TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Research by property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle, said the market in Indonesia was reduced by ten percent. However, Indonesia is still a potential market. Chairperson Lucy Rumantir, said that since the fourth quarter last year, the property market has slowed down due to the global crisis. The condominium sector is the worst. “It has been slowing down since October 2008,” she said yesterday.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Entrepreneurs are asking ASEAN free trade (AFT) to be delayed. The government is asked to focus on the national interest. “We better delay it until the crisis is over,” said head of Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), Sofjan Wanandi, yesterday. The government is expected to submit the agreement to the new government that will be formed after the election. “AFT does not effect national interests much,” Sofjan said.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian Shoe Producers Association chairman, Eddy Widjanarko, said local shoe production was being squeezed out by imported products from China. "We are concerned that the crisis will force China to dump their products worldwide, including in Indonesia," he said yesterday. Besides reducing the prices, the Chinese government is imposing a 17 percent rebate system on exported products.

Benget Besalicto Tnb., THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA Slowing up: Three towers are under construction in Central Jakarta. Weaker demand and high interest rates are slowing down growth in the property sector this year, delaying start-up dates for planned building sites. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)Slowing up: Three towers are under construction in Central Jakarta.

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA Publicly listed cellular phone operator PT Excelcomindo Pratama (XL), the country’s third largest telcom company, has cancelled plans to sell 7,000 telecommunications towers and will instead turn to a rights issue to raise funds. The company decided to cancel the sale of the towers due to the unsatisfactory bidding prices offered by interested companies, it said in a filing to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) on Wednesday.

France-based accounting firm Mazars is to enter Indonesia through a merger with the local arm of Moores Rowland, said executive Jon Mellows. Mazars will join the list of the big four international accounting firms that already have operations here. These are the practices of Purwantono, Sarwoko, Sandjaja, which are affiliated to Ernst & Young; Osman Bing Satrio, affiliated to Deloitte; Sidharta, Sidharta, Widjaja, affiliated to KPMG; and Haryanto Sahari, affiliated to Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Bank Indonesia's survey of 4,600 households in 18 cities across Indonesia, released on its website (www.bi.go.id) released on Wednesday, Journalism FAIL

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