Businesses may see Rp 90 trillion (US$7.5 billion) in extra demand for domestic products this year, as the government intensifies efforts to bolster the local market amid rapidly declining global demand. The amount will come from state budget allocations for state ministries and institutions, Fauzi Aziz, the Industry Ministry's director general for small and medium industries, said Thursday.

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA Despite the enactment of the new mining law, Indonesia will probably continue to suffer from a prolonged investment drought in the mining sector, a survey suggests. A recent survey by mining industry consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) shows investors conclude the new law may not facilitate clear solutions to longstanding uncertainties that have plagued the Indonesian mining industry.

And use local laptops - i forget the brand, jesus what a shocker.

They should also all be made to drive Indonesian cars and use Indonesian mobile phones.

It remains the choice location for oil palm cultivation PETALING JAYA: The current low crude palm oil (CPO) prices and global economic slowdown will not hinder most Malaysian plantation companies from acquiring additional green fields or existing oil palm plantations in Indonesia.

ImageThe world's biggest producer of palm oil can't get it together to make biofuels The Indonesian government, confronted with a collapse in demand for biofuels and resistance from the state energy company Pertamina to continue to sell biofuels at a loss, is attempting to push a proposal through the House of Representatives to allocate US$71 million to subsidize locally produced biodiesel and bioethanol.

ImageIndonesia's macro performance doesn't look that bad – but keep protectionism at bay Indonesian Industry Minister Fahmi Idris and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu are having a row about shoes. Neither of them wants to be in the other one´s shoes but both are treading on each other's feet. He wants Indonesian civil servants to be ordered to buy local shoes. She wants to sign and implement ASEAN Free Trade Agreements with Australia, New Zealand and India. Which is right?

Preliminary bids for a stake in Indonesia-focused coal miner Straits Asia Resources are due this week, but interest among buyers is ebbing as the deadline looms, deal makers said. Among the worries are questions about Indonesia’s new mining laws. Straits has been in a recent legal dispute involving one of its mines.

The Minister of Industry is sticking to his guns about a government policy that requires civil servants to wear Indonesian- made clothing and footwear, despite criticism that the scheme is unfair and unworkable. Fahmi Idris on Thursday revealed that another idea being considered was to require police and military officers to wear batik clothing two to three times a week. “But I realize that not all of them could follow the campaign,” Fahmi said.