JAKARTA Oct 12 (Reuters) - Indonesia's motorcycle sales, an indicator of consumer demand in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, rose 14 percent from a year ago to 479,240 units in September, slower growth than seen earlier this year, industry data showed on Tuesday. Domestic motorcycle sales in September were 35 percent lower than in the previous month.

The Industry Ministry says that the country's manufacturing industry grew by 4.3 percent in the second quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, thanks to the steady performance of non-oil and gas manufacturing sector. Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat said Tuesday that non-oil and gas manufacturing sub-sector grew by 4.9 percent in the period, while the oil and gas manufacturing was down by 2.6 percent due to a 7 percent decrease in the country's natural gas production.

VIVAnews - Indonesia-based world's largest instant noodle manufacturer, Indofood Sukses Makmur, is under a spotlight after its famous product Indomie is alleged of containing hazardous materials. A national businessman, Rahmat Gobel, viewed that the product has been victimized from the global trading competition. According to him, Taiwan uses health issue to protect its domestic products. In fact, he said, the issue would likely affect other Indonesian products.

JAKARTA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - PT Indosat (ISAT.JK), Indonesia's No. 2 mobile phone provider, may sell up to 14,000 telecom towers worth about $1.4 billion in coming months, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday. Indonesia needs about $7 to $8 billion of annual investment to build telecom towers across Southeast Asia's biggest economy to boost coverage and tap strong mobile phone growth, though foreign investors are banned from owning or operating towers.

JAKARTA Oct 12 (Reuters) - South Korea's Hankook Tire (000240.KS) will invest $1.2 billion in the tyre industry in Indonesia, part of a wave of increasing Asian foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Central Sulawesi province will turn Tolo Bay into a seaweed development center, local maritime and fisheries office spokesman Hasanuddin Atjo said here on Tuesday. He said the center was projected to enable the province to realize its plan to increase seaweed production to 1.95 million tons by 2014. "Tolo Bay produces around 70 percent of Central Sulawesi`s overall seaweed production of 70,000 tons," Hasanuddin Atjo said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan is expected to develop six economic corridors as part of its efforts to increase its investment in Indonesia, Chief Economic Minister Hatta Radjasa said. The minister said here on Tuesday that he would discuss with Japan its plan to develop the six economic corridors during his visit to that country on October 14-16, 2010. "The meeting in Japan would be attended by four to five ministers.