JAKARTA (Reuters) - Billions of dollars set to flood into Indonesia under a U.N.-backed forest protection scheme are at risk because of graft unless the country puts strong oversight mechanisms in place, a report released on Tuesday warned.

Palm oil is one of the world's most traded and versatile agricultural commodities. It can be used as edible vegetable oil, industrial lubricant, raw material in cosmetic and skincare products and feedstock for biofuel production. Growing global demand for palm oil and the ensuing cropland expansion has been blamed for a wide range of environmental ills, including tropical deforestation, peatland degradation, biodiversity loss and CO2 emissions.

Pak Gita, while you are picnicking in the provinces, you may wish to note that since the 4th of January, when you introduced your "radical changes" to procedures at the BKPM, not *one* investment permit has been issued. you turkey.

Gita Wirjawan, the chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board, has embarked on a tour of 25 provinces to find solutions to problems hampering investment in the regions. “If we can bring in regional leaders to help solve these problems, we may maximize investment,” he said on Tuesday.

Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said Tuesday the foreign exchange reserves from the tourism industry would be raised from the 7 million tourist arrivals. “We have set tourist arrivals at 7 million people, with each of them spending an average $1,000,” Jero said as quoted by Antara state news agency. Jero said tourist arrivals reached 6.4 million in 2009, contributing $6.5 billion to the country’s foreign exchange reserves, up by 8 percent from the previous year.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government is targeting that Japan investment value increases 14 percent this year to develop various industrial sectors, especially steel, automotive and shipping. Last year Japan invested around US$ 21 million or Rp192 trillion. “For steel and automotive, they want to continue the discussion on an official level,” said Industry Minister Muhammad Sulaiman Hidayat in between an Indonesia-Japan Joint Economic Forum meeting in Jakarta yesterday.

Makassar (ANTARA News) - Investment in the cellular telecommunications industry in Indonesia in 2010 is projected to reach US$2.2 billion, with the market estimated to grow by 11 percent. Telkomsel Coorporate Communications Manager for Pamasuka area Jowvy Kumala said here Tuesday to reach the growth rate efficiency needs to be increased to cut operational cost.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Industry Minister MS Hidayat plans to visit Tanjung Priok seaport on Thursday to alert customs authorities to a possible surge in imports following the coming into force of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). "Next Thursday (Jan 14) I will go to the customs office at Tanjung Priok port to discuss the activation of safeguards against the possible invasion by imported goods that can happen any time," Hidayat said here Tuesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) predicts Indonesia`s foreign trade will continue to see a deficit in its contribution to national economic growth in 2010. "Exports will indeed move up but imports will be corrected so our foreign trade will eventually see deficit," Kadin`s head of economic assessment, research and development (LP3E), Faisal Basri, said here on Tuesday.

buying an apartment in the best of circumstances is a bit of a gamble. in indonesia, with the complete lack of a responsible maintenance culture, the average foreigner would be mad to buy. even indonesians don't like them. although there is a perception among indonesians that people who live in apartments are "high class", a cursory examination of any established apartment block in the evening reveals that very few are actually occupied!

Agree kuku -- plus I dont see many "non-indonesians" wanting to buy apartments anyway. Have you had a look at the new ones going up? So small you cant swing a cat in them!

seems mr riady is using his Jakarta Globe to push commercial agendas. who would have thought? this property-ownership-for-foreigners story has been dusted off annually for at least 10 years now. but i guess with the glut of apartments in jakarta, there is added incentive for the developers to push for change. but don't hold your breath on this one.

A government plan to allow foreign nationals to buy houses and condominiums would provide an important boost to the economy, likely more than tripling the property sector’s contribution to 10 percent of GDP, industry players said on Tuesday.