When Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Indonesian president, opens a Group of 20 summit discussion on how to reduce fuel subsidies while protecting the poor, he will have first-hand experience to draw on. In October 2005 and May 2008 he increased subsidised fuel prices by 126 per cent and 29 per cent respectively as fuel and electricity subsidies ballooned out of control in the wake of soaring oil costs, and simultaneously introduced cash transfers to the nation's poor.

SINGAPORE, Sept 24 - If the suicide bombers who targeted two luxury hotels in Jakarta this year hoped their attacks would strike a significant long-term blow against Indonesia's economy, the reaction of financial markets suggests they were wrong. Economic warfare is at the heart of the tactics of terrorism. A few militants with primitive and low-cost weaponry can cause economic destruction that reverberates far beyond the physical damage they inflict, impacting whole industries and countries.

Abill being deliberated by the House of Representatives looks set to be stripped of contentious provisions that would have required halal certification of consumer products by the Religious Affairs Ministry, after strenuous protests by the business community and the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI).

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian Council of Clerics have been given the green light to distribute halal certification guidelines for importer located outside Indonesia, to tackle the absence of halal certification agency, the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy said on Thursday. However the ministry announced that detailed explanations on the new precedure will be issued early next week.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government's plan to hike electricity tariffs next year has drew more response from industries, with the latest came on Thursday from the Indonesian Ceramic Industry Association. Head of the association, Ahmad Wijaya said the industry have not expect for any rise and demanded the government to postpone the plan. The association said electricity accounts for 20 percent of total energy use in ceramic inductry, while the remaining 80 percent was powered by gas.

Makassar, South Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Some 28 entrepreneurs from South Korea had a talk with South Sulawesi`s authority about cooperation in trade sector, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo, stated here on Thursday. The governor expressed his appreciation for South Korea`s interest in exploring the trade cooperation saying that his side always opened for any investment proposal coming from South Korea`s entrepreneurs.