The European Union (EU) has identified Indonesia's poor governance and corruption practices as part of key obstacles to expanding trade and investment between European nations and Indonesia. That was concluded by the EU's recent study on challenges and opportunities for trade and investment in Indonesia which was presented in Tuesday by Julian Wilson, ambassador of the delegation of the European Commission to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

The net worth of Indonesia's 40 richest men has doubled to $42 billion in the past year, driven in no small part by the growing demand for palm oil, according to Forbes magazine's annual examination of the country's top richest people. Global demand for palm oil is now more than 40 million tons per year, making it "central to the economies of Malaysia and Indonesia," according to the Jakarta Globe. Palm oil is a common ingredient in many processed foods.

NUSA DUA, Indonesia, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia will let coal producers keep exporting, despite missing domestic sales requirements as smaller firms undercut them, a senior mining official said on Monday, in an apparent delay to a 2008 rule. The official also said that in the metal mining sector, the goverment would not push miners to set up their own smelters to process minerals locally, particularly if production was low.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia must not rely solely on exports but also empower its domestic economy and market in the future. Speaking before participants of a National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) course at the palace here on Monday, he said all parties had to learn from the mistakes that had caused the current global crisis so that Indonesia would not be trapped into another crisis.

Probably the most SINGLE irrating factor in Indonesia is the corruption...tho, in other countries it is more hidden it still exists. Look at the recent WallStreet chaos, embezzlement, over paid CEO's...the scam after scan we have sustained and endured. 401 retirement accounts GONE...only to make our seniors doorgreeters at WalMart...Indonesia alone doesnt have sole-rights to the problems.