January exports fell a worse-than-expected 36%, the biggest annual decline in more than 22 years, as global demand for key commodities such as palm oil and rubber slumped, according to data released on Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. "The fall in exports is actually in line with regional plunges.

The government will move quickly to disburse money into the economy in an attempt to boost activity and create employment. The first disbursement of some Rp12.2 trillion ($1.01 billion) in infrastructure funds will take place by March 18, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said late Thursday, The Jakarta Globe reported.

The US$6 billion South Korean companies committed to investing in six energy development projects in Indonesia under the memoranda of understanding, signed last week on President Lee Myung-bak’s three-day visit here, is really a confidence-building deal amid the global economic downturn.

Alfian , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA Amidst the global economic downturn, local mining companies have set higher production targets this year primarily due to last year’s shortfalls. Miners recently submitted production plans to the government with output increases seen in all commodities - including nickel, tin and copper whose prices have been hit hard by reduced demand. Nickel ore production in 2009 is set at 14,6 million tons, up by 37 percent from last year.

Ika Krismantari , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA The local supplier of Adidas shoes PT Prima Inreksa Industries (PII) is facing bankruptcy litigation for failing to pay debts worth more than US$37 million. The plaintiffs are PII leather supplier CV Cisarua and state owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). PII has not yet paid its debts to either.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's top exporter of thermal coal, may have overestimated the amount of coal needed for the domestic market in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Plans to set an output quota on tin for this year may also be unnecessary due to the impact of the crisis, Bambang Setiawan, director general of mineral, coal and geothermal told Reuters.

A dairy industry association on Tuesday denied allegations by the country’s antimonopoly watchdog that the industry has put together a contract to monopolize the trading of fresh milk. Teguh Boediyatna, chairman of the National Milk Council, an association established by dairy processors, said the All-Indonesia Dairy Cooperatives Union, or GKSI, was not forcing dairy farmers to sell their fresh milk only to member cooperatives.