Editorial We find it hard to understand why Indonesian manufacturers raised great concerns over the probable adverse impact of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement only a few weeks before the accord is supposed to come into force early next month.

Ministerial regulations on full implementation of the free trade agreement between ASEAN and China (ACFTA) have been finalized, becoming effective Jan. 1 next year, the Finance Ministry said. “Several Finance Ministry regulations will be completed today,” Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told reporters Monday. The ACFTA has met resistance from some local industries, which fear they may be unable to compete against cheap products from China.

Manado, N Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Vice President Boediono said North Sulawesi province was now in the fast track of development in line with its increasing annual economic growth. "North Sulawesi has made significant achievements in development in line with its geographic excellence and natural resource potentials," the vice president said when attending a Christmas service here on Monday.

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The number of tourist arrivals in Bali is likely to hit a record high of 2.1 million in 2009, well above the target of 1.8 million for the year, a tourism official said. "The number of tourist arrivals in the January-October 2009 period already reached 1.9 million. I predict the figure will increase to 2.1 million by the end of this year," Head of the Bali Tourism Office Ida Bagus Subhiksu said on Monday.

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina will for the first time lose its monopoly on the distribution of subsidized fuel after downstream oil and gas regulator BPH Migas announced on Monday that it had awarded distribution rights to two private companies, including one from Malaysia. Malaysia’s Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and local company PT Aneka Kimia Raya Corporindo will distribute subsidized fuel next year after winning tenders, BPH Migas head Tubagus Haryono said.