JAKARTA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, on Monday said that the speed of reforms implementation is more important than rank in attracting investment. Sandra Pranoto, the IFC's Associate Operations Officers of Business Enabling Environment told the press that cities with less attraction this year could increase their appeal before investors by implementing effective reforms.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's improving political and economic outlook was a big draw for investors this year, but a fight between reformers and cronies may prove to be a tipping point in sentiment for the region's biggest economy. At stake is whether Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Vice President Boediono, two technocrats considered among the architects of reform in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet, are elbowed out by old-school political rivals.

A recent study for the European Union has highlighted Indonesia’s nascent coal and gas power plant sector as among the most promising for investors from the continent. The study, revealed last week, said Indonesia, with strong annual economic growth of more than 5 percent over the past several years, will continue to see increased demand for electricity.

With green energy awareness on the rise, Indonesia could have up to US$100 million worth of efficient energy projects in the next two years, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) predicts. IFC efficient energy program manager Tom Moyes said in an interview last week that his organization was optimistic about the prospects for such projects. “We see that Indonesian firms have a big chance now to convert their non-renewable energy sources into more efficient and renewable ones,” he said.

Hoping to prevent cheap Chinese products from flooding domestic markets, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce is calling on the government to tighten quality controls at the nation’s import gates. Local manufacturers have voiced concerns about being unprepared for the Asean-China Free-Trade Agreement, which will reduce thousands of trade tariffs on Chinese goods to zero to 5 percent starting on Jan. 1. Producers are worried they won’t be able to compete against cheaper Chinese imports.

Dozens of containers filled with wine and spirits are being held up by customs at the country’s largest port, causing restaurants and hotels to worry they will be unable to meet the Christmas and New Year holiday demand. Yanti Sukamdani, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said that shortages of wine and spirits had been occurring since early December.

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - National Investor Bumi Waras (BM) Group will build a CPO (Crude Palm Oil) processing plant in Pino Raya sub district, South Bengkulu District, Bengkulu Province. The company would invest tens of billions of rupiahs for the CPO processing plant, according to Risman Sipayung, head of the Bengkulu provincial plantation service, here on Sunday. The construction work of the CPO processing plant would begin early 2010, he said.