmentally friendly producers because it is expensive and certified palm oil does not command a premium on world markets. Sumail Abdullah, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Growers Association (Apkasindo), said on Tuesday that the government had made little progress in getting small growers to obtain the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil’s green certification.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Investment in the country may reach Rp2,000 trillion so that the average economic growth target of 7 percent in the coming five years is achievable, the investment chief said. "It is not easy to attract an investment of Rp2,000 trillion but it is neither impossible. We will work hard to attract foreign and domestic investors," Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Gita Wirjawan said.