Indonesia on Wednesday announced better than expected figures for 2009 growth in gross domestic product, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the G20 group of nations. Indonesia posted 4.5 per cent annual GDP growth for 2009, down from 6.1 per cent in 2008. Fourth-quarter growth was 5.4 per cent year-on-year, the fastest level since the third quarter of 2008.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Turkish government through its trade representative office in Indonesia, TITA (Turkish Indonesian Trade Association), offered trade cooperation with Indonesia. Indonesia is a country with a strong influence in Southeast Asia while Turkey is a gateway to Europe, TITA secretary general Cemalettin Aydogan said in Jakarta Wednesday. He said his side has promoted Indonesian tourism in Turkey to attract Turkish businessmen to Indonesia.

The government has asked Indonesian businesses to use persuasive measures to curb the possible influx of cheap Chinese products into the country. Edy Putra Irawady, Deputy Coordinating Economic Minister on industry and trade, said in Jakarta on Wednesday that using persuasive measures might be more effective than asking for a renegotiation of the free trade deal.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's forestry minister on Wednesday said he had revoked the land use permits for 23 mining and other firms operating in forested areas and may crack down further, indicating a tougher stance on environmental protection. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, 48, also told Reuters in an interview there were no plans to allow geothermal projects in protected forest areas, contradicting recent comments by other government officials on a key energy policy.

The development of at least 16 oil and gas blocks owned by state oil and gas firm Pertamina has been delayed due to the company’s failure to obtain recommendation from the environmental office, a senior official said.

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - More than 2.38 million foreign tourists visited Bali last year, up 14.48 percent from a year earlier, the local statistics office said. "In December 2009 alone, the number of foreign tourists visiting the resort island was 222,546, a 26.47 percent increase compared to the same period a year earlier or a 20.42 percent increase compared to November 2009," head of the Bali statistics office Ida Komang Wisnu said on Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has predicted Indonesia`s exports and imports as the engine of its economic growth will recover earlier than expected. "From the external point of view it seems our exports and imports would recover earlier than expected," she said after a leadership meeting at the Capital Market and Financial Institutions Supervisory Board (Bapepam-LK) building here on Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan appears to be interested in investing in the fishery sector in Morotai regency, North Maluku province, a spokesman said. "Its abundant fishery resources makes Morotai to have a high potential for Japanese investment," general chairman of the Indonesian Industrial Estates Association, under the Indonesian Chamber of Trade and Industry (Kadin) Hendra Lesmana said in Jakarta Wednesday.

The controversial transmigration program to relocate the poor from overpopulated regions to less-developed parts of the archipelago has been given an Rp 10.37 trillion ($1.11 billion) infusion, thanks to private businesses seeking a work force in remote areas. Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said on Tuesday night that 66 investors had pledged to invest the money to develop independent integrated cities to create jobs.

The government said on Wednesday it was planning to triple its budget for capital expenditure on state-owned seaports and airports this year to prepare for an expected increase in the flow of goods resulting from free-trade deals with China and India. It said it would spend Rp 10.3 trillion ($1.1 billion) to upgrade 66 seaports and 25 airports this year, compared to Rp 3.27 billion in 2009. The government owns the trade gateways through four seaport operators and two airport operators.

Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros praised Indonesia’s economy for successfully weathering the global financial crisis and said the country is now on the global investment radar screen. Soros is in Indonesia for a two-day visit to review the work of the pro-democracy Tifa Foundation, which he supports. However, he also found time to pay a visit to Vice President Boediono to get the lowdown on recent economic and financial developments.