Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the national economy was showing steady growth in the first semester this year and this was reinforcing confidence the annual growth target of 6.1 to 6.4 percent will be achieved. "The picture obtained through an early observation looks good. So there is a shared view that we can grow between 6.1 and 6.4 percent and this shows our optimism towards 2011.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - PT Cheetam Salt Ltd of Australia is exploring the possibility of opening a salt farming on a 2,100 hectare-site in Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), the company`s of chief executive officer said. Cheetam`s CEO Andrew Speed said here on Thursday that his company was now in the stage of a field research and selection of a proper land location of 2,100 hectares. It is also taking into account the needed facilities and infrastructures.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Saudi government has expressed its interest in investing in the rice development sector in Indonesia, a cabinet minister said. Minister of Agriculture Suswono said here on Thursday that in order to meet its domestic need, Saudi Arabia imported one million tons of rice per annum. Besides it also imported three million tons of wheat and seven million tons of barley to meet its need for cattle feeds, he said.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Saudi Arabia has agreed to purchase 180 tons of cooking oil worth Rp1.17 trillion from Indonesia, a cabinet minister said. Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Thursday that the agreement was reached in a business matching between businesses of both nations in Jeddah recently.

i've been a member of KADIN for years. never once have i been allowed to vote. neither do i know anyone who has ever voted for the head of the chamber of commerce. i am also still trying to figure out the function of this association.

JAKARTA June 17 (Reuters) - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), a vocal lobbying group that represents some of Indonesia's most powerful tycoons, will hold a leadership ballot in August. The contest is shaping up as a battle between the old guard and the younger generation, and between businessmen of varying degrees of closeness to Aburizal Bakrie, a powerful politician and tycoon seen as an opponent to reform.

June 17, 2010 (Gulf Intelligence): Indonesia, which is forecast to achieve 6 percent economic growth this year, offers Middle East investors access to the biggest Islamic market and possibly greater returns than are currently available in the Gulf region, the chairman of the south-east Asian country's Young Entrepreneur's Association said.

Foreign manufacturers are increasingly looking at setting up shop in Indonesia after sharp wage increases and labor unrest in China and political instability in Thailand. However, Indonesia’s perennial bugbears - a lack of infrastructure, too much red tape and pervasive corruption - are putting the country at a disadvantage against rivals, experts say.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The House of Representatives accepted additional budget request from Investment Coordinating Board for next year, which will put the new proposed budget at Rp535.7 billion or Rp100 billion higher than the previous projection.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and the European Union will increase communication between their businessmen to boost exports and investment to and from the two parties in five priority sectors. "We wish to identify opportunities available to increase exports and attract investment," Indonesian trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu said at the launching of European Union-Indonesia Business Dialogue (EIBD) Forum here on Wednesday.

Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s fresh water fish production valued Rp2.6 trillion per year, with a production area of 0.32 pct compared to sea fishery. The value is not included fresh water ornamentally fish like arwana and botia, Profressor in Fisheries Faculty of Bung Hatta University Dr Ir Hafrijal Syandri M.Si said in Padang on Wednesday. Fresh water fish production in Indonesia reached 325 thousand tons per year, with a sales price of an average of Rp8,000 per kilogram.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said assuring energy supplies such as gas and electricity was important with regard to maintaining the competitiveness of the country`s exports. "We need to maintain the competitiveness of our exports and assuring gas and electricity supplies would be important with regard to it so that we could continue to conduct export diversification," she said at a meeting with House Commissions IV, VI, VII here on Wednesday.