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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government is looking into the possibility of granting government-borne import duties to four other industries. The industries were in the film, fishery, mining and transportation sectors, Head of the Fiscal Policy Board at the Finance Ministry Anggito Abimanyu said here on Thursday. "There are still four others to be discussed. They are in the film, fishery, mining and transportation sectors," he said.

The South-East Asian country has expressed its inability to resolve domestic opposition to the trade pact New Delhi: A proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and Indonesia has been put in cold storage as the Southeast Asian nation expressed its inability to resolve domestic opposition to such a pact. A joint study group set up by the two countries had strongly favoured a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement.

In a reflection of growing optimism about the economy, domestic lenders are targeting an average increase in 2010 loan growth of 24 percent, higher than the central bank’s forecast of 17 percent to 20 percent. Halim Alamsyah, Bank Indonesia’s director of banking research and regulation, said on Thursday that the lenders’ targets were disclosed in their 2010 business plans, submitted to the central bank last month.

Business groups on Thursday came out against the government’s plan to raise electricity rates by an average of 15 percent, arguing that the increase would hurt manufacturers as they try to cope with the recently implemented Asean-China Free Trade Agreement. “Electricity is the backbone of all industry, so we can’t afford to have a higher electricity rate,” said Ernovian Ismy, secretary-general of the Indonesian Textile Association (API).

As Indonesia prepares to host an international conference on geothermal energy next month, experts are questioning whether the government will be able to meet its ambitious target to boost the amount of electricity generated from geothermal sources. Around 2,500 technical experts, officials and investors from 80 countries will attend the World Geothermal Congress, to be held in Bali from April 25-30.

Over 60 major Chinese firms will seek out potential Indonesian partners in the field of construction and mining through a four-day exhibition in Jakarta at the end of May.

BALIKPAPAN: DHL Express has launched a direct flight from Singapore to Balikpapan to meet the surge in cargo transportation from the city state to East Kalimantan, a company executive said. Ahmad Mohamad, the senior technical advisor PT Birotika Semesta/DHL, said in Balikpapan on Wednesday that the direct flight service was provided in cooperation with PT Tri-MG Intra Asia Airline.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government is targeting investment in the oil and gas industry this year to increase US$ 15.98 trillion to reach a production target of 965,000 barrels per day. The Financial Note and draft 2010 State Budget, which have been proposed by the government to the House of Representatives showed that the total investment is composed of an investment target of US$13.6 trillion in the upstream sector and of US$2.4 trillion in the downstream sector.