TEMPO Interactive, Mataram: The Indonesian index on corruption perception reaches 2.6 in 2008. This is higher than the index in 2004 which was only 2.0. The increase in the index was reported by the Secretary of the State Minister for Administrative Reforms, Tasdik Kinanto, at a regional coordinating meeting for eastern areas that was attended by officials from 220 cities/regencies in 12 provinces, on Wednesday (15/7) in Senggigi, Lombok.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Trade Department said it is evaluating performance of around 1,500 importers for failing to report their activities to the ministry, and began to reprimand the importers to immediately submit their report or they will face import ban.

China's Hong Kong-based World Energy firm has planned to increase investment to boost the capacity of its steam-power plant in South Sulawesi of Indonesia, Investment Coordination Board (BKPM) Chairman Muhammad Lutfi said Tuesday. The firm would increase its investment by 130 million U.S dollars to boost the capacity of the plant from 190 mega to 320 mega, so the total investment on the plant would be 330 million U.S. dollars, Lutfi said.

The government must break the monopoly that state alcohol importer PT Sarinah has on importing wine, beer and spirits, or else illegal shipments will continue to flood the country, a high-ranking official at the Finance Ministry has said.