State plantation firms are to spend big this year, mostly to build and revitalize sugar factories as well as constructing fertilizer plants to improve supply to the sugar plantations, a 2010 business plan shows. The State SOE Ministry has published its 2010 outlook for state companies, revealing that 15 state plantation firms, comprising 14 PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) and PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI), are targeted to spend Rp 9.06 trillion (US$987 million) on capital expenditure, 50.

With a population approaching 250 million and promising economic growth, the Indonesian growing beauty market is increasingly alluring for Paris-based cosmetics giant L’Oreal which aims to make that French style affordable here. Last week, the company’s CEO Jean-Paul Agon flew in for a market visit to what he referred to as one of the countries that “will very soon represent the majority of the business of L’Oreal worldwide” alongside China, Brazil and India.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a top reformer in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet, may be replaced by February, the Jakarta Post reported, quoting anonymous sources from a political party. Indrawati and Vice President Boediono are considered the main drivers of reform in Southeast Asia's biggest economy and play a critical role in attracting foreign investment for infrastructure and other projects.

Having phased out the hiring of temporary workers across its agencies, the South Sumatra administration is preparing to implement an outsourcing system as stipulated under a 2005 government regulation on the appointment of temporary employees to become full-fledged civil servants. Under the regulation, all provincial administration agencies will subcontract the service to third parties or outsourcing companies.

The government has finalized plans and is ready to move ahead with the country’s first integrated food production zone in Merauke, Papua, a minister told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday. “Drafting of the regulation has been finished and it is ready to be signed by the president,” Agriculture Minister Suswono said. The food estates, as they are known, are designed to stimulate large-scale investment in the agriculture sector and beef up food security.