Consulting engineering company SRK Consulting has opened new offices in Asia to cope with the growing demand for its services in the region. The company says that increasing opportunities in China have “convinced it” to open a second office in Nanchang, in Jiangxi province, to complement the company’s existing Beijing branch, which was opened in 2005.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Presidential candidate with running number two, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono believed that Law No.13/2003 regarding manpower affairs should not be too hastily revised. Yudhohono, who is also the incumbent president disclosed the issue when answering the moderator`s question during the second round of presidential debate held by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta on Thursday night. "A solution is that we do not want to set low wages for labors ...

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesian state oil and gas company PT Pertamina said it will team up with PT Arrtu Mega Energie (AME) to build two methanol factories at a total cost of US$1.9 billion. Construction of the two factories in Indramayu, West Java and in Peranap, Riau, will start in September, AME president Christoforus Richard said. The two factories are expected to start operation in 2012 with a total capacity of 1.7 million tons a year, Richard said.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Hotel and restaurant association in Indonesia urged the Semarang Municipal administration to curb hotel growth in the city, fearing unproportional growth in number of hotels and customers. Heru Ismawan head of the Semarang chapter of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurants Association said the restriction was needed as the increase in number of customers was slower than the number hotel rooms.

As struggling firms scramble for markets and try to wind down inventories, allegations of dumping have become the order of the day on the international trade front, with Indonesia finding itself on the receiving end of eight new dumping charges and measures over the last five months. However, this country has responded by leveling dozens of dumping accusations against trade competitors, and soon may file more against China, India and Taiwan.

Investment in the domestic oil and gas sector reached $3.35 billion in the first quarter, just 20 percent of the total full-year target of $16.6 billion. Investment in the upstream oil and gas sector reached $2.96 billion in the first quarter, with $392 million invested in the downstream sector, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, at a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission VII, which oversees energy issues.