The Buddha Bar Restaurant in Jakarta, Dec. 4, 2008. Tariffs can create a near 500 percent increase in the cost of alcohol in Indonesia, and much of that cost is passed on to the consumer. (Beawiharta/Reuters)Enlarge Photo JAKARKTA, Indonesia - Despite the government’s best efforts to curb the consumption of alcohol, the party here is as rollicking as ever.

JAKARTA, April 1 (Reuters) - Strong growth and political stability made Indonesia southeast Asia's most attractive investment destination last year, but the outlook is threatened by a struggle between reformers and powerful vested interests. For the moment, the reformers appear to have the upper hand, but a major setback could rattle Indonesia's financial markets and hurt prospects for a credit rating upgrade with Indonesia now rated just one notch below the coveted investment grade by Fitch.

Indonesians were more confident about the economy in March, according to a central bank survey released on Wednesday. Perry Warjiyo, Bank Indonesia’s director of economic and monetary research, said the Consumer Confidence Index, which reflects the level of optimism toward the economy, was 107.4 points in March, up 2.1 points from February.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s trade surplus in February reached US$1.71 billion, slightly up from US$1.1 billion in January, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) on Thursday. "The balance of trade shows a surplus of US$1.7 billion making total surplus in the past two months to reach US$3.8 billion," BPS chief Rusman Heriawan said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia-China Joint Commission will meet to discuss various issues including their trade balance, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Thursday. "A number of important issues will be discussed in the trade ministerial meeting such as our trade balance," she said. The 10th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in Yogyakarta on April 3, 2010 is held in the framework of increasing economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - The number of Chinese tourists visiting Bali increased by 175.27 pct from 11.422 in February 2009 to 31,441 in the same month this year. "Thus, the number of Chinese tourists was only second to Australians of the ten countries with the highest number of tourists to the island paradise," Head of the Bali Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Ida Komang Wisnu said in Denpasar Thursday.