Part VI | Economy, Trade, and Business [Archive]

DJ_Archuleta

January 15th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Indonesia upgraded to 'free' country by US agency

Indonesia, which became Southeast Asia's largest democracy when President Soeharto was ousted in 1998, maintained its status as a free country in 2008, according to a report released by a US-based international rights agency.

Freedom House, which measures civil and political freedom in each country to determine whether the world has become more democratic, painted Indonesia green on its 2009 edition of the Map of Freedom, released Tuesday. The color indicates that Indonesia is listed among "free" countries.

The agency upgraded the status of the world' most populous Muslim majority nation fromto "free" in its 2006 report, due in large part to the previous elections, which were generally considered successful. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines are still listed as only "partly-free," making Indonesia the only free country in Southeast Asia.

The agency has published the overview of the report on its website but has not yet added details to each country and thus the explanation for why Indonesia successfully maintained its position is not yet available. As of now it is unknown whether Indonesia's press freedom, which was marked yellow or "partly free" last year, has improved.

Indonesian rights activist Poengky Indarti, from Imparsial, questioned the Fredom House's conclusion, saying that the country suffered significant setbacks last year.did not see freedom in 2008," she said, citing a number of cases where journalists, authors and anti-graft activists were arrested for defamation.

She added that in addition to the controversial pornography bill passed last year, the government was still deliberating on a number of bills, such as the state secrecy bill and the public information bill, which are considered inimical to freedom.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported from Taipei, where the report was released, that political freedoms in general declined around the world for a third straight year in 2008. Russia and Greece were marked down because of political incidents and Iraq and Malaysia went up because of increased pluralism. The increased momentum of Malaysia's opposition in national elections was also cited.

Russia, docked for elections that were described as, "neither free nor fair," and neighboring Russian-influenced countries that stifled dissent following peaceful anti-authoritarian revolutions, led the downward trend, Freedom House said.

Greece's position sank because of nation-wide riots in December and the government's "inability" to control them, the group said.

But Iraq, despite years of turmoil following a US-led war, moved up the chart because of security improvements and the increased participation of Sunni Muslims in national politics.

Freedom House presented the report in Taipei because it sees Taiwan as a free area in Asia where it wants to make an impact, its local organizer said.

The world's 89 "free" countries or regions outnumbered the 42 listed aslast year, but political rights and civil liberties declined overall largely because governments worldwide mimicked European anti-authoritarian "color revolutions" that reversed course and squelched democracy, Freedom House said.

"Although setbacks in 2008 did not represent substantial declines for most countries, they were numerous and affected most regions," the group's statement said, citing 34 declines and 14 improvements.

The financial crisis threatens political rights and liberties this year in places without "democratic institutions" and "safety valves" to ease any ensuing conflicts, said Freedom House's Christopher Walker.

DJ_Archuleta

January 15th, 2009, 04:32 PM

Indonesia has the potential to become a black swan

Nassim Nicholas Taleb published a book recently called The Black Swan. This New York Times bestseller by the prominent literary essayist explores the emergence of highly improbable world events. He calls them black swans.

Astonishing success of Google, Sept. 11 and the recent stock market crashes are all black swans. Consider another, or one that has the potential to be one: Indonesia.

Bell-curve predictability would brush this aside.

The violence of 1998 and the turmoil of the post-Soeharto era has been etched indelibly into the memory of the world. For many, the odds of Indonesia's blood-checkered past recurring are large.

But the reality is the country has changed. Today, Indonesia enjoys relative peace and economic development, and is increasingly being compared to middle-income developing nations like Brazil, India and Mexico.

A number of indicators point to a greater sense of normalcy.

Indonesia remains structurally stable, the administration is moderate, and the pro-reform leadership is likely to remain in place after the 2009 elections.

Fears of disintegrasi Indonesia is a thing of the past. There is no evidence today that active centrifugal forces can bring about the country's 'Balkanization'.

And Indonesia is the only country in the region that has bucked the trend of a democracy in trouble. That is combined with what are regarded as a free press and impartial courts, crucial to any vigorous democracy.

Politics cannot but help carry a weight of significance. But economics remain the principal driver in the grand scheme.

As the world heads into a deep economic winter, Indonesia appears to be riding out the storm. Certainly the slump in the stock market and the pronounced weakness of the rupiah shows Indonesia is not immune.

But for so long an underrated economy, it seems far more resilient than other ASEAN countries. One reason is that it relies less on exports, which contribute just 12 percent to the country's GDP.

Private consumption is strong and government spending looks set to rise.

Much of what has been accomplished thus far has been a result of economic management.

The Yudhoyono administration has maintained tight fiscal discipline and focused on debt reduction. As a result, Indonesia has a healthy balance sheet with US$52 billion in reserves and a government debt of less than 35 percent of GDP, compared to 77 percent of the GDP in 2001. This is the lowest among ASEAN countries.

Jakarta's policy is grounded on the assumption that declining commodity prices and slowing global demand will eventually ease inflationary pressure. If inflation is controlled, the central bank will have greater maneuverability in reducing interest rates.

So far, Bank Indonesia has kept interest rates on hold in an effort to shore up the rupiah despite lower inflation last month. With the BI rate lowered to 8.75 percent on Wednesday, Indonesia offers a healthy 8.50 percentage-point premium over the U.S. Fed funds rate, which should help maintain confidence.

Jakarta has also cut gasoline prices by 8 percent to ease inflationary pressures and reduce the drag on growth.

The Indonesian economy has grown at an average of about six percent on a quarterly basis since the end of 2006. The government is targeting growth of 6.4 percent for 2008.

Some believe the growth rate will be lower — between 4 to 5.5 percent -- but still significantly higher than any other ASEAN country.

The crystal ball is not all rosy, though. We still need to clean house in several areas.

Archaic labor laws are reducing Indonesia's attraction as a center for labor-intensive manufacturing.

Judicial corruption means businesses cannot take the sanctity of contracts for granted. Indonesia's anti-corruption watchdog has been making headlines with a spate of high-profile investigations.

The fact remains, however, that Indonesia is one of the world's most corrupt nations. It ranks 143rd on Transparency International's global corruption index, level with Russia, Gambia and Togo.

The benefits of macroeconomic growth have not trickled down. Despite Jakarta's economic vitality and the booming growth in other big cities, much of Indonesia remains poor.

Some 150 million Indonesians do not have access to piped water. The country has also one of the region's worst figures for maternal and infant mortality.

All these reinforce perceptions that Indonesia is still stuck in a rut. But we need to give the country its due worth by taking a long-term view.

Consider the fact that Indonesia has a $420 billion economy. If it grows at 6-7 percent in real terms, and 13-14 percent in nominal terms, then it is looking at an economy worth $5-6 trillion in 20 years' time — the size of the Japanese economy.

There is enough wealth creation here to ensure there will be some degree of refinement in the political process.

Increasingly, the wealthy in the country are taking ownership of public services. This is more good than bad. It fosters better policy making and implementation with respect to wealth distribution.

This can only lead to better education, healthcare, and infrastructure. All this will multiply economic growth.

Certainly fighting rampant corruption and revising labor laws will help spur growth. Infrastructure development is also key.

One of the reasons for China's growth over the past 20 years has been massive spending in infrastructure. And it is not over. Over the next two years, China will spend more than $260 billion on highways, bridges, ports and airports.

Land acquisition reform, a large dedicated budget and single-minded government focus could set the stage for an unprecedented surge in infrastructure development in Indonesia. Incentivizing the private sector to participate in this revolution could attract additional capital and allow for better management.

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia was $1.1 billion in 2007, which stands at just 0.3 percent of GDP. This compares to $121.4 billion in China, or 3.7 percent of GDP. In India, net FDI was 1.4 percent of GDP, Thailand 3.2 percent, Singapore 7.3 percent, and Vietnam 9.3 percent.

Singapore transformed itself from a swampy Third World seaport into a First World financial dynamo in 30 years. In 1965, the odds were stacked against it.

With the passage of time, Indonesia might also well surprise the world with the impossible: to be a black swan.

Mimihitam

January 16th, 2009, 08:16 AM

‘As Good As It Gets’

Indonesia is managing the global recession better than most, thanks to its tough finance minister.

By Solenn Honorine and George Wehrfritz | NEWSWEEK

Last month a financial tidal wave washed over Indonesia, but not the one kicked up by the global credit crisis. Money flooded into government coffers from individuals and corporations eager to avail themselves of Jakarta's "sunset policy" on tax delinquency, which forgave past evasions in exchange for good behavior going forward. The exact size of the surge isn't yet known, but economists estimate that tax receipts were up more than 50 percent for the year. "We saw quite a big jump" in revenue in December from "taxpayers who never existed [on the tax rolls] or want to correct mistakes made in the past," says the plan's creator, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Indonesians, she adds, are honoring their tax obligations "in a much more accurate way."

The influx marks a major triumph for Indonesia's current government and, in particular, for the woman who put Jakarta's financial house in order. Over the past four years, Mulyani has helped dismantle the financial architecture of the crony capitalism built by strongman Suharto before his 32-year reign ended in 1998. She has pressed hard to slash debt, both public and private; pushed through a rollback of budget-busting fuel subsidies; and overseen sweeping reforms of the customs and tax authorities—positioning Indonesia to post the world's best (or at least the least bad) emerging-market growth story in 2009. Unnoticed until recently, Jakarta's conservatism is now the envy of the developing world, and Mulyani is being hailed as a model regulator. "She could be the finance minister anywhere in the world," says James Castle, founder of the consultancy CastleAsia. "She's that good."

Largely to Mulyani's credit, the country's balance sheet is now among the most conservative in the world; government debt now sits at just 30 percent of GDP, down from more than 100 percent a decade ago, while Indonesia Inc. is far less leveraged than its peers elsewhere in Asia. Despite that relative austerity, growth is being driven both by commodities—Indonesia's traditional mainstay—and by strong domestic consumption from a population approaching 240 million. And neither the commodity bust (which has also driven down the price of the imported energy on which Indonesia depends) nor tighter global credit looks set to hobble a country that, from the household to the boardroom and cabinet chambers, is all but debt-free.

Indeed, Indonesia is one of just three major emerging economies forecast to grow faster than 4 percent in 2009. The other two—China and India—have decelerated more rapidly in recent months and face tougher policy challenges. Mulyani says Indonesia could expand by as much as 5.5 percent this year, which is barely slower than the 6 percent it clocked in 2008, and perhaps enough to pip one of its two Asian counterparts in this year's growth race. Not bad, considering that the country's economy collapsed in 1998, shrinking 18 percent in a single year. Wolfgang Fengler, a senior economist at the World Bank, says Jakarta's macroeconomic management is now "as good as it gets."

Indonesia owes its turnaround to an ensemble cast. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has provided the political stability and pro-globalization vision that underpin today's successes. Boediono (who goes by one name) was a deft coordinating minister for economics until he handed the brief to Mulyani last May to head Indonesia's central bank, and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu deserves plaudits for kick-starting Indonesia's export economy. Yet Mulyani stands out for her toughness. She says her staff had to "swallow a lot of very bitter reality" during her first six months on the job. After landing there, for example, she confronted senior staff: "How can you send your daughter or your son to study abroad when you earn only this kind of salary? Where did you get the money?" To which she added: "You have to admit: we are all committing this crime." Her staffers still work evenings and weekends to meet her expectations, and she's been known to tangle with colleagues. Last year she lobbied intensively to ram through a deeply unpopular reduction in fuel subsidies that President Yudhoyono initially opposed. "She got her way because she is capable of playing politics," says Anton Gunawan, chief economist at Bank Danamon in Jakarta.

Yet by raising pay for bureaucrats, and not demonizing those who previously took payoffs to make ends meet, she has raised standards and steeled a reputation as an incorruptible reformer. Her message to her staff is simple and positive: "I only have one goal: I want the Indonesian people to trust us, this department, because this country will go nowhere if the people don't start to trust their own government." Though nobody would yet describe Indonesia as a model of transparency, the changes in its taxation and customs administrations have been profound, and in turn have enhanced Indonesia's growth potential to the point that "the world needs to update the way it thinks about the country," wrote Nicholas Cashmore, CLSA investment bank's Indonesia analyst, in mid-2008, declaring: "Southeast Asia's largest economy is in great shape." And thanks to Mulyani, Indonesia is garnering more respect by the day.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/178817

Mimihitam

January 16th, 2009, 08:17 AM

2009, Indonesia Ekspor Beras ke Jepang

Jakarta, TRIBUN - Sebanyak lima negara akan menjadi negara tujuan ekspor utama beras Indonesia pada tahun 2009. Negara-negara adalah Filipina, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Brunai Darussalam khusus untuk katagori beras medium. Sedangkan untuk Jepang khusus beras-beras berkualitas super.

Rencananya, jumlah beras medium yang akan diekspor mencapai 1 hingga 1,5 juta ton sepanjang 2009. Sedangkan khusus untuk beras kualitas super yang ditujukan ke Jepang mencapai 10.000 hingga 20.000 ton.

"Kemarin kita tandantangani kesepakatan antara 2 perusahaan internasional, satu lokal di Jawa Timur untuk mengurus izin kepada Depdag terkait rencana ekspor," kata Dirut Perum Bulog Mustafa Abubakar dalam acara konferensi pers, di Jakarta (8/1)

Mustafa mengakui Bulog bukan berada diposisi memutuskan terkait rencana ekspor beras, namun hanya sebatas mengusulkan. Selama ini keputusan ekspor beras berada di tangan Departemen Perdagangan dengan ketentuan surplus 3 juta ton.

"Kalau 63,5 juta ton gabah tercapai maka akan ada surplus, setelah itu ada peluang ekspor terutama untuk Filipina, Malaysia, Timor Leste dan Brunai," imbuh Mustafa.

Ia menjelaskan khusus untuk beras kualitas super yang akan diekspor ke Jepang kualitasnya mencapai 5%-10% pecahan, seperti beras Pandan Wangi, Cianjur, Padi Mulia, Aromatik dan lain-lain. "Ini yang akan kita coba rilis untuk ekspor awal," jelasnya. Sedangkan untuk katagori medium, masih harus menunggu kecukupan untuk melayani kebutuhan dalam negeri yang diperkirakan bisa dilakukan pada Juni hingga September 2009.

"Keempat negara ini sudah ada pesanan baik secara informal dan formal pada kita, konjen mereka masing-masing sudah meminta untuk diutamakan," ucapnya. Khusus untuk Jepang, Mustafa mengatakan dari pihak importir Jepang sudah melakukan penjajakan dengan pihaknya termasuk memantau kualitas beras yang diinginkan oleh konsumen Jepang.

"Bulog bukan penentu ekspor beras tapi mengusulkan saja, kita masih menungu dari BPS, lalu Deptan dan tim teknis interdep, yang kemudian diajukan ke depdag, kalau sudah memberi izin baru bisa dilakukan ekspor," paparnya.

Ia memprediksi untuk priode ekspor ke Jepang akan berlangsung antara bulan Februari sampai Maret 2009. "Harga beras di Jepang itu mencapai US$ 1 sampai US$ 2 per kilonya," imbuhnya. (dtc)

Mimihitam

January 16th, 2009, 08:17 AM

Indonesia On The Move
Carl Delfeld, 12.25.08, 05:00 PM EST
Forbes Magazine dated January 12, 2009

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Given sound management in recent years, Indonesia entered the current turmoil in a strong position.

It was a terrible year for emerging markets in 2008. To put things into perspective, the outflows from emerging markets exceeded US$50 billion (RM175 billion) as the year wound down, compared with total inflows of US$95 billion from 2003-07, according to Emerging Portfolio Fund Research.

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These markets have paid a heavy price as foreign investors liquidate positions, especially in markets considered more risky than home markets.

But consider Indonesia — below the radar screen of most global investors despite a sterling performance in 2006 and 2007. With real GDP of US$840 billion and a population of 240 million, Indonesia quietly accounts for two-fifths of ASEAN's population and one-third of its GDP.

The nation’s debt-to-GDP ratio has been declining, its foreign exchange reserves are at a robust US$48 billion, and its stock market was one of the three best performers in the world in 2006 and 2007. (2008, however, was brutal, as the fortunes on our recent list of Indonesia’s 40 Richest took a beating.)

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Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is seen as the face of the new Indonesia, a reformer who has tried to bring transparency to the financial sector and rid the country of graft and waste, no small order after decades of corruption.

The government passed a new investment law in March 2007 and has initiated tax and customs reforms, introduced Treasury bills and improved capital market supervision. Randy Salim, spokesman for the World Bank in Jakarta, states that “given sound macroeconomic management in recent years, Indonesia entered the current phase of market turmoil in a strong position.”

One sign of strength: Conglomerate Lippo Group recently announced that it was going to invest US$500 million in distressed real estate in Europe and the US.

The key perception of Indonesia is that it is heavily dependent on commodity prices. But the Indonesian economy seems to be holding up rather well, despite the commodity meltdown, with GDP up by 6.1 per cent in the year through the third quarter. What about next year?

Finance Minister Mulyani recently predicted that economic growth could cool to about five per cent (even that number may be optimistic).

As a significant exporter of commodities, it will be squeezed by falling prices, but keep in mind that Indonesia’s total exports are equivalent to only 30 per cent of its GDP, while for Malaysia the figure is 95 per cent.

Looking ahead, Indonesia seems nicely placed to benefit from the inevitable rise in commodity prices as the cycle turns.

And don’t forget politics. Freedom House, an American think tank, now rates Indonesia as the only completely free country in Southeast Asia, only 11 years after Suharto’s fall.

It has developed a free press and minimised military involvement in politics, and in 2009 some 175 million voters across 17,000 tropical islands will choose a president, a vice

president and 560 parliamentarians. (One thing to watch in the long term: A new Indonesian law favouring local mining companies is scaring away big foreign miners.)

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Attracting private investors to build out badly needed infrastructure for the world’s fourth-most-populous nation is another top priority. Less than 53 per cent of Indonesians have access to electricity; 27 per cent have access to piped water; 43 per cent of the workforce is engaged in agriculture.

The nation requires US$140 billion of infrastructure investment over the next ten years. The government can finance only 40 per cent of this amount; the balance of funds must come from the private sector.

According to Edward Gustely, senior adviser to the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, one example of progress on this front is the Indonesia Clean Technology Fund, the first private equity fund of its kind with the participation of the Indonesian government that aims to mobilise private capital for investing in such things as alternative energy, water treatment and agritechnology.

Investors seem to be looking ahead as Jakarta’s market is surging off a bottom. Tying into the infrastructure theme is the well-positioned Telekomunikasi Indonesia (US$0.65, TLKM: Jakarta) — a company that has explosive growth potential, as only 40 per cent of Indonesians have mobile phones.

The company has bounced off its low and still offers good value, a strong balance sheet and sports a nice six per cent dividend.

An excellent play on clean energy and Indonesia’s proven natural reserves is PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (US$0.20, PGAS: Jakarta), which has roots going back to 1859. Gas Negara’s net profits for the first nine months of 2008 were up 56 per cent compared with the same period in 2007.

Those investors looking for an even broader play should look at the Indonesian Fund (IF) managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management. While down 60 per cent so far in 2008, IF has also come to life recently but still trades at a 12 per cent discount to its net asset value.

Indonesia is on the move, get on board. — Forbes Asia

http://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0112/076.html

Mimihitam

January 16th, 2009, 08:18 AM

Sepak Terjang Perempuan Paling Berpengaruh

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Tidaklah terlalu mengejutkan ketika Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati, menteri keuangan sekaligus pelaksana jabatan menteri koordinator perekonomian, kembali dinobatkan sebagai People of The Year (POTY) 2008 setelah mendapatkan gelar yang sama untuk tahun 2007.

Dari sisi liputan media, jelas perempuan yang baru berusia 46 tahun ini, sangat sering menghiasi halaman depan surat kabar ataupun berita utama televisi.

Sebagai negara yang mencatat pertumbuhan ekonomi cukup tinggi tetapi masih mempunyai berbagai masalah ekonomi di tingkat masyarakat yang cukup pelik, peranan Menteri Keuangan Republik Indonesia sangatlah penting dan tangan dinginnya ditunggu banyak pihak.

Yang menarik, liputan tersebut sama intensitasnya, baik ketika ekonomi masih mengalami pertumbuhan yang cukup tinggi pada pertengahan awal 2008 maupun ketika ekonomi mulai melambat pertengahan akhir 2008.

Peristiwa ekonomi penting pada 2008 yang tentunya tidak boleh dilupakan adalah kenaikan harga minyak bumi yang mencapai rekor USD150 per barrel dalam jangka waktu relatif pendek dan menyeret kenaikan hampir semua komoditas primer, pangan, dan energi, dan akhirnya berwujud pada inflasi yang lebih tinggi dari perkiraan.

Ujian pertama alumni Universitas Indonesia dan University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ini, pada 2008 adalah ketika APBN 2008 menghadapi kenyataan bahwa harga minyak mulai melonjak di atas asumsi yang sudah ditetapkan ketika APBN tersebut disahkan akhir 2007.

Dari sisi prosedural, pemerintah harus segera mengajukan APBN Perubahan, dan ketidakpastian harga minyak tersebut memaksa pemerintah melakukan perubahan lebih dari satu kali.Kepemimpinan menteri keuangan yang menghadapi DPR dalam melakukan perubahan APBN, diuji saat itu karena pemerintah dan DPR sama-sama tidak bisa membayangkan fluktuasi harga minyak yang terjadi sehingga penentuan asumsi harga minyak menjadi pertaruhan yang paling berat.

Meskipun asumsi yang akhirnya ditetapkan bukan yang paling akurat, APBN 2008 dapat berjalan dengan selamat dan mengatasi fluktuasi harga minyak dengan baik, ditolong juga dengan tren penurunan harga minyak yang cukup drastis pada akhir tahun.

Meskipun sementara pihak di luar pemerintah sering menuding pemerintah tidak becus melakukan prediksi, yang lebih penting adalah kemampuan mengelola APBN itu sendiri sampai akhir tahun fiskal.

Prediksi bisa meleset, tetapi apabila pengelolaan APBN baik dan berhati-hati, kekurangakuratan prediksi bisa diredam tanpa harus merugikan masyarakat. Ujian terberat Mbak Ani, sapaan akrabnya, adalah ketika pemerintah dipaksa menaikkan harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM) pada saat harga minyak bumi menjauh di atas asumsi APBN 2008.

Di mana pun di seluruh dunia,kenaikan harga BBM adalah kebijakan tidak populer. Namun, pada saat tersebut hampir tidak ada satu pun pemerintah di dunia yang dapat menahan tekanan kenaikan harga minyak dunia. Meskipun mendapat tekanan politik yang kuat untuk tidak menaikkan harga BBM, pemerintah tetap bersikukuh dan akhirnya terjadilah kenaikan sebesar 30 persen.

Sebagai menteri keuangan yang harus memperhatikan keberlanjutan anggaran, tantangan terbesar adalah menjaga keseimbangan antara besaran kenaikan harga dan beban yang ditanggung APBN. Kenaikan harga yang cukup besar jelas akan mengamankan APBN, tetapi akan menimbulkan beban berat bagi masyarakat.

Sebaliknya, kenaikan harga yang terlalu rendah akan mengancam keberlanjutan anggaran sementara kehidupan masyarakat mungkin tidak terlalu terpengaruh. Melihat data inflasi 2008, bisa disimpulkan bahwa kebijakan kenaikan harga BBM pada 2008 cukup mampu menjaga keseimbangan tersebut, di mana inflasi sebesar 11 persenberada di bawah perkiraan 12 persen dan kenaikan jumlah orang miskin bisa diredam.

Di sisi lain, APBN 2008 mencatat kinerja yang cukup lumayan,meskipun tentunya ada beberapa program pemerintah yang tidak sempat dijalankan dan terjadi kelambatan penyerapan anggaran menjelang akhir tahun anggaran. Terjadinya perlambatan ekonomi pada tengah tahun kedua,juga menolong meredam laju inflasi.

Selain sepak terjang dalam mengelola anggaran, prestasi Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati dapat dipantau dari kemajuan reformasi birokrasi yang dilakukan di Departemen Keuangan. Meskipun cukup banyak kritik terhadap keefektifan program tersebut,dan terbongkarnya pungutan liar di kantor Bea Cukai Tanjung Priok, sudah mulai terlihat hasil yang bisa dijadikan landasan membuat kebijakan fiskal yang lebih baik di masa depan.

Yang terlihat ramai di permukaan, adalah gencarnya Direktorat Jenderal Pajak menambah jumlah pemegang NPWP (nomor pokok wajib pajak) dan tercapainya penerimaan pajak di atas target. Perbaikan kualitas birokrasi di Ditjen Pajak mulai terasa dampaknya dan sekaligus mendorong dilakukannya reformasi pajak besarbesaran, terutama dalam memperbanyak jumlah pembayar pajak serta menegakkan aturan-aturan pajak sendiri.

Selain program "sunset policy" yang mencoba mengarahkan pembayar pajak untuk memenuhi kewajibannya secara benar, perubahan terhadap undang-undang perpajakan juga memberi angin segar bagi masyarakat luas dan dunia usaha, di mana terdapat kesetaraan antara aparat pajak dan pembayar pajak serta beban pajak perseorangan yang lebih ringan.

Menteri Keuangan sendiri juga aktif mengampanyekan perlunya NPWP di setiap kesempatan. Bahkan di setiap kuliah awal semester di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Indonesia, dia selalu menanyakan kepada mahasiswanya apakah orangtua mereka sudah punya NPWP atau belum.

Mulai diberikannya insentif fiskal bagi beberapa sektor dan komoditas yang berpotensi ekspor ataupun menyerap tenaga kerja, adalah hasil penting lain yang dihasilkan Departemen Keuangan dalam rangka menjadikan pajak sebagai salah satu motor penting pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional.

Komitmen Menkeu dalam disiplin serta keberlanjutan anggaran juga tercermin dalam kebijakan desentralisasi fiskal. Keprihatinan Menkeu yang disampaikan secara terus terang dalam berbagai kesempatan terhadap tren pemekaran daerah yang seolah tidak tertahankan, mencerminkan komitmen tersebut.

Sampai saat ini, sayangnya,kekuatan politik masih terlalu besar dibanding kekhawatiran terhadap keberlanjutan anggaran tersebut.Jelas ini merupakan pekerjaan rumah pemerintah yang masih belum selesai dalam rangka desentralisasi fiskal.

Teguran atau sentilan Menkeu terhadap daerahdaerah yang lambat membelanjakan anggarannya serta lambat atau bahkan gagal menyerap DAK adalah bentuk lain dari kepedulian Menkeu terhadap desentralisasi fiskal yang tetap perlu didukung,tetapi membutuhkan banyak penyempurnaan.

Pada 2007, Depkeu mulai menerapkan sanksi pada daerah-daerah yang kurang disiplin dalam mengelola APBD, seperti keterlambatan penetapan APBD ataupun lambatnya serta gagalnya daerah mengelola DAK. Perbaikan dalam pencairan dana bagi hasil sumber daya alam, terutama migas, juga merupakan capaian penting Depkeu dalam menyukseskan desentralisasi fiskal, sekaligus mencegah kekecewaan para daerah penghasil.

Setelah Prof Boediono dipilih menjadi Gubernur Bank Indonesia, tugas perempuan yang dinobatkan sebagai salah satu perempuan yang paling berpengaruh di dalam negeri dan di luar negeri bertambah sebagai pelaksana jabatan menteri koordinator perekonomian. Gabungan pekerjaan dan tanggung jawab sebagai menko dan menkeu terasa sulit dibayangkan, tetapi sampai hari ini Dr Sri Mulyani menunjukkan bahwa hal tersebut bukanlah mustahil.

Yang lebih berat lagi, jabatan tersebut diemban ketika perekonomian global, termasuk Indonesia, dibayangbayangi krisis yang akan mengakibatkan perlambatan pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia. Prestasi perekonomian yang cukup baik pada 2008 tidak mungkin terulang, dan di pundak Dr Sri Mulyani-lah nasib perekonomian Indonesia 2009 bertumpu.

Menjadi tantangan bagi dia, bagaimana mempercepat penyerapan anggaran di pusat dan daerah sehingga dampak krisis bisa dikurangi dan bagaimana agar perekonomian Indonesia bebas dari segala macam pungutan dan halangan sehingga dalam kondisi yang sulit, investasi yang ada tidak hengkang dan masih mau melakukan ekspansi.

Paket stimulus fiskal serta keamanan sektor keuangan nasional akan menjadi tantangan lain bagi menko perekonomian sekaligus menkeu kabinet Indonesia bersatu yang akan selesai Oktober 2009.Apabila stimulus fiskal bisa direspons baik dan sektor keuangan tidak terganggu,Indonesia bisa selamat dari krisis meskipun pertumbuhan tidak setinggi 2008. Mudah-mudahan Ibu Ani masih mempunyai jurus-jurus tambahan untuk mencegah dampak terburuk dari krisis global sehingga mimpi buruk 1998 tidak terulang lagi. ()

Oleh: Bambang PS Brodjonegoro,

Guru Besar dan Dekan FEUI

http://news.id.msn.com/business/okezone/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2034503

DJ_Archuleta

January 16th, 2009, 12:22 PM

BUSINESS: Investment growth to hit double-digits

Despite the global economic downturn, the estimated realized direct investment in Indonesia may still reach double-digits this year spurred by incentives and the stimulus packages designed by the government, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) says.

“Investment might grow by double digits, at between 10 and 11 percent with (the planned) incentives, stimulus packages and simplification,” BKPM chairman M. Lutfi said in a discussion at the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Monday.

Lutfi said investment last year grew by about 15.5 percent from 2007. Indonesia secured US$17 billion in investment last year, the highest in Southeast Asia, leaving Singapore behind with $12 billion, he said.

The government is providing about Rp 12.5 trillion of stimulus in the form of waived value added tax to help industries coping with the global economic slowdown. The amount will be increased by Rp 38 trillion later in the year, taken from undisbursed funds transferred on from the 2008 state budget.

Analysts have said exports and investment will be the hardest hit by the global economic downturn.

Lutfi said these stimulus measures would provide some leeway for businesses to make investments. The stimulus will only be given to businesses engaging in infrastructure, the energy sector and manufacturing.

He said in addition to waived value added tax, a good investment climate would also help support investment in the country. “However, what’s most important is the government’s commitment to make the country (an economic hub) as a half-processed goods producer.”

However private sector business leaders said BPKM was too optimistic in expecting investment to grow by between 10 percent and 11 percent amid the adverse global economic conditions.

“It seems it is unrealistic to expect private investment (to reach) such a high growth target.

Even government’s investment might not be able to reach the target considering slow spending, and foreign investment will reduce due to the (global financial) crisis,” said Bambang Soesatyo, head of the fiscal and monetary committee at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

He said the stimulus would only raise the production capacity of domestic industries slightly, but was still far too inadequate to create new investment.

“There are many obstacles for local investors. Interest rates are still high and liquidity is still dried up,” he added.

Bambang also said it would be a difficult task for the government to raise people’s purchasing power amid the global economic slowdown.

He added that it will be useless if businesses raise their production capacity but people are gradually losing their purchasing power.

Indonesia’s economy is about 70 percent driven by domestic consumption, according to the government. Investment only accounts for about 15 percent of economic growth.

The government is still expecting growth of between 4.5 and 5.5 percent this year, down from the estimated 6.1 percent in 2008.

DJ_Archuleta

January 16th, 2009, 04:25 PM

Indonesian Bonds to Return 30 Percent, Rupiah to Gain, ING Says

Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia’s local-currency bonds and the rupiah may advance in 2009 as investors seek higher yields because of increasing risk appetite, according to ING Groep NV.

The yield on the government’s 10-year bond will fall 2.9 percentage points to 9.25 percent by Dec. 31 as Bank Indonesia lowers the benchmark interest rate by three quarters of a point, Tim Condon, Singapore-based head of Asia research at the largest Dutch financial services company, said in an interview today.

“Globally we’ll be seeing economies in recovery,” Condon said. “At that point, the intense risk aversion that has characterized the last quarter and beginning of this year will dissipate and people will be looking more for returns and Indonesia will be an attractive destination.”

The bonds would give investors a return of 30 percent in 2009 should Condon’s yield forecast prove accurate, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. HSBC Holdings Plc’s index of Indonesian local-currency debt shows the securities have handed investors a profit in six of the past seven years, with the best returns of 29.5 percent in 2006 and 59 percent in 2002.

Indonesia’s 9 percent 10-year bonds maturing in September 2008 yielded 12.16 percent, according to midday prices at the Inter Dealer market Association. The last time the rate fell as low as 9.25 percent was in November 2007.

Rupiah to Strengthen

The central bank cut it benchmark interest rate for a second month in January, to 8.75 percent, to help revive economic growth. Bank Indonesia will reduce the policy rate to 8 percent by year- end, Condon said.

“There’s plenty of liquidity against the backdrop of increasing investor confidence in the country, both domestic and foreign,” Condon said. “There are idle funds which investors can take and put to work.”

Indonesia’s rupiah will also strengthen as growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy beats some other countries in the region, according to Condon.

The rupiah will advance 16 percent to 9,500 per dollar by the end of the fourth quarter, he said, more bullish than the median estimate of 10,940 among 20 finance firms surveyed by Bloomberg News. The currency traded at 11,106 as of 12:36 p.m. in Jakarta. The rupiah slumped 13.8 percent last year, Asia’s third- worst performing currency excluding the yen.

Indonesia’s $433 billion economy will expand 4.5 percent in 2009, Condon predicts. The government said gross domestic product increased 6 percent in 2008. Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand all entered a recession.

Inflation will slow to between 5 percent and 7 percent by the end of the year, from 11.06 percent in December, Condon forecast.

Investors “will be seeing that inflation is falling and the economy is not doing that badly,” he said. Indonesia “was Asia’s third-fastest growing economy last year.”

Mimihitam

January 17th, 2009, 05:47 PM

Saturday, January 17, 2009
THE HIGHEST in SOUTHEAST ASIA

http://www.waspada.co.id/images/stories/oil_rig.jpg

Yes, Indonesia succesfully attracted $17 billion in foreign investment, in 2008, outperformed Singapore which ranked safely in #2 with $12 billion. Official said that Foreign Direct Investment is very likely to grow 11% in 2009 due to government's fiscal stimulus package in 2009.

http://ourblue.eu/zen/images/Diamond%20Mining.jpg

Infrastructure, the key factor in economic growth will also be massively developed this year, and Stream-Powered 10,000 MW will be ready soon. This two key essentials will help indonesia to boost the economy amid global slowdown, and to maintain its GDP growth above 6%. Hey, Indonesia's economic growth in 2008 was 6.2 %, still the highest in the region.
I think, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, will be the key player in the future to attract more investors.

http://akhyari.blogspot.com/2009/01/highest-in-southeast-asia.html

Sorry kalo ngutip dari blog :P

AceN

January 17th, 2009, 05:50 PM

^^ g ga yakin....apalagi dari blog orang dan ga ada source nya. COba dibeberkan data2 perbandingan dari smua negara SEA. Kok g ragu kalo Vietnam ada di bawah kita..

rilham2new

January 17th, 2009, 07:21 PM

^^ Itu dari akhyaree ...

Dia itu blogger, SSC Member, dan juga kaskuser .... semua postingan dia rata2 positive thinking (banget ... ). tapi terlalu positive thinking tanpa menjadi realistis juga gak bagus ;P~

Dari tahun 2006 aku gabung ke SSC, udah banyak banget aku baca proyek2 pemerintah yang wah dan wow keren .... dan memang gak semuanya terealisasi (bahkan banyak yang cuman bertahan di tahapan wacana). Berlama-lama di SSC dulu, aku sampe die-hard banget mempertahankan nama Indonesia di forum internasional. Sampe, I finally realisez... Was I that stupid??? Unless, sesuatu itu memang benar dan arguable :D hehehe

Itu aku loh yang gabung di sini October 2006. Gimana kalau David??? Alvin ??? yang memang udah sesepuh hehehe / ..

F-ian

January 17th, 2009, 08:00 PM

^^ I know haha I feel that too... when I was in Sg I felt (somehow) Indonesia was so precious..maybe because I missed it and the posting of Indonesia pics in the ISH thread opened my eyes.... but after staying here (in Indo) and looking at my past post.. I felt kinda embarassed :lol:

it seems that what makes this forum so positive is the gleaming projects posted on the U/c subforum which just cover up the flaws since projects look like the symbol of wealth and prosperity...

Fir3blaze

January 18th, 2009, 07:23 AM

^^ g ga yakin....apalagi dari blog orang dan ga ada source nya. COba dibeberkan data2 perbandingan dari smua negara SEA. Kok g ragu kalo Vietnam ada di bawah kita..

^^ Ada beritanya di Jakarta Post dan sourcenya dari BKPM. Itu article Jakarta Postnya juga ada di thread ini (post #11). Setelah aku baca baca lagi, angka $17 billion itu untuk actual FDI, uang yg sudah masuk, dimana kalo menurut article yg satu lagi Vietnam memprediksi angka $11 billion buat actual FDI 2008 (perkiraan ini dibuat di bulan Okt 2008). Kalo ada yg pernah denger FDI Vietnam sampai berpuluh2 billion dollar, itu angka pledged FDI, jadi masih cuman berbentuk komitmen. Kalau aku sih lebih 'percaya' liat uang yg sudah masuk, bukan gembar gembor doang.

http://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-fdi-increases-432-2008.html

Yg namanya statistik memang gitu, data2nya boleh objektif tapi ceritanya pasti subjektif. Kalo parameternya dirubah ya lain lagi ceritanya. (misalnya FDI diukur pakai angka pledged amount, bisa jadi kita urutan bontot).

Rata2 kita orang juga lumayan positive thinking, makanya pada ngumpul disini. Menurutku itu bagus kok, asal jgn jadi buta. Di luar kan banyak laporan2 atau comment2 yg berbau negative, jadi butuh org2 yg positive thinking untuk ngimbangin dong. :)

DJ_Archuleta

January 18th, 2009, 12:47 PM

Ekspor Produk Sawit RI Naik Tajam

JAKARTA--MI: Ekspor produk sawit Indonesia yang terdiri atas CPO dan produk minyak sawit lainnya ke negara-negara Uni Eropa meningkat dalam tajam dua tahun terakhir ini justru saat Indonesia dituding sebagai negara perusak hutan tropis.

Direktur Eksekutif Greenomics Indonesia Indonesia, Elfian Effendi di Jakarta, Minggu(18/1) mengatakan, berdasarkan Departemen Perindustrian (2006) memperlihatkan ekspor CPO ke 10 negara Uni Eropa pada Januari-Agustus 2008 mencapai 479,43 juta dolar AS dengan volume 471 ribu ton naik tajam dibanding periode sama tahun 2007 sebesar 320,35 juta dolar dengan volume 444 ribu ton.

Ekspor produk sawit tersebut dilakukan ke 15 negara Uni Eropa seperti Belanda, Jerman, Perancis, Inggris, Italia, Spanyol dan Denmark, katanya.

Peningkatan ekspor itu, menurut dia, terjadi ketika justru Indonesia menerima berbagai kecaman dan tudingan sebagai negara perusak hutan tropis dan penyumbang emisi karbon terbesar di dunia dari praktik pembukaan lahan hutan untuk sawit.

Namun pada kenyataannya, justru negara-negara maju tersebut menikmati produk dari hasil pembukaan lahan sawit Indonesia tersebut.

Sikap ini menunjukkan tingginya standar ganda negara-negara maju tersebut terhadap industri berbasis lahan dan hutan di Indonesia, katanya.

Sedangkan ekspor produk-produk minyak sawit lainya selain CPO ke 15 negara Uni Eropa pada delapan bulan tahun 2008 mencapai 1,33 miliar dolar sementara pada periode sama tahun 2007 nilai transaksinya mencapai 580,33 juta dolar .

kaki_langit

January 18th, 2009, 03:08 PM

DJ_Archuleta

January 19th, 2009, 08:17 AM

Yudhoyono govt launches massive price stabilisation exercise in Indonesia

JAKARTA: The Yudhoyono government in Indonesia has launched a massive price stabilization exercise ahead of elections this year. Besides slashing fuel prices and electricity tariffs, lower-income Indonesians have been promised cheaper food prices.

It is the third time in about a month that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has convened a special ministerial meeting to discuss fuel price cuts. Two earlier reductions in December last year failed to trigger a similar fall in basic commodity prices.

The Indonesian leader justifies that the fuel price cuts are meant to sustain the people's purchasing power and reduce lay-offs as the economy slows down.

With parliamentary elections coming up in April and his re-election bid in July, the Indonesian leader is certainly pressed for time.

He said: "We hope with the reduction in price for electricity, especially for certain industries, will have an impact on retail prices sold to the general public."

Subsidized petrol prices have been cut by 25 per cent and diesel by 18 per cent despite criticism that such a policy is wasteful because it does not just benefit poor Indonesians.

Lower prices at gas stations means cheaper public transport, which is expected to cost 10 per cent less.

The Yudhoyono administration has also intervened in the market to ensure that basic commodities such as cooking oil, milk, meat and medicines remain affordable to lower-income Indonesians.

Controlling the prices of basic commodities goes beyond just an economic issue.

Former President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who will likely be President Yudhoyono's main challenger in July's election, has made cheaper basic commodities her key campaign strategy.

Southeast Asia's largest economy has been struggling with double-digit inflation in the last couple of years.

However, Jakarta is confident that in this election year, its inflation rate will be halved from last year's 11 per cent.

rilham2new

January 20th, 2009, 06:43 AM

Dari RIAUPOS

Riau, Sumut, NAD Segera Bebas Fiskal
Selasa, 20 Januari 2009

MEDAN (RP) - Ini kabar gembira bagi warga Sumut-Aceh hingga Riau yang tergabung dalam kawasan Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) dan Singapura, Johor, dan Riau (Sijori) hingga NAD. Pasalnya, pemungutan fiskal bagi yang tak memiliki NPWP di kawasan tersebut segera dihapuskan setelah Menteri Perekonomian, Sri Mulyani menyutujuinya. Hal ini dikatakan Direktur IMTGT, Andi Rahman.

“Ada beberapa poin pengecualian pembayaran fiskal luar negeri. Salah satunya bebas fiskal kepada daerah atau kawasan yang memiliki hubungan diplomatik dan perekonomian. Poin inilah yang kita sampaikan kepada Menteri Perekonomian,” tegas Andi kepada RPG yang dihubungi melalui telepon selulernya, Senin (19/1).

Andi mengatakan, pihaknya sudah bertemu dua kali dalam dua pekan kemarin dengan Menteri Perekonomian. Dalam pertemuan itu, pihaknya sudah menyampaikan permintaan bebas fiskal kawasan IMTGT yang juga masuk persyaratan bebas bayar fiskal dalam peraturan pemberlakuan fiskal saat ini. “Dalam pertemuan pada Jumat lalu dan Jumat kemarin, Menteri Perekonomian sudah memerintahkan kepada Sekretaris Menteri Perekonomian, Pak Eko untuk menyurati Dirjen Perpajakan agar mengeluarkan surat edaran bebas fiskal bagi kawasan perekonomian/diplomatik IMTGT,” bebernya.

Jika surat Menteri tersebut langsung ditanggapi Dirjen Perpajakan, kata Andi, maka mayarakat yang tinggal di kawasan IMTGT bakal bebas fiskal. “Sudah jelas sekali di dalam butir peraturan bebas fiskal tertera kalau kawasan yang memiliki hubungan diplomatik seperti IMTGT tidak dipungut fiskal. Makanya Menteri Perekomoian langsung menyurati Dirjen Perpajakan untuk segera diberlakukan bebas fiskal. Kita tunggu saja jawaban dari Dirjen Perpajakan,” pungkasnya.

Sementara itu, Kepala Unit Pelayanan Fiskal Bandara Polonia, Mulyanto mengatakan, sejak Ahad (18/1) hingga Senin (19/1), penumpang yang keluar negeri dari bandara Polonia yang membayar fiskal sebanyak 54 orang. Dari jumlah tersebut, 80 persennya adalah warga Tionghoa. “Penumpang ke luar negeri dengan membayar fiskal banyak warga Tionghoa. Mungkin karena mau merayakan Gong Xi Fat Chai,” ujarnya. Sementara itu, staf Maskapai Airasia, Anto mengaku, sejak diberlakukannnya pembayaran fiskal membuat jumlah penumpang mereka menurun 30 persen. “Kalau tahun lalu, mendekati perayaan Gong Xi Fat Chai banyak yang berangkat ke luar negeri. Tapi tahun ini sepi penumpang. Ini karena penumpang tak mau bayar fiskal karena tak punya NPWP,” ujarnya.

Selain itu, kata dia, pemberlakuan NPWP dan bayar fiskal kurang disosialisasikan kepada maskapai penerbangan. “Maskapai malah menjadi korban dari pemberlakuan fiskal ini,” ujarnya.(ila/jrr)

DJ_Archuleta

January 20th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Presiden Berharap FTZ Batam, Bintan dan Karimun jadi Pilar Ekonomi Dunia

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r197/daryl_dav/sbyftz.jpg

BATAM--MI: Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono berharap kawasan perdagangan bebas (free trade zone) Batam, Bintan dan Karimun (BBK) dapat menjadi pilar baru perekonomian dunia.

Hal tersebut dikemukakan Presiden Yudhoyono dalam acara peresmian free trade zone (FTZ) itu di kawasan Pantai Coastarina, Ocarina Mega Tourism, Batam, Senin (19/1)pagi.

"Kita harap kawasan perdagangan bebas dapat menjadi pilar perkembangan kawasan ekonomi dunia baru di Asia," kata Presiden seraya mengatakan krisis keuangan yang melanda dunia mengakibatkan pusat pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia bergeser ke kawasan Asia.

Presiden menjelaskan, dimulainya kawasan perdagangan bebas Indonesia di Batam, Bintan dan Karimun adalah karena ketiga pulau itu memiliki letak geografis yang strategis di jalur perdagangan Indonesia.

Menurut Kepala Negara, dengan penetapan Batam, Bintan dan Karimun sebagai kawasan perdagangan bebas maka ketiga pulau itu juga dapat menjadi pintu gerbang masuknya investasi luar negeri, sentra industri dan pusat pelayanan lalu lintas kapal.

Untuk meningkatkan perkembangan kawasan perdagangan bebas Batam, Bintam dan Karimun, menurut Presiden, pemerintah Indonesia juga melakukan kerja sama dengan Singapura.

Pemerintah, lanjut Kepala Negara, menjanjikan insentif, pengurangan pajak dan ringkasnya perizinan di kawasan perdagangan bebas. "Perizinan yang bertele-tele mengganggu, permudahlah apa yang mudah. Apabila saya mendengar masih ada yang mengganggu maka akan diberikan tindakan yang tegas, laporkan pada yang berwenang, kalau perlu pada saya," kata Presiden sambil menyerukan perang melawan pungli dan korupsi.

Kepala Negara juga meminta pemerintah daerah untuk memberikan dukungan yang maksimal kepada perkembangan kawasan perdagangan bebas, serta tidak melupakan faktor lingkungan dalam mengembangkan industri.

Pada kesempatan itu Presiden mengundang para investor untuk meningkatkan investasinya dengan adanya jaminan kepastian hukum dan transparansi.

Pada kesempatan itu Kepala Negara juga meresmikan proyek baru dan perluasan dari 18 perusahaan yang bergerak di berbagai sektor antara lain perkapalan, elektronik, wisata, dan properti.

Kedelapan belas perusahaan itu antara lain PT Tirta Utama Riani Indah (hotel), PT Nongsa Point Marina (hotel), PT Citra Tritunas (kawasan wisata), Harbourbay Amir Hotel (hotel), Pacific Palace Hotel (hotel), Coastarina (perumahan),Ocarina Mega Tourism (taman bermain), PT Saipem Indonesia (manufaktur) dan PT Kinema Systrans Multimedia (multimedia).

Batam, Bintan dan Karimun telah menarik sedikitnya 1.254 perusahaan multinasional dengan nilai investasi sebesar 11 miliar dolar AS. Tiga wilayah itu telah menjadi daerah tujuan bisnis di dunia karena lokasinya yang strategis, kepastian hukum, insentif menarik, infrastruktur modern, fasilitas dan biaya investasi yang bersaing, dan dukungan penuh pemerintah.

Dalam beberapa waktu terakhir pertumbuhan investasi asing di Batam, Bintan dan Karimun menunjukkan peningkatan yang signifikan terutama setelah adanya kesepakatan kerja sama ekonomi Indonesia-Singapura pada Juni 2006 yang diikuti dengan pembentukan kawasan ekonomi khusus Batam, Bintan, dan Karimun yang kemudian diubah menjadi FTZ.

Batam merupakan salah satu daerah industri dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi 7,2% tahun lalu. Pada 2008, total investasi asing di Batam mencapai US$9,34 miliar.

Bintan, tempat ibu kota Tanjungpinang berada, adalah salah satu daerah tujuan wisata favorit di Kepulauan Riau yang mampu menarik sedikitnya 42 ribu wisatawan asing setiap bulan.

Karimun adalah sebuah kawasan yang menawarkan peluang bisnis dengan dukungan lokasi yang strategis karena terletak di jalur pelayaran internasional.

Turut mendampingi Kepala Negara adalah Ibu Ani Yudhoyono, Menbudpar Jero Wacik, Menteri Pekerjaan Umum Djoko Kirmanto dan Mensesneg Hatta Rajasa.

Mimihitam

January 21st, 2009, 12:50 AM

No recession in Indonesia

Terry Lacey , Jakarta | Thu, 11/27/2008 10:59 AM | Opinion

The United States, European Union and Japan are in economic recession. But there is no global recession. The countries of the South, including Indonesia, currently the second largest Muslim economy in the world, face an economic downturn.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati are already doing what British Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposed for the UK, Europe and the U.S., to bolster liquidity and stimulate consumer and public demand.

With Keynesian pump priming and mobilization of the state bureaucracy and private sector together, Indonesia may, at the worst, lose half a per cent growth in 2009.

This will not be helped by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) nor economists from the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) attempting to impose a recession on Indonesia and the developing world.

A recession means that a national economy has suffered negative economic growth in two successive quarters.

Now the IMF and EIU tell us a world recession is when global growth falls below 3 percent or 2.5 percent. Then the EIU argues Indonesian growth might fall to 3.7 percent in 2009, when the local consensus is 5.5 percent.

They used to say in the second world war in the UK that dangerous talk costs lives. In this case dangerous talk could cost Indonesian money and jobs.

Confidence is everything. Despite global conditions Indonesian economic growth in 2009 is a function of leadership and capacity. Indonesia has the first and must rapidly improve the second. Politics must decide economics, not the reverse.

This crisis of confidence in the Western banking and financial system comes during the dying days of the most unpopular American Presidency in living memory.

President-elect Obama and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, have their work cut out. The new Democrat leadership has inherited an economic disaster and must fight desperately to save the U.S. auto industry before it collapses, while two million Americans may lose their homes, and millions may lose their jobs.

Yet the devastating legacy of the Bush Presidency, of greed and war, leaves open great opportunities for Indonesia, the Muslim world and developing countries of the South.

Indonesia can play a key role in leading the world towards economic recovery.

First by managing the national economy to maintain growth, demand, imports and exports. The nominal Gross Domestic Product for 2009 is projected at US$547 billion. Indonesia is already in the top 20 economies of the world.

Indonesia is overtaking Belgium and Sweden in GDP size. It can overtake Turkey, the Netherlands and Austria and join the top ten world economies within two decades.

Second, by mobilizing investment for oil, gas, energy projects, bio-fuels, infrastructure (roads, railways, ports), manufacturing and retailing. Indonesia needs over $50 billion for electricity alone, to finance 40,000 Mwe of power and transmission lines by 2025. Total foreign investment needed in the next 15 years exceeds $100 billion.

Alongside the U.S. and EU Indonesia is getting new investment from the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and from APEC countries like Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan as well as ASEAN States including Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Investment for infrastructure, agriculture and biofuels is coming from the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Third Indonesia can help lead Muslim and southern economies by using its economic size and prestige as a member of the U.N. Security Council to work with southern countries to change policies and the balance of power in the World Bank, the IMF and the World Trade Organization.

As the Indian Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram told the India World Economic Forum on Tuesday the G-20 has replaced the G-7 as the key body to tackle economic problems.

Indonesia has major reservations about the IMF following its own experience in 1998. German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck recently said that the world should not slip into creating a shadow world economic government run by an inner IMF council.

Indonesia lost 10 years as a result of the 1998 banking crash when it put its fate in the hands of the IMF, which initially failed to understand Indonesian strengths and exaggerated weaknesses.

An historical photo showed President Soeharto sitting at his desk, signing his own political death-warrant while the IMF Representative stood over him, as he signed an IMF agreement.

In the 1998 bank crash Indonesia had no freedom and no choice. This time in 2008 Indonesia has freedom and is stronger, and can chose to tread its own path.

Hopefully its greater strength and determination will inspire Muslim and southern countries not to panic in the face of recession in the West, but to work together to combat recession and economic downturn and to build a new world economic order.

The writer is a development economist who writes from Jakarta, Indonesia, on modernization in the Muslim world, investment and trade relations with the EU and Islamic banking.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/11/27/no-recession-indonesia.html

DJ_Archuleta

January 21st, 2009, 01:58 PM

FTZ BBK Harap Tingkatkan Ekonomi US$4 Miliar

BATAM--MI: Kawasan perdagangan bebas dan pelabuhan bebas (FTZ) Batam, Bintan, dan Karimun (BBK) diharapkan bisa meningkatkan perekonomian di tiga pulau itu. Diharapkan dalam waktu empat tahun meningkat US$4miliar.

"Sekarang penerimaan US$11miliar, itu dalam empat tahun bisa menjadi US$15miliar. Belum lagi lapangan bekerja dan usaha kecil," ujar Gubernur Kepulauan Riau (Kepri) Ismeth Abdullah di Bandara Udara Hang Nadin, Batam, Kepri, Selasa (20/1).

Dengan adanya FTZ, lanjut Ismeth akan banyak memberikan manfaat ke industri menengah dan kecil. Pasalnya semua industri yng masuk BBK harus berinteraksi dengan mereka.

Di kawasan industri Batamindo ada 80 pabrik yang menampung 70 ribu buruh, serta menampung 1.500 usaha kecil berkembang. Total perusahaan domestik yang bergerak di BBK mencapai 10 ribu dan 1.250 perusahaan milik asing.

"Jadi makin banyak industri masuk dari luar negeri atau dalam negeri, udaha kecil dan menengah tumbuh dengan pesat," kata Ismeth.

Dengan meningkatnya perekonomian, Batam yang telah menampung 570 ribu tenaga kerja dapat bertambah lagi. Diperkirakan dalam empat sampai lima tahun mendatang akan menjadi 900 ribu tenaga kerja.

Dengan FTZ BBK semua barang dibebaskan bea masuk dan pajak pertambahan nilai (PPN) kecuali barang yang dilarang seperti senjata dan narkotika. Serta menggunakan lima pelabuhan yang diizinkan. Di Batam tiga pelabuhan (dua diantaranya Batu Ampar dan Sekupang), masing-masing satu di Bintan dan Karimun.

"Yang masuk harus di pelabuhan resmi. Kalau dia masuk ke pelabuhan tikus, itu ilegal. Jadi gampang tidak pusing," cetusnya.

Guna mengawasi adanya pelabuhan ilegal kepolisian Kepri akan membangun pos-pos kepolisian. Penertiban pelabuhan-pelabuhan ilegal itu guna menertibkan penyelahgunaan.

"Untuk cegah adanya penyalahgunaan dalam rangka perdagangan bebas ini kantar lain di situ akan didirikan pos-pos polisi," ujar Kepala Polisi Daerah (Kapolda) Brigjen Indardi Thanos.

Khusus untuk narkotika dan senjata, meski dilarang, bila dibutuhkan untuk penelitian harus memiliki izin khusus. "Ada beberapa untuk diawasi secara ketat kalaupun impor harus miliki izin-izin khusus seperti senjata pribadi, kalau narkotika atau narkoba jelas tidak boleh," tegasnya.

Jumlah pelabuhan ilegal di tiga wilayah itu mencapai 100 pelabuhan.Sehingga akan melakukan kerja sama dengan instansi terkait seperti TNI.

"TNI AL punya tugas fungsi dan wewenang yang diberikan padanya begitu juga bea cukai dan Polri. Kita akan coba sinergikan sehingga pengawasannya itu akan kita coba lakukan lebih sistematis," ujar Kapolda.

"Personel kaitannya dengan penegakkan hukum nanti kita akan ajukan seperti KP3 (Kesatuan Polisi Penjaga Pantai) itu dan statusnya sektor mungkin akan kita upayakan untuk dinaikkan jadi Polres."

kaki_langit

January 24th, 2009, 02:43 PM

Are you proud to be as Economist?
Unfortunately, I am not ... I am an Engineer who works as a Banker ..

Man walking along a road in the countryside comes across a shepherd and a huge flock of sheep. Tells the shepherd, "I will bet you $100 against one of your sheep that I can tell you the exact number in this flock." The shepherd thinks it over; it's a big flock so he takes the bet. "973," says the man. The shepherd is astonished, because that is exactly right. Says "OK, I'm a man of my word, take an animal." Man picks one up and begins to walk away.

"Wait," cries the shepherd, "Let me have a chance to get even. Double or nothing that I can guess your exact occupation." Man says sure. "You are an economist for a government think tank," says the shepherd. "Amazing!" responds the man, "You are exactly right! But tell me, how did you deduce that?"

"Well," says the shepherd, "put down my dog and I will tell you."
----------------------
A mathematician, an accountant and an economist apply for the same job.
The interviewer calls in the mathematician and asks "What do two plus two equal?" The mathematician replies "Four." The interviewer asks "Four, exactly?" The mathematician looks at the interviewer incredulously and says "Yes, four, exactly."

Then the interviewer calls in the accountant and asks the same question "What do two plus two equal?" The accountant says "On average, four - give or take ten percent, but on average, four."

Then the interviewer calls in the economist and poses the same question "What do two plus two equal?" The economist gets up, locks the door, closes the shade, sits down next to the interviewer and says "What do you want it to equal?"
---------------

TOP 10 REASONS TO STUDY ECONOMICS

1. Economists are armed and dangerous: "Watch out for our invisible hands."
2. Economists can supply it on demand.
3. You can talk about money without every having to make any.
4. You get to say "trickle down" with a straight face.
5. Mick Jagger and Arnold Schwarzenegger both studied economics and look how they turned out.
6. When you are in the unemployment line, at least you will know why you are there.
7. If you rearrange the letters in "ECONOMICS", you get "COMIC NOSE".
8. Although ethics teaches that virtue is its own reward, in economics we get taught that reward is its own virtue.
9. When you get drunk, you can tell everyone that you are just researching the law of diminishing marginal utility.
10. When you call 1-900-LUV-ECON and get Kandi Keynes, you will have something to talk about.
----------------
ECONOMISTS do it at bliss point
ECONOMISTS do it cyclically
ECONOMISTS do it in an Edgeworth Box
ECONOMISTS do it on demand
ECONOMISTS do it risk-free (in reference to the risk-free interest rate)
ECONOMISTS do it with a dual
ECONOMISTS do it with an atomistic competitor
ECONOMISTS do it with crystal balls
ECONOMISTS do it with interest
"Economists do it with models"
-------------
Bentley's second Law of Economics: The only thing more dangerous than an economist is an amateur economist!
Berta's Fundamental Law of Economic Rents.. "The only thing more dangerous than an amateur economist is a professional economist."
------------
A true story:
"I heard this from one of my professors. To protect him, no names will be revealed. This professor was about to get married. He went to the jewelers to get a wedding ring for his fiancee. The jeweler told him that he can have the inside of the ring engraved with the name of his fiancee for an additional $20 (remember, this was a LONG time ago). He said, "But that will reduce the resale value!" The jeweler was aghast. He said, "How can you say such a thing. You are a butcher!" "No," replied the professor, "I am an economist"."
Three econometricians went out hunting, and came across a large deer. The first econometrician fired, but missed, by a meter to the left. The second econometrician fired, but also missed, by a meter to the right. The third econometrician didn't fire, but shouted in triumph, "We got it! We got it!"
--------------
Heard at the workshop of evolutionary economists at INSEAD:
Q: How has French revolution affected world economic growth?
A: Too early to say.
--------------
A civil engineer, a chemist and an economist are traveling in the countryside. Weary, they stop at a small country inn. "I only have two rooms, so one of you will have to sleep in the barn," the innkeeper says. The civil engineer volunteers to sleep in the barn, goes outside, and the others go to bed. In a short time they're awakened by a knock. It's the engineer, who says, "There's a cow in that barn. I'm a Hindu, and it would offend my beliefs to sleep next to a sacred animal." The chemist says that, OK, he'll sleep in the barn. The others go back to bed, but soon are awakened by another knock. It's the chemist who says, "There's a pig in that barn. I'm Jewish, and cannot sleep next to an unclean animal." So the economist is sent to the barn. It's getting late, the others are very tired and soon fall asleep. But they're awakened by an even louder knocking. They open the door and are surprised by what they see: It's the cow and the pig!
When Albert Einstein died, he met three New Zealanders in the queue outside the Pearly Gates. To pass the time, he asked what were their IQs. The first replied 190. "Wonderful," exclaimed Einstein. "We can discuss the contribution made by Ernest Rutherford to atomic physics and my theory of general relativity". The second answered 150. "Good," said Einstein. "I look forward to discussing the role of New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation in the quest for world peace". The third New Zealander mumbled 50. Einstein paused, and then asked, "So what is your forecast for the budget deficit next year?"
Light bulb jokes are always in...
Q: How many Chicago School economists does it take to change a light bulb?

A: None. If the light bulb needed changing the market would have already done it.

Q: How many neo-classical economists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: It depends on the wage rate.
Q: How many conservative economists does it take to change a light bulb?

A1: None. The darkness will cause the light bulb to change by itself.

A2: None. If it really needed changing, market forces would have caused it to happen.

A3: None. If the government would just leave it alone, it would screw itself in.

A4. None. There is no need to change the light bulb. All the conditions for illumination are in place.

A5. None, because, look! It's getting brighter! It's definitely getting brighter !!!

A5. None; they're all waiting for the unseen hand of the market to correct the lighting disequilibrium.

Q: How many B-school doctoral students does it take to change a light bulb?
A: I'm writing my dissertation on that topic; I should have an answer for you in about 5 years.
Q: How many investors does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None - the market has already discounted the change.
Q:How many Keynesian economists does it takes to change a light bulb?
A:All. Because then you will generate employment, more consumption, dislocating the AD (agg. demand) to the right,...
Q: How many Trotskyists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: None. Smash it!
Q; How many central bank economists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: Just one -- he holds the lightbulb and the whole earth revolves around him.
Q: How many marxists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A: None - the bulb contains within it the seeds of its own revolution.

It's not easy being an economist. How would you like to go through life pretending you knew what M1 was all about?
Economics is the painful elaboration of the obvious.
Q: How many economists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Seven, plus/minus ten.
An economist is someone who doesn't know what he's talking about - and make you feel it's your fault.
-------------------
(Best Economist Joke Award #1) Experienced economist and not so experienced economist are walking down the road. They get across shit lying on the asphalt.
Experienced economist: "If you eat it I'll give you $20,000!"
Not so experienced economist runs his optimization problem and figures out he's better off eating it so he does and collects money.
Continuing along the same road they almost step into yet another shit.
Not so experienced economist: "Now, if YOU eat this shit I'll give YOU $20,000."
After evaluating the proposal experienced economist eats shit getting the money.
They go on. Not so experienced economist starts thinking: "Listen, we both have the same amount of money we had before, but we both ate shit. I don't see us being better off."
Experienced economist: "Well, that's true, but you overlooked the fact that we've been just involved in $40,000 of trade."

Following story is to demonstrate some possible implications of the above statement. Two stangers, a man and a woman, meet in a cafe, the man asks.
"My Dear, would you go to bed with me for a million dollars?"
"Well, yes, I guess I would."
"How about $100?"
"What kind of person do you think I am?"
"My Dear, we have already established that. We are merely haggling over the price!"
According to Ross Emmet, the story was told by George Bernard Shaw. The man and woman are Winston Churchill and Lady Astor and the incident allegedly did occur.

Economists are people who are too smart for their own good and not smart enough for anyone else's.
A woman hears from her doctor that she has only half a year to live. The doctor advises her to marry an economist and to live in South Dakota. The woman asks: will this cure my illness? Answer of the doctor: No, but the half year will seem pretty long.
A boy was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess." He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week." The boy took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it, and returned it to his pocket. The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want." Again the boy took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket. Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you for a week and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?" The boy said, "Look, I'm an economist. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog is cool."
Q:Why did God create economists ?
A:In order to make weather forecasters look good.

Two economists meet on the street. One inquires, "How's your wife?" The other responds, "Relative to what?"

(Best Economist Joke Award #2) Economists have forecasted 9 out of the last 5 recessions.
Alternative: A COWSMIC VIEW OF WORLD ORGANIZATION
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.

PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and as many eggs as the regulations say you should need.

FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.

PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.

DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and shoots you.

SINGAPORE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. The government fines you for keeping two unlicensed animals in an apartment.

MILITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.

PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY: The government promises to give you two cows if you vote for it. After the election, the president is impeached for speculating in cow futures. The press dubs the affair "Cowgate".

BRITISH DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You feed them sheep's brains and they go mad. The government doesn't do anything.

BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. After that it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors kill you and take the cows.

CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

HONG KONG CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax deduction for keeping five cows. The milk rights of six cows are transferred via a Panamanian intermediary to a Cayman Islands company secretly owned by the majority shareholder, who sells the rights to all seven cows' milk back to the listed company. The annual report says that the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Meanwhile, you kill the two cows because the Feng Shui is bad.

ENVIRONMENTALISM: You have two cows. The government bans you from milking or killing them.

FEMINISM: You have two cows. They get married and adopt a veal calf.

TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: You are associated with (the concept of "ownership"is a symbol of the phallo-centric, war-mongering, intolerant past) two differently-aged (but no less valuable to society) bovines of non-specified gender.

COUNTER CULTURE: Wow, dude, there's like... these two cows, man. You got to have some of this milk. Far out! Awesome!

SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

JAPANESE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You give the milk to gangsters so they don't ask any awkward questions about who you're giving the milk to.

EUROPEAN FEDERALISM: You have two cows which cost too much money to care for because everybody is buying milk imported from some cheap east-European country and would never pay the fortune you'd have to ask for your cows' milk. So you apply for financial aid from the European Union to subsidise your cows and are granted enough subsidies. You then sell your milk at the former elevated price to some government-owned distributor which then dumps your milk onto the market at east-European prices to make Europe competitive. You spend the money you got as a subsidy on two new cows and then go on a demonstration to Brussels complaining that the European farm-policy is going drive you out of your job.

EASTERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. You sell the milk (diluted with some water) at a high price to the neighbors or to anyone at the open-air market. If somebody asks for receipt, you charge for a two times higher price, so nobody will request an invoice. For concerned families with small babies you claim that the milk is "bio", though you collect the grass for feeding at the side of the highway and you keep the milk in plastic barrels used previously as containers of dangerous chemicals. Later, your neighbor or anybody from town will steal the cows and will buy their meat for a high price, and if you ask for a receipt, you will be charged for a two times higher price.

FINNISH SOCIALISM: You have two cows. Soon you have to kill one of them because in the Netherlands there is an overproduction of milk and the European Union rules say so. When you do so, you realize that it was not necessary, only the system was too slow in getting you the up-to-date news. From the stress, you get an ulcer in your stomach so you go to a doctor. The doctor realizes that this ulcer is a serious one, so you need an urgent treatment. Therefore, you soon get a call to the local hospital. The call's date is for 3 months later, because there is a queue with more urgent cases. Then your ulcer becomes even more serious because you remember that 40 percent of your income is taken for social tax.
-----------
An economist is someone who gets rich explaining others why they are poor.
"I'd rather be vaguely right than precisely wrong."
- J.M.Keynes
-----------------
Seven habits that help produce the anything-but-efficient markets that rule the world by Paul Krugman.
1. Think short term.
2. Be greedy.
3. Believe in the greater fool
4. Run with the herd.
5. Overgeneralize
6. Be trendy
7. Play with other people's money

DJ_Archuleta

January 24th, 2009, 05:35 PM

Prediksi Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Turun Jadi Lima Persen

PADANG--MI: Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla memprediksi pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia 2009 turun menjadi lima persen akibat krisis ekonomi global.

"Sebelumnya sekira berandai-andai saya yakin pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia di atas tujuh bahkan mungkin 7,5 persen karena begitu baiknya kondisi ekonomi di 2008," kata Kalla di Padang, Sabtu (24/1). Wapres berada di Padang dalam rangkaian kunjungan kerja 24-25 Januari 2009 di Sumatra Barat.

Tetapi, karena krisis ini memprediksi pertumbuhan turun menjadi lima persen, tambahnya. Meski turun, menurut Wapres, pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia lima persen itu masih yang terbaik di antara negara-negara pada kawasan Asia Tenggara.

Terhadap kondisi demikian, kata Jusuf Kalla, wartawan asing pernah bertanya kenapa Indonesia menjadi yang terbaik di Asia baik dari sisi politik dan ekonomi. "Kita (Indonesia) jauh lebih baik dari Thailand yang tengah krisis ekonomi dan politik. Di Filipina juga masih saling berkelahi dan saling perang. Alhamdulillah Indonesia tidak," tambahnya.

Ia menyebutkan, Malaysia juga saling mengejek. Kita (Indonesia) mengejek juga, tapi tidak seperti begitu (Malaysia). Demikian pula India susah, Pakistan susah, Myanmar apalagi dan Alhamdulillah di Indonesia tidak.

Wapres menyatakan, "Orang lain menanggap Indonesia hebat, tapi mungkin karena agak kurang bersyukur ada yang suka menganggap diri kita hancur". Padahal Indonesia ini negara yang sangat dihormati karena tahan krisis dan bagus, kata Kalla.

Ia menambahkan, Indonesia bagus karena semua kesulitan di negara-negara ini, seperti Thailand, Filipina dan Malaysia, sudah dialami Indonesia 10 tahun lalu yakni gabungan antara krisis politik dan ekonomi. Karena itu, sekarang Indonesia sudah paham bagaimana mengatasi masalah

(krisis) dan Alhamdulillah tidak ada masalah, katanya.

"Tetap ada masalah sedikit-sedikit. Kalau tidak ada masalah buat apa ada pemimpin, buat apa ada bupati, gubernur serta presiden dan wakil presiden," tambah Wapres.

DJ_Archuleta

January 24th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Pengangguran Diperkirakan Turun Tujuh Persen

JAKARTA--MI: Pengangguran di Indonesia diperkirakan menurun menjadi 7 persen pada tahun 2009. Hal itu terjadi apabila tidak terjadi krisis dengan tingkat pertumbuhan ekonomi sebesar 6 persen. Apabila hal tersebut benar-benar terjadi, maka target pemerintah untuk menurunkan tingkat pengangguran menjadi setengahnya mungkin akan terlaksana.

Begitu laporan dari Organisasi Perburuhan Internasional/International Labour Organization (ILO) dalam papernya yang berjudul Tren Ketenagakerjaan dan Sosial di Indonesia 2008.

Proyeksi itu menggunakan 2007 sebagai tahun dasar dan juga mengambil asumsi rata-rata pertumbuhan angkatan kerja sebesar 1,8 persen serta elastisitas ketenagakerjaan sekitar 0,5.

Namun akibat krisis, tingkat pengangguran Indonesia naik 2 persen menjadi 9 persen. Deputy Director ILO Jakarta Peter van Rooij setuju akan paket stimulus yang diajukan pemerintah dalam mengatasi krisis. Menurutnya, paket stimulus dapat mengurangi tingkat pengangguran, setidaknya 1 persen, menjadi 8 persen.

Asalkan paket stimulus itu digunakan untuk program-program yang banyak menyerap tenaga kerja. Peter mencontohkan banyak program yang dapat dilakukan pemerintah seperti perbaikan infrastruktur, program perumahan, dan kegiatan ekspor.

ILO sendiri telah melakukan program pembangunan 50 ribu perumahan menjadi 100 ribu perumahan. "Kami banyak menyerap tenaga kerja melalui program ini," kata Peter.
Hal itu disampaikannya dalam acara yang diselenggarakan di Jakarta, Jumat (23/1).

Dia memperkirakan sampai bulan kedua 2009 terdapat peningkatan jumlah pengangguran sebesar 26 ribu pekerja di Indonesia. Selain itu, sebanyak 250 ribu pekerja migran kembali ke Indonesia. Diperkirakan 300 ribu pekerja migran di Malaysia akan kembali ke Indonesia.

"Hal ini disebabkan oleh negara-negara tujuan pekerja migran juga mengalami krisis," ujarnya. ILO memperkirakan sampai akhir 2008, 20 juta pekerja di seluruh dunia telah kehilangan pekerjaannya.

Untuk kedepannya, ILO memprediksi akan ada 2,6 juta lapangan kerja yang diciptakan. Namun, sekitar 2 juta pekerja akan kehilangan pekerjaannya.

Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Peter mengatakan negara yang memiliki tradisi menabung cukup ketat akan lebih aman menghadapi krisis. Tabungan yang dimaksud seperti tunjangan hari tua bagi pekerja swasta, yang dipotong sekian persen dari penghasilan pekerja. Di Indonesia nama tunjangan itu ialah Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja (Jamsostek).

"Di Indonesia, jumlahnya sangat kecil. Hanya 5,7 persen dari pendapatan yang disisihkan untuk menjamin hari tua," imbuhnya. 2 persen berasal dari pekerja, sedangkan sisanya berasal dari perusahaan. "Tidak kontribusi pemerintah sama sekali," cetusnya.

Peter menyebutkan ada beberapa negara yang besar tunjangannya mencapai 20 persen. Besar itu hasil akumulasi dari potongan pekerja, perusahaan, dan pemerintah.

Jungle_surf

January 24th, 2009, 05:39 PM

BTN Perkuat Permodalan dengan Sekuritisasi Aset

IPO BUMN Tunggu Pasar Modal Stabil

JAKARTA - Rencana go public sejumlah BUMN bisa dipastikan mundur. Ini lantaran kondisi pasar modal yang belum sepenuhnya kondusif. Salah satu BUMN, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), memilih sekuritisasi aset untuk memperkuat permodalan.

Bank spesialis KPR (kredit pemilikan rumah) ini siap menaikkan sekuritisasi asset hingga Rp 750 miliar. Direktur Utama PT BTN Iqbal Latanro mengatakan, awalnya perseroan memang hanya akan melakukan sekuritisasi aset senilai Rp 500 miliar.

''Yang Rp 500 miliar kita sudah siap, sekarang kita siapkan lagi sampai Rp 750 miliar,'' ujarnya ketika ditemui di Kantor Kementerian BUMN kemarin (23/1).

Dalam program sekuritisasi aset ini, BTN sudah menggandeng PT Sarana Multigriya Finance (SMF). Menurut Iqbal, karena merupakan yang pertama dilakukan, BTN tidak akan langsung melakukan sekuritisasi aset dalam jumlah besar. ''Kalau langsung gedhe-gedhean, itu susah,'' katanya.

Dalam aksi sekuritisasi asset, lanjut dia, BTN akan menjual tagihan kredit para debitor BTN yang mayoritas adalah debitor kredit perumahan, kepada para investor. Aset kredit tersebut dikemas dalam Kontrak Investasi Kolektif Efek Beragunan Aset (KK EBA) ''Ini bisa menjadi alternatif investasi. Sekarang, dana-dana pensiun sudah mulai melirik,'' terangnya.

Menurut Iqbal, dana sekuritisasi aset dibutuhkan untuk melengkapi kebutuhan dana atas target kredit senilai Rp 10,4 triliun. Kekurangan dana lainnya akan ditutupi obligasi senilai Rp 1,5 triliun yang rencananya dilakukan dua tahap.

Selain itu, dalam penguatan modal, BTN juga terbantu dengan kerja sama pengelola dana jamsostek untuk perumahan sebesar Rp l triliun serta dana titipan sebesar Rp 2 triliun dari Bapertarum (Badan Pertimbangan Tabungan Perumahan).

Sebenarnya, BTN juga memiliki alternatif pendanaan melalui penjualan saham perdana atau initial public offering (IPO). Bersama Krakatau Steel (KS) dan Garuda Indonesia, BTN memang sudah mendapatkan lampu hijau dari DPR, namun belum bisa direalisasikan karena kondisi pasar modal yang belum menunjukkan tanda-tanda recovery.(owi/fan)

kaki_langit

January 25th, 2009, 12:16 PM

Ambil kesimpulan sendiri ...

Posisi gue kok sama dengan artikel ini .. banyak pernyataan pejabat kita yang "Asbun" alias nggak kredibel ... Hehehehe

Siapakah dia ? ... JK, Ical Bakrie, ..... siapa lagi?

Indonesian politicians talking up the economy
By Bruce Gale

JAKARTA, Jan 24 — Strange forecasts are being issued regarding several aspects of the Indonesian economy these days. Just this month, a variety of officials have informed the public that despite the global financial crisis, the nation's exports will continue to grow, investment will expand by double digits and unemployment and poverty will decline.

With a strong domestic economy and a low exports-to-GDP ratio, Indonesia is certainly better positioned than most countries in Southeast Asia to ride out the global storm. Thus, while official projections that the economy could grow by 4.5 to 5.5 per cent this year may appear excessively optimistic, there is general agreement on the trend. Most economists are expecting growth of around 3 per cent.

Some official projections, however, strain credibility. On Jan 13, for example, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman M. Lutfi told the Regional Representatives Council that Indonesia secured US$17 billion (RM60 billion) in investment last year — the highest in Southeast Asia — and that he expected this figure to increase by 10 to 11 per cent this year.

Export growth projections have also attracted controversy. When the local media quoted Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu on Jan 6 as saying that non-oil and gas exports would grow by between 4.3 per cent and 8 per cent this year, businessmen were incredulous.

Benny Soetrisno, head of the Indonesian Textile Association (API), argued that “2009 is a lost year for our (non-oil and gas) exports. Or (in the best circumstances), there will perhaps be zero growth”.

Suggestions that the nation's exporters would be able to swiftly diversify export destinations were also widely rejected as impracticable. Most economists believe investments and exports will be among the areas most likely to be hard hit by the global downturn.

But perhaps the most controversial prediction of all came from Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie. He was quoted in the local media as saying that the government would continue to drive down unemployment and poverty levels this year after having reduced both last year.

Most independent analysts expect the unemployment rate to rise as a result of mass layoffs, leading to a spike in poverty rates. Indeed, tens of thousands of workers in export-oriented manufacturing industries have already lost their jobs.

So what is going on? One possibility is that government officials are making these surprisingly optimistic projections based on crucial information denied to independent experts, and that as the year progresses their wisdom will become obvious.

It is much more likely, however, with elections coming up later this year, that everyone is trying to make himself look good. If this means exaggerating economic forecasts or quoting statistics selectively, so be it. In other words, we are witnessing the politics of obfuscation.

Take BKPM chairman M. Lutfi. “Basically, he is saying that under my leadership, investment has increased significantly despite the global economic slowdown,” Purbaya Sadewa of the Danareksa Research Institute told The Straits Times.

Sadewa conceded that there will be some fresh investment this year as a result of expansion in the domestic economy. But he also pointed out that last year's encouraging rise in investment approvals is unlikely to be a reliable guide to this year.

The Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare probably has the most urgent need to bolster his political appeal. Companies associated with the unpopular minister have been widely blamed for the disastrous mud volcano that has made thousands of people homeless since May 2006 and still threatens the local economy in East Java. It is in Bakrie's interest to convince the public that the government's anti-poverty programmes are having a positive impact.

As for the upbeat export growth projections of Trade Minister Pangestu, they might have been influenced to some extent by the desire of manufacturers to convince the government of the need for more favourable policies. Interestingly, the minister also conceded the possibility of a more pessimistic scenario in which non-oil and gas exports grow by little more than 0.9 per cent.

The concession was not enough to satisfy independent economists, many of whom are projecting negative export growth. But at least it showed that the minister was willing to take account of recent trends.

What all these examples show is that it is going to be more difficult than usual to get a handle on what is really going on in the Indonesian economy in the first half of the year at least. Economic performance will be a key issue in the April parliamentary elections and the July presidential polls.

With economic growth almost certain to fall below 6 per cent — the minimum level seen necessary to create jobs and maintain social stability — no one wants to take the blame. — Straits Times

iForce

January 25th, 2009, 03:01 PM

^^

Posisi gw:

1. Menurutku artikel di atas jg gak terlalu ok dan ngebahas permukaannya aja (jangan lupa, kondisi ekonomi di negara publisher Strait Times lagi jelek banget auranya, so positive projections dari neighboring country akan dilihat dengan pesimis)

2. While emang banyak pejabat yg asbun (terutama yang non-professional politicians), utk bikin statement publik itu biasanya gak ujug2 dan bukan statement individu belaka, melainkan institusi. Apalagi yg menyangkut bidang ekonomi dan keuangan. Proyeksi dan angka2 bisa di trace.

3. Kepala BKPM indeed memang berhasil meningkatkan FDI di tahun 2008. So, nothing's wrong with it.

4. Tapi artikel di atas bagus sebagai watchdog pejabat yg berniat main opini publik buat narik suara. Gw liat some politicians indeed make exaggerated statements. Dalam hal ini, let's provide no space for political maneuvers. Better to be careful daripada kecolongan.
:cheers:

Mimihitam

January 25th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Pertamina Akuisisi Blok Migas di Libya

http://republika.co.id/images/news/2008/12/20081204081826.jpg
Kilang Minyak Pertamina Balongan

JAKARTA -- PT Pertamina (Persero) akan membeli blok migas di Area 47, Libya, milik Verenex Energy Inc. Pembelian tersebut akan direalisasikan awal tahun depan. Direktur Utama Pertamina Ari Hernanto Soemarno mengatakan, pembelian blok Area 47 ini sejalan dengan rencana perusahaan memprioritaskan kegiatan upstream (hulu) hingga 2012 nanti. ''Strategi kita ke depan memang di hulu dengan meningkatkan kegiatan pemboran baru,'' ujarnya di Jakarta akhir pekan lalu.

Investasi di kegiatan hulu ini, menurutnya, tidak menutup kemungkinan dengan cara mengakuisisi blok migas di dalam dan luar negeri. Salah satu blok migas yang akan diakuisisi BUMN sektor migas ini adalah blok Area 47 di Libya yang saat ini dikelola oleh Medco Energy International dan Verenex Energy Inc.

''Kami baru saja bicara dengan pemerintah Libya untuk menjadi mitra Medco Energy di sana,'' kata Ari.Ia menuturkan, untuk kegiatan hulu, setiap tahunnya perusahaan menganggarkan dana berkisar 1 miliar hingga 2 miliar dolar AS.

Direktur Hulu Pertamina Karen Agustiawan menambahkan, pemerintah Libya mendukung Pertamina untuk masuk ke negara itu. Ia memperkirakan total investasi pembelian Verenex yang memiliki 50 persen kepemilikan blok tersebut mencapai 300 juta dolar AS.''Saat ini kita dalam tahap negosiasi. Diharapkan awal tahun depan sudah bisa dicapai kesepakatan,'' papar Karen.

Medco dan Verenex saat ini memiliki hak eksplorasi masing-masing 50 persen untuk blok Area 47, Ghademes Basin, Libya. Produksi minyak di blok itu diperkirakan mencapai 75 ribu barel per hari, dengan potensi cadangan 1 miliar barel. Hak eksplorasi mencapai 30 tahun sejak 2005 lalu. Diharapkan produksi awal akan mulai akhir 2010 dengan kapasitas 50 ribu barel per hari. dia/yto

http://republika.co.id/berita/18247.html

Mimihitam

January 25th, 2009, 05:23 PM

Blok SK-305 & Ekspansi Mendunia

Ada target produksi migas Nasional (di atas 1juta barel per hari), lalu di dalamnya target migas Pertamina. Dari situ BUMN ini harus menggenjot tingkat produksinya, baik dari lapangan hulu di dalam negeri maupun dari lapangan hulu di luar negeri. Pertamina sendiri memasang target produksi minyak bumi tahun 2014 nanti sebesar 225 ribu barel per hari atau BOPD (barrel oil per day), di mana sekarang masih berada dalam kisaran kurang separuh dari target itu.
Memang sih, Pertamina sekarang sudah ada di Irak, Libya, Sudan, Vietnam, Malaysia, dan Qatar, tetapi semua belum sampai ke tahap produksi. Kebanyakan lapangan itu masih dalam tahap pertama, yaitu eksplorasi. Hanya Blok SK-305 yang akan dipercepat untuk ke tahap pengembangan, dan berproduksi akhir Juni 2009.

Jelas, beberapa tahun ini, andalan produksi masih dari dalam negeri. Pertamina EP yang masih menjadi andalan produksi di dalam negeri belum lama ini pernah menyentuh produksi 125 ribu barel per hari.

Kalau ditambah PHE sekitar 33 ribu barel per hari, maka minyak Pertamina masih dalam kisaran fluktuatif 150 ribu barel per hari. Kalau dilihat dari kondisi lapangan migas di dalam negeri yang sudah tua-tua, kecuali ada penemuan cadangan baru, maka hingga hari ini harapan peningkatan produksi harus lebih maksimal di luar negeri. Tetapi ya itu tadi, di luar negeri baru tahap-tahap awal seperti proses eksplorasi.

Lalu bagaimana, dong?

Direktorat Hulu Pertamina bersama anak-anak perusahaan sektor hulu berusaha keras mencapai target tahunan. Sekaligus mempercepat proses pengolahan ladang di luar negeri agar masa panen lebih cepat datang.

Salah satu cerita adalah ketika PHE diberi tugas mempercepat proses di Blok SK-305. Juga semangat percepatan di PEP Randugunting, dan harapan pendapatan dari PEP Cepu, selain kegigihan dari pengelola eks Wilayah Kerja Pertamina, yaitu PEP.

Ini baru cerita minyak bumi. Belum cerita soal gas, atau panasbumi, maka "pekerjaan rumah" holding company Pertamina benar-benar tidak ringan. Tetapi menangkap semangat awak-awak Pertamina mengerjakan "nomor demi nomor" pekerjaan rumah tersebut, itulah yang diangkat WePe Edisi November ini.

Contoh cerita semangat itu akan diangkat dari proses percepatan di Blok SK-305, yang lalu diperbandingkan dengan proses yang sama di Blok Randugunting, dan data-data dinamika Pertamina EP. Terimakasih, Wassalam.• NS

http://www.pertamina.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4173&Itemid=507

kaki_langit

January 25th, 2009, 06:33 PM

^^
Hahahaha ..... Another joke from Indonesia ....

Yang jauh-jauh dan belum tentu menguntungkan dikejar-kejar .. sebaliknya sumur minyak yang pasti-akan menguntungkan dan ada di dalam negeri malah dikasih ama Asing .:bash::bash:

DJ_Archuleta

January 25th, 2009, 06:49 PM

kaki_langit

January 26th, 2009, 03:27 AM

3. Kepala BKPM indeed memang berhasil meningkatkan FDI di tahun 2008. So, nothing's wrong with it.

Kalau gue sih netral dan profesional aja .. Betul FDI Inflow naik .. tapi jauh lebih fair jika diumumkan juga Outflow-nya dong .. sehingga kita tahu Net FDI-nya..

Jadi ingat kasus iklan penurunan BBM oleh Partai Demokrat ... sewaktu dinaikkan harganya maka yang disalahkan adalah harga minyak dunia .. sedangkan sewaktu diturunkan maka di-claim sebagai keberhasilan SBY ..

NARSIS ... mungkin kata ini yang cocok untuk perilaku pejabat publik kita saat ini (tapi nggak semua ya..)...:banana::banana:

Jungle_surf

January 26th, 2009, 08:14 AM

BEI Aktif Edukasi ke Perguruan Tinggi

http://www.jawapos.com/imgall/6/imgori/48584large.jpg

SURABAYA - Potensi investor pasar modal di daerah sangat besar. Namun potensi tersebut belum tergali maksimal. Karena itu, Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) melalui Sentra Informasi dan Edukasi (SIE) di daerah, aktif melakukan sosialisasi tentang pasar modal.

Koordinator SIE BEI Surabaya Agustina Dewi mengatakan kini pihaknya sedang concern untuk menanamkan minat masyarakat khususnya di Jatim untuk terjun ke lantai bursa. Salah satunya caranya dengan menggandeng sejumlah perguruan tinggi.

Tahun lalu, telah ada 650 lulusan dari sekolah pasar modal di Surabaya yang memiliki sertifikat dua level yakni basic dan intermediate. Program pendidikan tersebut digelar dalam lima gelombang. Tetapi tahun ini direncanakan digelar sampai 10 gelombang.

"Kami juga akan menambahkan satu level lagi yakni advance bagi mereka yang telah memiliki dasar pengetahuan baik tentang bursa saham. Targetnya selama 2009 sekolah pasar modal Surabaya akan menghasilkan 1.400 lulusan,'' jelasnya.

Kata Dewi, sebagian besar peserta edukasi ini termotivasi ikut agar bisa berinvesatasi di pasar saham. Hal ini, karena sebenarnya banyak orang Jatim yang ingin terjun dan berinvestasi di pasar modal, tetapi ragu karena tidak memiliki pengetahuan yang memadai tentang pasar saham.

Dewi juga mengaku lewat sekolah ini, pihaknya juga berusaha agar selain siswa semakin tertarik untuk pasar saham, juga memberikan gambaran riil tentang investasi di lantai bursa.

''Kami selalu mengingatkan jika ada risiko dalam berinvestasi di bursa saham. Ini agar mereka menyadari hal itu dan tidak akan trauma yang berkepanjangan atau bahkan meninggalkan investasi di lantai bursa jika mengalami loss,'' tuturnya.

Selain itu, kini pihaknya juga sedang meningkatkan kerjasama dengan pihak universitas agar mau menjadikan BEI Surabaya menjadi sarana pembelajaran. Selama in itelah ada 56 universitas yang kerap mengirimkan mahasiswa, dosen, dan pegawainya untuk belajar. ''Kami memberikan fasilitas stock exchage game yang bisa mereka gunakan untuk belajar secara reguler,'' jelasnya.(luq/fan)

~MELVINDONESIA~

January 26th, 2009, 04:43 PM

DJ_Archuleta

January 26th, 2009, 05:14 PM

GDP PerCapita 3900? wah....naik pesat ya?
Yg gw tau terakhir masih 1000-an:nuts:

indonesia gitu loh.. perekonomian indonesia akhir2 ini memang meningkat drastis jika dihitung dri gdp/cap.. sudah naik beberapa ratus persen dibandingkan thn2 lalu..

~MELVINDONESIA~

January 26th, 2009, 07:02 PM

indonesia gitu loh.. perekonomian indonesia akhir2 ini memang meningkat drastis jika dihitung dri gdp/cap.. sudah naik beberapa ratus persen dibandingkan thn2 lalu..

Wah...bagus deh...
Smoga ini petanda VISI INDONESIA 2030 bakal tercapai:lol:

=NaNdA=

January 26th, 2009, 07:42 PM

visi 2030? udah ada statement nya?

kaki_langit

January 27th, 2009, 11:05 AM

Recently released Economic figures by CIA The World Factbook for 2008

Indonesia

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$932.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$496.8 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,900 (2008 est.)

source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/id.html

Berdasarkan pengalaman selama ini ... gue nggak pernah kutip data-data ekonomi Indonesia dari sumber CIA karena data-data aktual dan proyeksi ekonomi yang disajikan "under-rated". Tapi kajian mereka untuk masalah non-ekonomi cukup kredibel.

Khusus untuk data-data aktual ekonomi Indonesia .. lebih baik merujuk data-data yang dilepas oleh Bank Dunia/IMF karena mereka punya staff khusus yaitu Head of Economist (selalu Dr. bidang Ekonomi) yang ditempatkan secara permanen di perwakilan mereka di Jakarta (JSX Building). "Data Base" mereka selalu "up date" karena secara berkala mereka selalu berdiskusi/berinteraksi langsung dengan BI, BPS, Bappenas dan staff Menko/Menkeu seperti Anggito, Chatib B dll. ADB, IFC, Islamic Bank dan banyak Bank MNC + lembaga Rating internasional (S&P, Moody, Fitch) juga merujuk kesini.

indonesia gitu loh.. perekonomian indonesia akhir2 ini memang meningkat drastis jika dihitung dri gdp/cap.. sudah naik beberapa ratus persen dibandingkan thn2 lalu..

Dari sisi kenaikan GDP .. memang meningkat di 2-3 tahun terakhir... tapi dari sisi kualitas masih mengkhawatirkan karena fundamental/infrastruktur ekonomi kita (tax ratio, f/x reserve, capital flow dll) masih "rapuh" dan belum terstruktur secara baik. Untungnya (maklum orang Indo), ekonomi kita saat ini masih "inward looking" dan belum terbuka seperti negara Singapura dan Malaysia sehingga kurang terinfeksi oleh virus "resesi global" yang terjadi saat ini.

Tanpa mengurangi pandangan positif rekan-rekan di sini, sebenarnya data aktual perekenomian kita memburuk secara significant mulai Q4-2008 dan diperkirakan terus memburuk hingga akhir Q2-2009. Sedangkan kapasitas pemerintah untuk melakukan stimulus dengan menaikkan defisit anggaran juga sifatnya terbatas. Dari diskusi ama pihak-pihak terkait, sepertinya mau nggak mau kita terpaksa harus pinjam dana siaga (bisa dari IMF ataupun pihak lain) untuk memback up neraca pembayaran kita, maklum SUN yang jatuh tempo tahun ini jumlahnya sangat besar - sedangkan penerbitan baru SUN nggak mungkin karena bakalan nggak laku di pasar.

iForce

January 28th, 2009, 02:29 PM

^^
So should we then just close this thread, kaki_langit?

Let's toast, dismiss, and go home.. :cheers:

kaki_langit

January 29th, 2009, 01:54 AM

^^
Hahahaha .... Life must go on ... iya kan?

Kelihatannya pemerintahan SBY - berapapun costnya - akan terus menggencarkan kebijakan ekonomi "pro-rakyat" guna mempertahankan + meningkatkan popularitas ybs menjelang Pemilu 2009 walapun banyak pihak mengkhawatirkan kebijakan ini akan "merusak" ekonomi makro kita jika terus dipaksakan .. "Besar Pasak dari Tiang" ... Hehehehe.

Ingat (berdasarkan survei) saat ini hampir 70% rakyat kita masih belum puas ama performance SBY di sektor ekonomi ini padahal faktor ekonomi ini penting sebagai acuan rakyat Indo dalam Pemilu 2009.

Nah gue sekarang hanya mengharapkan agar Tim Ekonomi kita terus bekerja secara profesional dan tetap menjaga integritas mereka dari intervensi para politisi/partai politik ...:banana::banana::banana:

rilham2new

January 29th, 2009, 06:54 AM

Banyak maestro ngomong ekonomi di sini :D hehehe ... Keren euy bacanya :cheers:

===== Dari RIAUPOS ====

Bank Dunia Survei Pekanbaru

Kamis, 29 Januari 2009

KOTA (RP) — Kota Pekanbaru bersama 12 kota lainnya di Indonesia ditetapkan oleh Kementrian Pemberdayaan Aparatur Negara (Men-PAN) yang bekerja sama dengan International Finance Word di bawah Bank Dunia untuk disurvei mewakili Indonesia terhadap iklim investasi. Survei tersebut dilakukan bersamaan dengan 181 negara di dunia yang akan mempengaruhi peringkat iklim investasi suatu negara di dunia.

Untuk memulai survei dilakukan pertemuan tertutup antara perwakilan Bank Dunia Indonesia Ratri dan asisten Deputi Menpan serta Agung Prambudi dari KPPOD, Rabu (28/1) di ruang Wali Kota. Hadir langsung mengikuti pertemuan tersebut, Wali Kota Pekanbaru Drs H Herman Abdullah MM, Wakil Wali Kota Pekanbaru Drs H Erizal Muluk, Kepala Badan Promosi dan Investasi H Herman Nazar, Kepala Bappeda Ir Yusman Amin MEng, Asisten II Zulfikar serta pejabat Pemko lainnya.

Survei tersebut dikemukakan nantinya berimbas positif bagi Kota Pekanbaru sendiri karena akan tercantum sebagai sebuah kota di Indonesia tujuan investasi dunia atau doing business. Di Sumatera yang disurvei adalah Kota Banda Aceh, Palembang dan Kota Pekanbaru sendiri. Tiga Indikantor yang akan disurvei oleh tim dari Bank Dunia yaitu starting business atau perizinan, izin mendirikan bangunan (IMB), registrasi properti dalam bentuk pengurusan surat sertifikat pertanahan.

Wali Kota Pekanbaru Drs H Herman Abdullah MM usai pertemuan tertutup menyebutkan, Kota Pekanbaru termasuk bersama 13 kota di Indonesia yang disurvei ditetapkan oleh Menpan itu sendiri. Selama ini peringkat Indonesia dalam iklim investasi selalu dalam posisi jelek yaitu peringkat 129 dari 181 negara karena hanya Kota Jakarta saja yang disurvei. Karena Kota Pekanbaru dianggap sebagai kota the best, kata Wako, maka dijadikan sebagai satu mewakili Indonesia dalam survei iklim investasi.

‘’Survei ini juga akan diperlukan oleh Men-PAN sendiri dalam menentukan arah kebijakan pembangunan kedepannya. Perizinan kita sudah terbuka dengan adanya Badan Pelayanan Terpadu (BPT) dan memang ketat juga atas survei yang mereka lakukan. Ini kaitannya dengan kota-kota lainnya di dunia yang memiliki potensi ekonomi,’’ ucap Herman.

Herman melanjutkan, iklim investasi sebenarnya tidak hanya berkaitan dengan Pemko Pekanbaru saja. Akan tetapi juga berkaitan dengan lembaga lainnya dan hal itu nantinya akan diketahui sendiri oleh tim yang melakukan survei. Pemko pun sebut dia, juga akan mengembangkan dan menggesa percepatan pembangunan Kawasan Industri Tenayan (KIT) karena merupakan indikator percepatan ekonomi Kota Pekanbaru karena tidak adanya sumber kekayaan alam.

‘’Pekanbaru kan tidak memiliki sumber daya alam sehingga industri perkotaan yang diharapkan. Kita akan menggesa percepatan Kawasan Industri Tenayan (KIT) karena itu sangat penting bagi kemajuan perekonomian Kota Pekanbaru,’’ tuturnya.(hpz)

DJ_Archuleta

January 30th, 2009, 04:13 PM

Indonesia's Antam to triple capex in 2009, banks on recovery

JAKARTA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia's PT Aneka Tambang (ANTM.JK) plans 3 trillion rupiah ($265.4 million) this year in capital expenditures, up three-fold on 2008, to position itself for an eventual recovery in commodity prices, its chief executive said on Thursday

"We think that it is the best time to start our profitable investment, which may be sold when prices of commodities recover hopefully within the next 2-3 years," Alwin Syah Loebis told reporters.

The state miner said more than 80 percent of the spending, which will be funded from internal cash, will be used to further develop its plants, including improvements to its ferronickel smelter III in Pomala in southeast Sulawesi.

The firm's unaudited financial report showed actual capital expenditures last year were 758 billion rupiah.

Loebis also said Antam expected ferronickel output, its biggest contributors of revenue, to fall by 30 percent to 12,000 tonnes this year as prices for commodities and demand ease in the face of the global economic dowturn.

"We assume the average nickel price this year will range from $11,000-12,000 per tonne, from an average of $18,000 a tonne last year," said Loebis, who refused to elaborate on revenue forecasts for this year.

Antam, 65 percent-owned by the Indonesian government, is involved in the exploration and production of nickel ore, smelting of ferronickel, production and refining of gold, silver, bauxite and iron sands.

DJ_Archuleta

January 30th, 2009, 04:20 PM

Investment prioritized on infrastructure, energy, food

With investment this year forecast to slump, the investment body will focus on investors prioritizing infrastructure, energy and food.

Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman M. Lutfi said Tuesday that amid economic hard times, investment should be prioritized on medium and long-term projects, in "infrastructure, energy and food" sectors.

Luky Eko Wuryanto, BKPM deputy chairman, said there would always be an increasing demand for food despite the crisis, and as for energy, the world trend is leaning towards alternative energy sources, while infrastructure is needed to support both sectors.

The BKPM did not reveal if the prioritizing of these sectors would mean the government making available incentives for investors.

According to the BKPM 2009 roadmap however, the three sectors are crucial for Indonesia's economy. Infrastructure and energy can both create multiplier economic effects, while food largely contributes to the inflation rate.

The report stated investment on food crops and plantations will remain lucrative as commodity prices are relatively stable, with a trend towards greater stability. Moreover, Indonesia had 100.8 million hectares of land available for farming in 2007, more than 50 percent of its 188 million hectares total land area.

The book also stated that Indonesia had 600 million ton of oil reserves or 0.4 percent of world oil reserves, with a production capacity of 47.4 million tons annually, enough to sustain domestic and international demand if enough investment was mobilized to maximize production.

Investment on infrastructure in the country is still relatively low and it is needed to increase food production and energy exploration.

In the period from 2004-2005, the needs for investment in infrastructure reached US$145 billion, but the state budget only allocated 17 percent of the needed amount.

The board is focusing on rice, corn, soy, sugarcane, crude palm oil (CPO), and cocoa commodities for the food crops sector.

The energy sector is focusing on oil, gas and coal as well as alternative energy sources, while the infrastructure sector is focusing on electricity, ports, irrigation, and public roads.

The government has said it will provide incentives to the infrastructure, energy and food sectors. It has allocated a stimulus of Rp 10.2 trillion for infrastructure, Rp 3.5 trillion for cooking oil, Rp 1.4 trillion for an electricity tariff discounts and Rp 2.8 trillion for diesel subsidies.

Lutfi said investment would grow between 10.7 percent and 11.2 percent this year, although declining from 20.5 percent growth in 2008, but still a relatively high figure given adverse global economic conditions.

He said investors would be interested in the electricity sector, roads, telecommunications and the energy sector, which would all yield significant returns.

Last year, Indonesia secured Rp 20.36 trillion and US$14.87 billion in domestic investment and foreign investment, respectively. Domestic investment dropped 41.6 percent from a year earlier, while foreign investment rose 43.8 percent.

Lutfi said local investors might use foreign companies to invest in Indonesia. "If you ask me is it good or not? It is good (for investment)."

Through investment last year, Indonesia managed to create 313,316 new jobs, according to BKPM.

Edy Putra Irawady, the deputy to the coordinating minister for the economy, in charge of industry and trade, said domestic investment dropped last year because local investors were having a hard time to find financing.

"Local investors also do not have the courage to invest in long-term projects. Very different from foreign investors," he said.

He added that if BKPM wanted to attract more investment, it should make a "clean and clear investment model".

AceN

January 30th, 2009, 06:07 PM

Sedangkan kapasitas pemerintah untuk melakukan stimulus dengan menaikkan defisit anggaran juga sifatnya terbatas. Dari diskusi ama pihak-pihak terkait, sepertinya mau nggak mau kita terpaksa harus pinjam dana siaga (bisa dari IMF ataupun pihak lain) untuk memback up neraca pembayaran kita, maklum SUN yang jatuh tempo tahun ini jumlahnya sangat besar - sedangkan penerbitan baru SUN nggak mungkin karena bakalan nggak laku di pasar.

Dana siaga itu tampaknya udah pasti dipinjem taun ini. Tapi kalo dari IMF, kayanya SBY ga mungkin jalanin. Pelunasan utang ke IMF kan digadang-gadang buat iklan kampanye nya dia juga.

Utang luar negri jatuh tempo taun ini emang gede, kalo ga salah Rp. 106 T kan ? dengan proporsi SUN 45 T , utang luar negri 61 T.

Btw, kok pemerintah berani nerbitin SBSN hari ini ya ? apa iya bakal laku ?

^^
Kelihatannya pemerintahan SBY - berapapun costnya - akan terus menggencarkan kebijakan ekonomi "pro-rakyat" guna mempertahankan + meningkatkan popularitas ybs menjelang Pemilu 2009 walapun banyak pihak mengkhawatirkan kebijakan ini akan "merusak" ekonomi makro kita jika terus dipaksakan .. "Besar Pasak dari Tiang" ... Hehehehe.

Ingat (berdasarkan survei) saat ini hampir 70% rakyat kita masih belum puas ama performance SBY di sektor ekonomi ini padahal faktor ekonomi ini penting sebagai acuan rakyat Indo dalam Pemilu 2009.

Nah gue sekarang hanya mengharapkan agar Tim Ekonomi kita terus bekerja secara profesional dan tetap menjaga integritas mereka dari intervensi para politisi/partai politik ...:banana::banana::banana:

Hehe...kebijakan populis memang slalu bertentangan dengan kebijakan yang seharusnya ya :D

Tinggal tunggu aja, ni outlook export bulan Januari udah ambles tinggal dibawah / paling tinggi 5,5 Bil USD. Coba kita liat langkah apa yang akan diambil Ibu Sri selanjutnya :naughty:

Jungle_surf

February 1st, 2009, 08:59 AM

Bakrieland Bangun Kawasan Industri UMKM di Tol

JAKARTA--MI: PT Bakrieland Development Tbk telah mulai membangun kawasan industri Usaha Mikro Kecil dan Menengah (UMKM) di sepanjang jalan tol yang kini tengah dikembangkannya.

"Sebagai tahap awal kami bangun di Tol Kanci - Pejagan seluas 200 hektare, karena ruas ini segera dioperasikan sebelum pertengahan 2009," kata Presiden Direktur, PT Bakrieland Development Tbk, Hiramsyah S Thaib di Jakarta, Minggu(1/2).

Hiramsyah mengatakan, perusahaan tengah melaksanakan proses pengadaan tanah, diperkirakan dalam waktu tidak lama sudah dapat diselesaikan sehingga dengan beroperasinya tol Kanci-Pejagan ikut menumbuhkan UMKM setempat.

"Sudah menjadi strategi yang dikembangkan kelompok usaha Bakrie dalam melaksanakan pembangunan senantiasa melibatkan potensi UMKM yang ada di kawasan sekitar," kata Hiramsyah.

Hiramsyah menjelaskan, meski kehadiran kawasan UMKM menjadi bagian dari tol tetapi pengembangnya berbeda karena langsung ditangani induk usaha Bakrieland, sedangkan Kanci - Pejagan melalui anak perusahaan PT Bakrie Toll Road.

Menurut Direktur Utama PT Bakrie Toll Road, Harya M. Hidayat, pembangunan Tempat Istirahat di Tol Kanci - Pejagan masing-masing seluas 4 hektar yang dibangun di dua jalur berbeda.

Lebih jauh Hiramsyah mengatakan,"Kawasan pusat UMKM itu nantinya memiliki dua muka, satu sisi menghadap jalan di luar tol, sementara sisi lain menghadap jalan tol, agar kendaraan dari luar tidak dapat menyeberang akan dibuat tanggul pembatas (barrier)," ujarnya.

Bakrieland merencanakan pembangunan Tempat Istirahat di semua ruas tol yang dikembangkannya mulai dari Kanci - Pejagan, Pejagan - Pemalang, Batang - Semarang, Pasuruan - Probolinggo, dan Ciawi - Sukabumi yang mencerminkan potensi UMKM di lokasi masing-masing.

Hiramsyah mengaku, untuk mengisi kawasan skala besar seluas 200 hektar menjadi tantangan tersendiri untuk mengisinya untuk itu pihaknya bekerjasama dengan sejumlah asosiasi dan database bank pendukung tol.

"Pengembangan kawasan skala besar tidak menjadi kendala terutama di Kanci - Pejagan. Pengalaman menunjukkan keberhasilan pengembangan skala besar tergantung aksesibilitas yang semuanya dimiliki," tuturnya.

Hiramsyah mengatakan, kehadiran UMKM ini justru tidak menjadi resistensi bagi masyarakat terhadap jalan tol karena mereka melihat adanya peluang yang sangat besar dari pengguna jalan. (Ant/OL-02)

DJ_Archuleta

February 2nd, 2009, 10:08 AM

Staying Positive in Difficult Global Times

The world is in the grip of an unprecedented crisis. Events over the past month seem to indicate that the financial tsunami that began more than 18 months ago has snowballed into a multidimensional crisis with socioeconomic, political and cultural ramifications.

With so much negative news in the media, Indonesians can be forgiven for thinking that social disorder and disharmony are rife, that our economic and financial systems are about to collapse and that our very way of life is under threat. Indeed, we face a crisis that is of a global nature and dimension and Indonesia will not be immune to the fallout.

This makes it imperative that our leaders and business elite work together to create a productive agenda in overcoming the crisis. We need to have a sense of maturity, political unity and progressive thinking to safeguard the nation’s interests. And in a politically charged climate, political leaders in particular must be mature in accepting defeat at the polls with grace and not as sore losers. The ongoing gubernatorial election dispute in East Java, where there have been two revotes and one recount, is a perfect illustration of how the political elite need to adhere to the rules of the game.

Indonesians should not be swayed by the negative news they read in the newspapers and see on television. In a political season, facts are often distorted to suit narrow agendas and individuals have a habit of overemphasizing the bad news. We thus have to be extra cautious of what we are told by politicians and make the effort to look behind the headlines to discern the truth.

The fact of the matter is that despite the severity of the global crisis, Indonesia is in good shape compared to its neighbors. Our economy remains robust and we will post positive GDP growth this year. Our democracy is maturing and we have stable social and political environments. Our banking system is intact and operating efficiently with most local banks still issuing loans to corporations. Bank Indonesia’s latest move to further ease credit lines to small and medium enterprises is spot on and illustrates that the central bank is on top of the situation.

The same cannot be said for other nations such as China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, where the crisis is having a deep impact. Compared to the problems facing these nations, Indonesia is a heaven of political and economic stability.

Indonesia also has a strong government that has displayed outstanding leadership and shown a willingness to be bold in its response to the global crisis. As we enter the political season, now in full swing, any attempt to sow seeds of discord or social unrest must not be tolerated. While we savor our democracy and celebrate our ability to elect our leaders freely, we must not allow politicians to speak and act without responsibility and accountability. They must not only respect the Constitution and the rules of the game, they must also show deference to the government in power.

Indonesia has a lot going for it and the country is moving in the right direction. We need to stay positive and retain our sense of perspective in such globally trying times.

DJ_Archuleta

February 2nd, 2009, 10:17 AM

Indonesia prepares to tap international debt markets

UBS and Barclays Capital have been asked by Indonesia to arrange a $4 billion global medium-term note (GMTN) programme, and will lead the sovereign's roadshow across three continents during the next two weeks.

Although no immediate plans for a new issue have been announced, and no mandate has yet been given to any bank to lead manage a note offering, news of a forthcoming transaction can reasonably be anticipated.

The roadshow, which will include Ministry of Finance officials, travels to Europe and then the United States this week, and completes its tour next week in Asia. Finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati will visit "select locations" according to a banker familiar with details of the programme.

Last year, Indonesia raised $4.2 billion in two multi-tranche deals - one in January and the other in June. Barclays Capital, HSBC and Nomura/Lehman Brothers acted as joint bookrunners for the former, and Credit Suisse, Deutsche and Nomura/Lehman Brothers led the widely-praised June issue.

Indonesia's decision to set-up a GMTN programme obviates the time-consuming process of filing for individual deals and will give it flexibility to tap investor funds rapidly when windows of opportunity open in what is likely to be another tough year for debt capital markets. The sovereign will also be able to respond to reverse enquiries from institutional funds that might require small placements with specific tenors or duration.

On January 29, Moody's Investors Service said that it had assigned a foreign currency rating of Ba3 with a stable outlook to the forthcoming GMTN programme.

It cited the country's "moderate economic strength - which includes the economy's substantial size, diversity and increasing dynamism - and low, though improving, institutional strength", such as the government's anti-corruption efforts and improved tax administration. But the rating also "reflects the country's low per-capita income, and shortcomings in the rule of law".

According to Aninda Mitra, Moody's lead sovereign analyst for Indonesia, positives include the country's relatively moderate openness to global trade and the ability for domestic demand to drive GDP growth, which he predicts will be 4%-5% in 2009, compared with 6% in 2008.

But Mitra warns that despite maintaining a modest fiscal deficit of just 1% of GDP in the past four years, the government's overall financial strength is constrained by its reliance on external financing, which makes it vulnerable to the global credit crunch and to portfolio deleveraging, as well as exchange rate risks.

On the other hand, "financial risks from the unhedged foreign currency debt of the corporate sector or currency mismatches in the banking sector's assets and liabilities were low and the quality of supervision and enforcement of regulations had improved", he says.

"As a result, Indonesia's banking and corporate sector is facing the ongoing global financial volatility from a stronger position than at the time of the 1997 crisis."

Furthermore, a recently secured $5 billion standby loan arrangement with multilateral bodies, and the possibility of additional credit enhancement facilities, "could offset the downturn in commodity tax revenues, improve market access, and may even provide some room for limited counter-cyclical fiscal measures", says Mitra.

DJ_Archuleta

February 2nd, 2009, 10:45 AM

Penerbitan Obligasi Picu Ekonomi Tumbuh Lebih Tinggi

JAKARTA--MI: Pengamat ekonomi Edwin Sinaga optimistis penerbitan obligasi pemerintah baik di dalam negeri maupun di luar negeri bertujuan untuk memicu ekonomi tumbuh lebih tinggi dari perkiraan sebelumnya.

"Pemerintah mengharapkan ekonomi dapat tumbuh minimal mendekati angka 6 persen dari perkiraan sebelumnya yang berkisar antara 4,5 sampai 5 persen," katanya di Jakarta, Senin (2/2).

Edwin yang juga Dirut PT Financorpindo mengatakan, ketatnya kredit global juga diharapkan akan melonggar dengan mentoknya suku bunga bank sentral AS The Fed. Pelonggaran likuiditas global akan berdampak positif kepada perekonomian dunia termasuk Indonesia.

Tingkat bunga The Fed sebesar 0,25% sudah mencapai batas paling bawah, sehingga kemungkinan diturunkan lagi sangat kecil. "Saya kira The Fed sudah mencapai batas, sudah mentok untuk diturunkan lagi. Dia sudah mendekati nol persen," ucapnya.

Menurutnya, keberhasilan program ekonomi AS akan berdampak positif terhadap perekonomian dunia. "Jadi aliran dana akan kembali normal ke semua negara, termasuk Indonesia," katanya.

Karena itu, lanjut dia paket stimulus pemerintah sebesar Rp71,3 triliun diharapkan dapat segera direalisasikan setelah mendapat persetujuan DPR. "Kami harapkan DPR merespon rencana pemerintah itu untuk memicu pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional lebih baik lagi," ucapnya.

Paket Stimulus itu, menurutnya, bertujuan menggerakkan sektor rill yang selama ini dinilai hanya berjalan ditempat dan dapat memberikan lapangan kerja baru yang pada gilirannya meningkatkan daya beli masyarakat.

Karena itu, ujarnya, dana yang diperoleh itu diharapkan dapat digunakan sebaik mungkin untuk membuat proyek-proyek baru sehingga dapat menekan tingkat pengangguran.

Penerbitan obligasi di tengah krisis keuangan global itu diharapkan mendapat respon pasar dalam upaya meningkatkan kinerja ekonomi Indonesia.

"Kami optimis pasar akan merespon, terutama investor asing karena melihat tingkat suku bunga rupiah selisihnya masih tinggi dibanding dolar AS," ucapnya.

Mimihitam

February 3rd, 2009, 01:10 PM

Indonesia has changed, and so must our attitude to it

Andrew Macintyre and Douglas Ramage
May 27, 2008

Our near neighbour is no longer a nation in turmoil, but a stable democracy.

AUSTRALIA needs to update the way it thinks about Indonesia. Almost 10 years to the day since the fall of Suharto, it is time to start thinking of Indonesia as a normal country, grappling with many of the same challenges as other large, stable, middle-income developing democracies such as India, Mexico or Brazil. And Canberra needs to adjust ways in which it engages with it.

To see Indonesia as a normal country is to take the suspicion, fear and mystery out of the picture. Too few Australians realise that Indonesia today is a stable, competitive democracy, playing a constructive role in world affairs. It is no longer in a state of profound flux and turmoil. Indonesians have embraced their democracy by voting in more free, fair and peaceful elections, and with higher voter turnout rates, than nearly any other democracy in the world in recent years. The internationally respected Freedom House survey now identifies Indonesia as the only fully free country in South-East Asia.

Indonesia's future is no longer a big mystery; Australians know roughly what it's going to look like over the next decade. In the absence of radical disjuncture — always a possibility, but not currently expected by observers inside or outside the country — Indonesia will be a middle-income developing country making slow headway in lifting living standards and consolidating democratic governance.

Seeing Indonesia as a normal country involves recognising just how much progress it has achieved since the fall of Suharto, while maintaining a clear-eyed realism about what's likely to be possible. For all the complaints from the Indonesian elite about the slow pace of reform under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and frequent calls from Australia and elsewhere for action by Jakarta on various international issues, it is very likely that this is "as good as it gets" for quite some time. This is a sobering prospect given the scale of poverty and other problems in Indonesia. Australia needs to be conscious of this as it seeks to refine its bilateral engagement.

Old insights matter too, and one of the most important for Australian policymakers to grasp is Indonesia's fundamental pluralism. Regimes, rulers and miscellaneous radicals have come and gone, but an underlying equilibrium continually reasserts itself as an openness to external ideas, people and products and an inescapable imperative to accept diversity. There have been some terrible and deadly exceptions, and even today the Government is mulling over a "ban" on the activities of the Ahmadiyah movement, a peaceable Islamic sect, although seen as blasphemous by some Indonesians, including a handful of officials. Despite this, pluralism still remains the bedrock fact of Indonesian society. Australians have lost sight of this in recent years, inclining instead to suspect Indonesians of militancy and zealotry. But in the new democratic world of "normal" Indonesia, its underlying social diversity will be the foundation of pluralistic politics.

What are the implications of the new Indonesia for Australia? At a general level, Australia will have to get used to a more outspoken and prickly Indonesia. Democracies, especially young democracies, tend to give off lots of noisy signals. Indonesia has long had to listen to the full spectrum of feelings and fears in Australian society; we're going to have to do the same. But with increasingly reliable survey data now available, Australia can also obtain an accurate sense of where the balance lies in Indonesian public opinion.

In an Australian Strategic Policy Institute report to be launched today by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, we also outline a range of specific recommendations for Australia. The highest priority for Australia is that Indonesia's economic progress and consolidation as a viable democracy should not lag. Indonesia's economy has recovered from the Asian financial crisis and is making reasonable, if unspectacular, headway. But poverty is a much deeper problem than it should be. And while Indonesia has made remarkable progress in fashioning a workable framework of democratic government, there is a long way to go with bureaucratic and local-level political reform. These have to be serious concerns for Australia. Appropriately crafted Australian development assistance investments can provide real help to Indonesia on this front.

Australia also needs to think about the geographic focus of its development assistance investments in Indonesia, which puts particular emphasis on Eastern Indonesia. This engenders suspicion in minds and misses the great bulk of the country's poor.

There is an opportunity to recalibrate our military engagement too. Australia rightly seeks to encourage the continued disengagement of the military from domestic politics. This is important, as backsliding may undermine the fundamental priority of democratic consolidation. But in doing this, we shouldn't also be complaining about Indonesia beginning to modernise its meagre conventional defence capabilities. A stable, democratic Indonesia needs a professional and outwardly oriented defence force. Australia may be able to help through the development of civilian defence planning capabilities. Australia is fortunate that Indonesia is emerging as a normal country. But its future cannot be taken for granted. Its democracy needs to work better in delivering services and advancing prosperity.

Andrew MacIntyre is director of the Crawford School at the Australian National University. Douglas Ramage is country representative for the Asia Foundation in Jakarta.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/indonesia-has-changed-and-so-must-our-attitude-to-it/2008/05/26/1211653933526.html?page=2

DJ_Archuleta

February 3rd, 2009, 01:32 PM

Pengangguran 2009 Bisa Turun 1,7 Juta Orang

JAKARTA--MI: Pemerintah targetkan penurunan angka pengangguran terbuka pada 2009 capai 1,7 juta orang. Artinya, dari 9,43 juta total kumulatif pengganguran pada tahun 2008, diharapkan tahun ini bisa turun menjadi 7,8 juta orang.

"Program PNPM (Program Nasional Pembangunan Masyarakat) dan KUR (Kredit Usaha Rakyat) akan menjadi penyelamat bagi orang-orang yang tertimpa PHK," cetus Menteri Koordinator bidang Kesejahteraan Rakyat (Menko Kesra) Aburizal Bakrie di Jakarta, Selasa (3/2).

Becermin dari resesi global yang terjadi, pemerintah bakal berkonsentrasi pada pengurangan kemiskinan di wilayah perkotaan dan pesisir yang diprediksi bakal paling banyak kejadian PHK. Ia memaparkan, jumlah angkatan kerja Indonesia pada Febuari 2008 mencapai 111,48 juta orang.

Artinya dibandingkan dengan tahun 2007, dengan angkatan kerja pada bulan yang sama (year on year) sebesar 108,13 juta orang.

Disamping itu, jumlah penduduk miskin (bawah garis kemiskinan) di Indonesia hingga Juli sebesar 34,96 juta orang atau 15,42%. Pada tahun 2009, pemerintah, sambung Menko, berharap dapat turun jadi 31 juta jiwa secara kumulatif. "Untuk mencapai target penurunan nagka kemiskinan dan pengangguran, kita masih butuh kerja keras,” papar Aburizal.

Kendati berat, dirinya mengaku optimistis semua sasaran bisa diraih. Pasalnya, PNPM dan KUR bisa dikatakan telah berjalan dengan baik.

Terkait KUR, Ical mengemukakan, bila tahun 2008 pemerintah menyediakan dana sebesar Rp1,4 triliun yang diberikan untuk suatu bentuk partisipasi permodalan pada PT Askrindo dan Perum Sarana Pengembangan Usaha yang selanjutnya akan melakukan penjaminan 10 kali lipat, artinya yang diberikan tahun lalu sebesar Rp14 triliun.

DJ_Archuleta

February 4th, 2009, 04:09 PM

BI cuts its benchmark rate by 50 basis points

Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) lowered its benchmark rate by 50 basis points from 8.75 percent to 8.25 percent on Wednesday in an effort to boost a better growth of national economy.

Antara newswires reported that BI director Dyah N.K. Makhijani had said the central bank decided to lower its benchmark rate (locally known as RI Rate) after carrying out an overall evaluation of economic and financial developments at home and abroad.

Various latest indicators showed that the global economic developments turned out to be gloomier than predictions made several months earlier.

The impacts of the world gloomy economy are increasingly felt in Indonesia, particularly on sectors which are related to international trade. Sectors which are not related to overseas still trade experience stable developments, however.

Last month, BI cut its benchmark rate by 50 basis points from 9.25 percent to 8.75 percent. At that moment, BI saw a good inflation development.

In December 2008, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), a 0.04 percent deflation also took place, mainly because of cuts in the prices of subsidized fuel oils.

BI Governor Boediono said on Monday the deflation had taken place due to the decline in commodity prices in the country.

" I think the deflation was fueled by the drop in the prices of various commodities, particularly their domestic prices," he said.

But he was not yet sure on Monday whether the deflation would lead the central bank to lower its benchmark interest rate.

He was still collecting information from various sides such as the financial and the real sectors, as well as the market players

Indonesia`s foreign exchange reserves at the end of January 2009 were recorded at US$50.9 billion or equivalent to 5.2 imports and external debts payment.

Mimihitam

February 5th, 2009, 08:23 AM

Berdasarkan pengalaman selama ini ... gue nggak pernah kutip data-data ekonomi Indonesia dari sumber CIA karena data-data aktual dan proyeksi ekonomi yang disajikan "under-rated". Tapi kajian mereka untuk masalah non-ekonomi cukup kredibel.

Khusus untuk data-data aktual ekonomi Indonesia .. lebih baik merujuk data-data yang dilepas oleh Bank Dunia/IMF karena mereka punya staff khusus yaitu Head of Economist (selalu Dr. bidang Ekonomi) yang ditempatkan secara permanen di perwakilan mereka di Jakarta (JSX Building). "Data Base" mereka selalu "up date" karena secara berkala mereka selalu berdiskusi/berinteraksi langsung dengan BI, BPS, Bappenas dan staff Menko/Menkeu seperti Anggito, Chatib B dll. ADB, IFC, Islamic Bank dan banyak Bank MNC + lembaga Rating internasional (S&P, Moody, Fitch) juga merujuk kesini.

Dari sisi kenaikan GDP .. memang meningkat di 2-3 tahun terakhir... tapi dari sisi kualitas masih mengkhawatirkan karena fundamental/infrastruktur ekonomi kita (tax ratio, f/x reserve, capital flow dll) masih "rapuh" dan belum terstruktur secara baik. Untungnya (maklum orang Indo), ekonomi kita saat ini masih "inward looking" dan belum terbuka seperti negara Singapura dan Malaysia sehingga kurang terinfeksi oleh virus "resesi global" yang terjadi saat ini.

Tanpa mengurangi pandangan positif rekan-rekan di sini, sebenarnya data aktual perekenomian kita memburuk secara significant mulai Q4-2008 dan diperkirakan terus memburuk hingga akhir Q2-2009. Sedangkan kapasitas pemerintah untuk melakukan stimulus dengan menaikkan defisit anggaran juga sifatnya terbatas. Dari diskusi ama pihak-pihak terkait, sepertinya mau nggak mau kita terpaksa harus pinjam dana siaga (bisa dari IMF ataupun pihak lain) untuk memback up neraca pembayaran kita, maklum SUN yang jatuh tempo tahun ini jumlahnya sangat besar - sedangkan penerbitan baru SUN nggak mungkin karena bakalan nggak laku di pasar.

Ekonomi nya memburuk tapi itu karena % dari GDP kita hilang gara2 penurunan export.

Solusi nya:
Structural Adjustment, open up economy for investment, increase competition, make the price of commodities into motion so that estates and farmers gain more advantage, create welfare system thrugh the promotion of cooperative businesses on energy and food, liquidize the banks, reduce interest rates to encourage borrowing for small people's investment,

Di Amerika ada dua sisi, 1. yg mau kita maju, 2. yg mo nguntungin kita. IMF dari dulu telah menyalahgunakan prinsip leverage untuk membikin negara lebih indebt. Arti kata, borrowing of money itu gk bagus kalo uang nya dipake buat sesuatu yang tidak productive, seperti cover uang yg ilang dari utang.

Solusi nya bukanlah leverage dari IMF, orang itu dah diputusin ama JK...

lombok

February 7th, 2009, 11:52 AM

Jumat, 06/02/2009 13:21 WIB

19 Pengusaha Rusia akan berinvestasi di Indonesia

oleh : Rahmayulis Saleh

JAKARTA (Bisnis.com): Duta Besar RI untuk Rusia Hamid Awaluddin akan mendatangkan 19 pengusaha besar dari Rusia ke Indonesia untuk investasi di berbagai sektor industri seperti gas, minyak kelapa sawit dan properti.

Rencananya pengusaha asal Rusia tersebut melakukan kunjungan ke Indonesia pada 20 Februari-1 Maret 2009.

"Mereka yang menamakan Business Mission to Indonesia Special Economic Zone, akan datang ke Jakarta dan Batam untuk bertemu dengan Kadin Indonesia, kepala BKPM, Otoritas Batam dan Pemda Batam," kata Hamid kepada Bisnis Indonesia siang ini di Jakarta.

Kedatangan delegasi para pengusaha Rusia tersebut adalah merupakan kunjungan balasan dari acara Indonesia Expo yang diselenggarakan di Moskow pada September 2008.

"Kedatangan para pengusaha Rusia ini merupakan program dari KBRI Rusia untuk membantu pemerintah RI dalam mencari investor yang mau berinvestasi di Indonesia," ujar Hamid.

Dia menyebutkan pada 2008 ekspor produk-produk Indonesia ke Rusia mencapai US$1 juta, atau meningkat 56% dari 2007.

"Diharapkan dalam kunjungan ini akan menghasilkan penandatanganan kerjasama (MoU) dengan Pemda Batam dan Otorita Batam. Kita juga akan melihat apa yang akan ditawarkan Kadin untuk mereka," kata Hamid

lombok

February 9th, 2009, 10:21 AM

Old buildings unattractive to investors

Agnes Winarti , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Mon, 02/09/2009 10:45 AM | City

With the increasing destruction of heritage buildings, experts say investors and the public do not understand the importance of conservation.

“Buying an old building in Jakarta is more like a burden, while abroad heritage buildings are regarded as diamonds,” the city administration’s independent review team for cultural heritage building restoration, Bambang Eryudhawan, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

“Here, buildings aren’t valued as much as the land on which they stand,” Bambang said.
According to data of the city tourism and culture agency, there are some 273 heritage buildings around Jakarta in areas such as Menteng, Kota, Condet and Kebayoran.

“People living in heritage areas like Menteng are burdened with the highest land and building taxes, which amounted some Rp 71 million per year for an 800 to 1,000 square meter property,” Bambang said,

Arya Abieta of the Indonesian Architectural Documentation Center, said that, “home owners, who are unable to pay such high taxes will sell the property to newcomers, who are less attached to the history of the property. They often demolish the historic buildings and rebuild something completely different.”

A 1999 bylaw on the utilization and preservation of cultural heritage buildings and areas differentiates heritage buildings into three categories: A, B and C.

Each category has different rules regarding renovations. Those violating the bylaws face a maximum of six months imprisonment and/or Rp 5 million (US$430) in fines.

Head of the city’s tourism and cultural agency Arie Budhiman said recently the administration did not mind if heritage sites were converted into restaurants, art galleries, or theaters, as long as the construction designs adhered to the regulations.

“We can not expect heritage buildings to stay sterile, they must be able to interact with their environment and bring economic benefits,” he said.

“Therefore, we invite the private sector to invest in the restoration of the buildings,” he said.
Bambang said the administration needed to better synchronise coordination between related stakeholders and work out contradictory heritage building regulations.

He said that the lack of coordination between related agencies, including the spatial planning agency and the tourism and cultural agency, authorized to monitor the development of heritage sites, has created loopholes.

“There are cases where a category-A-building according to one agency is considered a category B by another,” he said.

The lack of public order, environmental sanitation and safety, further discourage heritage building owners in the Old Town area from revamping their properties.

“We hope that the administration starts directly tackling the social and economic conditions in Old Town, instead of merely focusing on artificial grooming, such as placing lamps in the area,” Ella Ubaidi of the association of the Old Town heritage building owners, said.

rilham2new

February 10th, 2009, 05:14 AM

rilham2new

February 10th, 2009, 05:18 AM

Setelah harga CPO yang anjlok tahun kemaren, dan telah berhasil menyebabkan pertumbuhan ekonomi Riau jatuh ke kisaran 7.7% ... dan harga minyak dunia juga jatuh parah tahun 2009 kemaren.

Ini ada berita angin segar ...

======== Dari RIAUPOS ===

Harga CPO Naik, Sawit Ikut Terkatrol
Selasa, 10 Pebruari 2009
Laporan HELFIZON ASSYAFEI, Pekanbaru

Harga CPO di pasar dunia kini mulai mengalami trend positif. Dalam sepekan terakhir kenaikan harga CPO mencapai 5,7 persen. Hal ini mengatrol harga sawit yang beberapa waktu sempat anjlok. Trend ini membuat pengusaha kelapa sawit Riau kembali optimis.

“Ya Alhamdulillah harga CPO di pasar dunia mulai naik ini membawa pengaruh pada harga sawit lebih positif,” ujar Ketua Gabungan Pengusaha Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (Gapki) Riau, Wisnu Suharto kepada Riau Pos, Senin (9/2).

Wisnu mengatakan bahwa diperkirakan di tahun 2009 ini harga akan bermain di kisaran Rp1.100 sampai dengan Rp1.350. Oleh karena itu ia berharap para pengusaha dan juga petani sawit di Riau tetap optimis menjalankan usahanya. Menanggapi apakah kenaikan harga sawit akan signifikan di tahun 2009 ini, Wisnu mengatakan masih dalam batas normal.

“Tekanan ekonomi dan juga kelebihan suplai di wilayah Indonesia dan Malaysia membuat kenaikan harga sawit belum terlalu signifikan namun cukup cerahlah,” ujarnya. Menurutnya pasokan sawit memang tergantung sekali pada seberapa besar daya serap pasar CPO dunia.

Menurut Wisnu kenaikan harga CPO ini tak terlepas dari berkurangnya dominasi minyak kedelai dunia. Apalagi setelah supplier terbesar minyak kedelai dunia Brazil dan Argentina mengalami penurunan pasokan karena kekeringan. Dari informasi yang diterimanya menyebutkan bahwa produksi kedelai di Argentina berkurang hingga 25 persen.

Begitu juga Brazil yang selama ini juga jadi pemain utama di minyak kedelai dunia produksinya mengalami penurunan di tahun ini dari 60 juta ton di tahun 2008 menjadi 57,2 juta ton di tahun 2009. “Ini merupakan gejolak pasar dunia dan subsitusi minyak kedelai dengan harga yang terjangkau adalah CPO. Bila permintaan CPO meningkat maka harga akan terkatrol naik lagi,” ujarnya.

Wisnu juga berharap permintaan pasar dunia terhadap CPO kembali normal seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya sehingga harga sawit akan kembali mendatangkan profit bagi para pelaku usahanya.(ekk)

chene

February 10th, 2009, 08:58 AM

a news i got from KOMPAS
sorry guys..dunno where to put this news, so i just put in this thread..:nuts:

Daya Saing Infrastruktur Indonesia Masih Rendah

Selasa, 10 Februari 2009 | 12:23 WIB
JAKARTA, SELASA — Daya saing infrastruktur Indonesia tahun 2008 masih rendah. Dari 134 negara, Indonesia menempati peringkat 96.

Hal tersebut dipaparkan dalam laporan World Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 yang disampaikan Deputi Sarana dan Prasarana Bappenas Dedy S Priatna, dalam seminar Mempercepat Pembangunan Infrastruktur di Era Krisis Keuangan Global, di Hotel Nikko, Jakarta, Selasa (10/2).

"Daya saing Indonesia masih rendah jika dibandingkan dengan negara lain. Korea saja menempati peringkat 18 dan Malaysia peringkat 19," kata Dedy.

Dedy memaparkan, untuk kondisi jalan, Indonesia menempati peringkat 105 atau kebih rendah bila dibandingkan negara Asia lainnya. Filipina menempati peringkat 94, Korea menempati peringkat 13, China menempati peringkat 51, Vietnam menempati peringkat 102 , Thailand peringkat 32, dan Malaysia menempati peringkat 14.

Adapun untuk kondisi jalan kereta api, Indonesia menempati peringkat 58. Kondisi pelabuhan menempati peringkat 104. Kondisi transportasi udara menempati peringkat 75. Kelistrikan menempati peringkat 82, dan telekomunikasi menempati peringkat 100.

ANI

tollfreak

February 10th, 2009, 02:31 PM

Indonesia Wants Fair International Trade: VP

The Hague (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Indonesia wanted that international trade would not be a mere free trade but also a fair one.

"Indonesia wants not only a free trade in the world but also a fair one because otherwise it would lead to protectionism where all countries are tempted to protect their products," the vice president said here on Monday.

The vice president, who was in a four country tour of Japan, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands, said that Indonesia always reminded the world of the need for a fair trade. A free and fair trade would benefit all counties.

"If what happens is only free trade, all countries will protect their own interest and thus would adversely destroy the world economy," the vice president said.

Kalla said that what happened today was that free trade was more like an `exploitation` of developing countries. But it also posed a burden to the people of advanced states.

He gave an example that a shirt produced in Indonesia was bought at US$15 and sold in the United States or in a European country with US$100. This was not fair because it would benefit only those in the middle, namely financial institutions.

"The shirt purchased in Indonesia with US$15 did not lift the people`s purchasing power while the US$100 price adversely pose a burden to consumers there (the United States)," he said.

rilham2new

February 11th, 2009, 11:43 AM

Provinsi Riau adalah provinsi berpenduduk 4.5 juta jiwa di Pulau SUmatra ...

Dari RIAUPOS

===

DPK Perbankan Riau Rp33,11 T
Rabu, 11 Pebruari 2009
Laporan HELFIZON ASSYAFEI, Pekanbaru

GELIAT perbankan di Riau menunjukkan kemajuan pesat. Total dana pihak ketiga (DPK) yang dihimpun perbankan di Riau selama 2008 mencapai Rp33,11 triliun. Angka ini meningkat dibanding tahun sebelumnya sebesar 6 persen.

Pemimpin Bank Indonesia Pekanbaru, Gatot Sugiono mengungkapkan hal itu dalam Bankers Dinner 2009 yang berlangsung di Kantor BI Pekanbaru, Senin malam lalu. Hadir pada kesempatan itu Wagubri Drs HR Mambang Mit, para bankir, pengusaha dan sejumlah perwakilan UMKM.

Dalam paparannya Gatot Sugiono menjelaskan bahwa total aset perbankan Riau 2008 mencapai Rp39,54 triliun atau tumbuh 9,56 persen (yoy). Alokasi kredit yang berhasil disalurkan mencapai Rp21,49 triliun atau tumbuh sebesar 28,63 persen. “Pencapaian ini di atas target sebesar 20 persen,” ujarnya.

Adapun kredit bermasalah (NPL), lanjutnya masih terkendali yakni 2,16 persen dan masih jauh di bawah batas toleransi yakni 5 persen. Gatot juga memaparkan bahwa pembiayaan oleh perbankan syariah di Riau pada periode yang sama juga mencapai Rp884,57 miliar atau tumbuh 29,44 persen. Sedangkan pembiayaan bermasalah (NPF) sebesar 2,81 persen.

“Ini merupakan perkembangan yang menggembirakan meski kita masih mengalami tekanan ekonomi global,” ujarnya. Lebih lanjut ia mengatakan bahwa dorongan BI Pekanbaru kepada kalangan perbankan untuk meningkatkan fungsi intermediasi perbankan terutama terhadap usaha mikro kecil menengah (UMKM) cukup memotivasi.

Perhatian perbankan sudah cukup tinggi dengan kredit kepada UMKM mencapai Rp14,72 triliun tahun 2008 atau sebesar 72,65 persen dari total kredit perbankan Riau. Sedangkan penyaluran KUR sebesar Rp316,98 miliar kepada 24.318 nasabah serta kredit ketahanan pangan dan energi (KKP-E) sebesar Rp600 juta khususnya untuk peternakan sapi di Kampar.

Gatot juga menambahkan bahwa BI bersama perbankan, Pemda, Pengusaha dan kelompok usaha rakyat sedang merintis penyaluran Kredit Pengembangan Energi nabati-Revitalisasi Perkebunan (KPEN-RP) untuk perkembangan perkebunan rakyat di Riau. Selain itu program pendampingan Konsultan Keuangan Mitra Bank (KKMB) telah berhasil menghubungkan 956 UMKM untuk memperoleh pelayanan krdit perbankan dengan realisasi kredit Rp26,8 miliar pada akhir 2008.(ekk)

kaki_langit

February 11th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Masih ingat heboh tahun lalu .. kasus penjualan LNG murah ke China .. Nah tampaknya makin ruwet sekarang --> Maju Kena Mundur Kena.

Apalagi sekarang China minta saham di proyek Natuna ini ...:bash::bash::bash:

Inilah contoh Salah Urus .. Masih banyak lagi contoh seperti ini ... maklum aja sebab kita saat ini dipimpin oleh PARA MALING ...

China Demands Stake In Indonesia's Natuna Gas Block

JAKARTA -(Dow Jones)- China is demanding a stake in Indonesia's offshore Natuna D-Alpha natural gas block as part of the conditions for renegotiating the price it will pay for gas from the Tangguh plant, an Indonesian official said Tuesday.

It's unclear whether Indonesia will accept China's proposal, said the official, who declined to be named.

The government last year unilaterally handed over the rights to develop the block to state-owned PT Pertamina from Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) after the government and Exxon failed to reach an agreement on a new revenue split deal.

Pertamina is seeking several partners to help it develop the block, which has 46 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it the biggest gas reserve in Asia. The reserve, however, has high C02 content, which requires a big investment and highly sophisticated technology.

The Indonesian government has been seeking to renegotiate the price of the 2.6 million metric tons a year of LNG it will ship to China's Fujian LNG receiving terminal for 25 years from this year. The gas will be supplied by an LNG plant being developed by a consortium led by BP PLC (BP) in Tangguh, West Papua.

Under a contract signed in 2002, the price of LNG was pegged at $2.40 per million British thermal units, regardless of any increase in crude oil prices.

Although China agreed to an increase in the price to $3.80/MMBTU in recent years, Indonesia again sought a price increase amid skyrocketing global oil prices before they started to tumble.

According to a government document recently viewed by Dow Jones Newswires, production of LNG from the first Tangguh plant is expected to begin April 17, while the second plant is expected to start producing LNG May 17.

But it remains unclear whether LNG shipments to China will go ahead if the two parties haven't completed the price talks.

-By Deden Sudrajat, contributing to Dow Jones Newswires

unity

February 11th, 2009, 12:38 PM

Nah, ini kan biangnya waktu presidennya si mbok ndut...

tollfreak

February 11th, 2009, 02:16 PM

Infrastructure Fund ready to be set up; WB, ADB contribute

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 02/11/2009 12:26 PM | Business

The Infrastructure Fund - which would provide alternative financing for development projects - may be up and running as early as March.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will contribute around Rp 2 trillion (US$170 million) to help fund the country's infrastructural development, which would be placed with the new Infrastructure Fund.

Finance Ministry housing development assistant deputy Wahyu Utomo said Tuesday the government was currently developing a new financial institution called the Infrastructure Fund, which would be the beneficiary.

"The Infrastructure Fund will be finalized by the end of February and will begin in full operation in the first semester of 2009," he said after delivering a speech in a ministry seminar on Infrastructure Development Acceleration During the Global Crisis, in Jakarta.

He said the ministry had already allocated Rp 1 trillion from the state budget for the new institution while another 2 trillion would be received from the World Bank and the ADB.

"In total we will have around Rp 3 trillion for the Infrastructure Fund, but there is a possibility that we can allocate up to Rp 4 trillion for the fund," he said.

The aim of the Infrastructure Fund, according to him, was to provide the nation with an alternative source of funds for business development for infrastructure.

"Nowadays it is very hard for the national banks to provide loans for infrastructural development and most bank loans are short term. But with the Infrastructure Fund, there is an alternative for long term loans and hopefully this will make things easier for investors," Utomo said.

However, even with the aid of the World Bank and ADB, the available fund is still far lower than the country's target for the Infrastructure Fund in the next five years. The country estimated a need of around Rp 20 trillion for the Infrastucture Fund during that period.

"Learning from India, we can use the Infrastructure Fund to attract the private sector to take part in the institution and in the end to reach the targeted budget," Utomo said.

The government is intensifying its infrastructure projects this year, and beyond, in part to help stimulate an economy hampered by the global economic slowdown.

In a broader context, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) estimated the need for investment in infrastructure development for the next five years would be around Rp 1,429 trillion.

On the other hand, the government capacity to finance is only a mere Rp 451 trillion, or about 31 percent of the needed investment.

Bappenas deputy chairman for infrastructure Dedy Priatna, who also gave a presentation in the seminar, said the government would try to cover the gap of Rp 978 trillion by proposing public private partnership (PPP) programs to investors.

"But Bappenas also estimated that with the current conditions, the total investment that can be gathered through PPP would only be around Rp 365 trillion," Priatna said.

Priatna said that investors were reluctant to take part in the program because of lack of consistency in regulations as well as the country's uncertain conditions in both the political and security sectors.

"That is why we need to focus on how to improve our regulations, institutions, and security and provide investors more access to funding sources," he said.

Bappenas recently submitted a proposal on the revision of a presidential regulation to the Finance Ministry.

The revision proposes a clause to allow a bid to go ahead even if it has fewer than three participants, while also allowing transfer of tender winners' awards under certain circumstances. Both are prohibited under the existing presidential regulations.

The latest development on the revision revealed that the Finance Ministry proposed a compensation system called the Swiss Challenge in compensating investors.

"Swiss Challenge is like this, when an investor proposes a tender on a project at a price, others are able to challenge with a more competitive price," Priatna explained.

Dedy said both the Finance Ministry and Bappenas hoped the revision would be completed as soon as possible. (hdt)

peseg5

February 11th, 2009, 07:36 PM

lombok

February 11th, 2009, 07:46 PM

Lembaga Infrastruktur Himpun Rp 4 Triliun, Soal Struktural Harus Diperhatikan

SP/Ignatius Liliek

Pekerja menyelesaikan perbaikan jalan di Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan, Jakarta, Selasa (10/2). Untuk pembangunan sejumlah proyek infrastuktur periode 2010 sampai 2014 pemerintah membutuhkan biaya sebesar Rp 1.429 triliun.

[JAKARTA] Permasalahan pembangunan infrastruktur dengan akan dibentuknya Fasilitas Pembiayaan Infrastruktur Indonesia (The Indonesian Infrastructure Financing Facility/IIFF) bukan hanya menyangkut pendanaan. Permasalahannya lebih kepada struktural.

Ekonom Center for Information and Development Studies (Cides), Umar Juoro mengatakan, masalah pendanaan bukan hal baru. Hal yang harus ditunjukkan adalah implementasinya. Sebagai modal awal pembentukan IIFF diperkirakan akan terkumpul dana sekitar Rp 4 triliun, yang berasal dari Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara, serta Bank Pembangunan Asia dan Bank Dunia.

"Beberapa permasalahan struktural, seperti pembebasan lahan, transparansi, akuntabilitas yang masih harus diperhatikan," katanya kepada SP di Jakarta, Rabu (11/2).

Menurutnya, pemerintah memang menaruh dana dan kredit, namun harus ada perencanaan yang terdiri dari gambaran detail mengenai proyek-proyek yang akan diprioritaskan. Sebaiknya, fokus dulu pada tiga atau empat proyek, serta yang akan menjadi leading project. Perlu dipaparkan juga jangka waktu penyelesaiannya.

"Investor dan lembaga keuangan multilateral pun akan mencermatinya. Apabila proyek tidak terlaksana maka pendanaan menjadi percuma," ujar Umar.

Menurut Asisten Deputi Bidang Koordinasi Infrastruktur dan Pengembangan Wilayah Kantor Menko Perekonomian Wahyu Utomo, untuk modal awal, dana infrastruktur yang dihimpun dalam The Indonesian Infrastructure Financing Facility (IIFF) pada semester I-2009 ditargetkan mencapai Rp 4 triliun.

Dana itu berasal dari APBN senilai Rp 1 triliun serta dari Bank Pembangunan Asia (ADB0 dan Bank Dunia masing-masing Rp 1 triliun. [FLS/DMP/M-6]

rilham2new

February 12th, 2009, 06:18 AM

Dumai, sebagai kota terbesar kedua di Provinsi Riau, menuju status SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE (SEZ)

Berita dari RIAUPOS

KEK Dumai Terwujud 2009
Kamis, 12 Pebruari 2009
Mendag Kunjungi KID
Laporan GEMA SETARA dan M NIZAR, Dumai --

Menteri Perdagangan (Mendag) Mari Elka Pangestu menyatakan Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus (KEK) di Kota Dumai tahun ini bisa diwujudkan, karena saat ini pihaknya dan DPR-RI sedang membahas KEK Dumai itu.

‘’Kita sudah menerima proposalnya, saat ini kami bersama DPR RI masih membahasnya rancangan Undang Undang (UU) pembentukan itu, mudah-mudahan dalam tahun 2009 ini UU itu selesai dibahas dan KEK di Kota Dumai bisa diwujudkan,’’ tuturnya usai me-launching minyak goreng Minyakita di Pekanbaru, Rabu (11/2).

Dikatakan, sarana dan prasarana untuk mendukung KEK Dumai memang sudah ada, akan tetapi semuanya harus dilihat secara menyeluruh mengenai potensi-potensi yang lainnya. ‘’Kita mendapatkan laporan untuk sarana dan prasarananya sudah ada, tetapi kita harus melihatnya secara menyeluruh,’’ tutur menteri.

Menjawab apakah untuk Kota Dumai akan dikembangkan menjadi Free Trade Zone (FTZ), Menteri Elka mengatakan, dalam UU baru tidak ada istilah FTZ. Yang ada hanya KEK dengan berbagai karakteristik yang sebetulnya serupa dengan FTZ, dimana barang bisa keluar masuk dengan mudah.

Matangkan KID
Dalam pada itu, Mendag juga berkunjung langsung ke Kawasan Industri Dumai (KID) yang berada di kawasan Pelintung, Rabu (11/2). Dalam kunjungannya, Mendag RI yang didampingi oleh Gubri HM Rusli Zaenal dan romongan tiba di Bandara Pinang Kampai (KP) sekitar pukul 11.55 WIB.

Rombongan langsung disambut oleh Wakil Wali Kota Dumai dr H Sunaryo, Dandim 0303 Bengkalis Letkol (kav) Hendrawan, Kejari Dumai Radja Nafrizal, dan unsur Muspida lainnya.

‘’Ini lokasinya strategis dan perlu terus dimatangkan persiapan agar KID segera terwujud,” ujar Menteri Elka.

Pada kesempatan itu pihak Wilmar Group sempat mempresentasikan keberadan dan potensi KID. Pesentasi berlangsung di ruang VIP Wilmar Group yang terletak di KID. Presentase diberikan langsung oleh Dirut Wilmar Group, Hendri Sakti dan GM Marketing Wilmar Indonesia, Max Ramajaya.

Dalam presentasi itu, Gubri HM Rusli Zainal MP juga memberikan gambaran, sekitar kesiapan pemerintah daerah untuk mewujudkan semua itu, karena selain melihat geografis, berdekatan dengan negara tetangga, Dumai juga saat ini sedang berkembang.

Menanggapi hal tersebut Mendag mengatakan bahwa saat ini masih perlu persiapan-persiapan yang matang. Dibutuhkan apa yang dinamakan infrastruktur yang lengkap untuk menunjang aktivitas KID itu sendiri.

‘’Jika melihat negara-negara yang sangat dekat dengan Kota Dumai, memang seperti segi tiga, kedekatan ketiga negaran saat ini, yakni Malaysia, Singapura dan Negara Indonesia, sangat memberikan kesempatan untuk melakukan aktivitas kerja sama,’’ kata Mary.

Lebih lanjut ia mengatakan bahwa karena ini baru persiapan, ke depan dibutuhkan SDM yang tangguh. Selain itu kata Mendag lagi, jika dilihat dari sisi positifnya keberadaan KID itu tentu akan menyerap tenaga kerja, dengan demikian nanti akan dapat mengurangi pengangguran. Selain itu nanti pasti akan ada orang yang mau menginvestasikan modalnya di KID.

Sesuai agenda, rombongan Mendag mengelilingi hampir seluruh Kota Dumai, Mendag juga sempat meninjau Pelabuhan Ro-Ro, Pelindo, dan mengelilingi Kota Dumai, untuk melihat geliat pembangunan kota saat ini.

Setelah usai melakukan peninjauan, di VIP Bandara PK Mendag dan Gubri menyempatkan waktu selama lebih kurang 10 menit kepada pers, dan setelah itu Gubri dan Mendag bertolak ke Pekanbaru.

Harga Gula
Sisi lain menteri menjelaskan terkaitnya mahalnya harga jual gula saat ini. Menurut menteri, kenaikan harga gula disebabkan oleh dua faktor musiman. Pertama, saat ini tidak musim giling kedua karena ada gangguan banjir dan sebagainya.

‘’Kapal-kapal terganggu dalam mendistribusikan dan distribusi di darat juga mengalami hal yang sama,’’ kata menteri.

Semoga setelah ini berakhir, harga kembali normal. ‘’Tapi di daerah-daerah yang harganya tinggi sudah dibicarakan dengan PTPN untuk menggelar Operasi Pasar (OP). Apakah di Riau akan dilakukan OP masih dipelajari,’’ kata menteri.(men)

Mimihitam

February 13th, 2009, 11:28 AM

Publik di Indonesia lebih yakin hadapi krisis

oleh : Erna S. U. Girsang

Persepsi masyarakat terhadap krisis di setiap negara tentu beragam. Tingkat kecemasan ataupun kepercayaan terhadap dunia usaha tergantung dari keterkaitan dirinya dengan krisis itu sendiri.

Kalau Anda korban PHK, boleh jadi Anda menyimpulkan sekarang ini sudah terjadi depresi, atau peristiwa yang lebih dalam dari resesi. Sebaliknya, jika karier Anda sekarang ini justru berada pada puncaknya, bisa saja Anda menyimpulkan saat ini belum terjadi krisis apalagi resesi ataupun depresi.

Sejauh mana persepsi publik dalam menyikapi krisis global saat ini? Hasil penelitian Edelman Trust Barometer 2009 mengungkapkan kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap dunia usaha di Indonesia ternyata masih tinggi, bahkan di atas rata-rata tingkat kepercayaan terhadap bisnis global.

Sebanyak 66% responden menyatakan percaya dunia usaha di Indonesia telah melakukan hal yang benar. Angka ini jauh di atas tingkat kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap dunia usaha pada sejumlah negara di dunia.

Jika dibandingkan, hasil survei dengan metode sama menunjukkan hanya 2% respoden yang mengaku percaya dengan dunia usaha di Amerika Serikat, sedangkan 77% responden mengatakan kurang percaya.

Di Eropa kepercayaan terhadap dunia usaha hanya muncul dari 2% dari total responden, dan 66% mengatakan kurang percaya.

Dunia usaha di Brasil, Rusia, India dan China-kerap disebut BRIC-dinilai lebih baik dibandingkan dengan AS dan Eropa, tetapi masih jauh di bawah Indonesia, karena hanya didukung oleh 14% respoden.

Sementara itu, sebanyak 12% responden mengatakan percaya dunia usaha di kawasan Asia Pasifik melakukan hal yang benar, sedangkan sebanyak 59% responden kurang percaya.

"Secara umum, responden Indonesia memperlihatkan optimistis yang lebih tinggi terhadap dunia usaha dibandingkan dengan negara lain," jelas Bambang Chriswanto, Wakil Presiden IndoPacific Edelman, menjelaskan kesimpulan penelitian itu, kemarin.

Secara global, survei Edelman Trust Barometer (ETB) ini sudah dilakukan 10 kali, termasuk ETB 2009.

Adapun survei terhadap Indonesia merupakan kali pertama. ETB melibatkan 4.475 responden dari 20 negara, termasuk 1.375 respoden di 6 negara di Asia Pasifik dan 200 responden di Indonesia.

Adalah Sofjan Wanandi, Ketua Umum Asosiasi Pengusaha Indonesia, yang menyambut positif hasil survei ini, meskipun dia mengingatkan krisis keuangan global masih memukul dunia usaha di Indonesia.

Bahkan, jika tidak ada perbaikan yang signifikan pada tahun ini, potensi pemangkasan tenaga kerja di sektor industri mencapai 1,5 juta orang.

"Setidaknya, masyarakat percaya meskipun mengalami kerugian akibat krisis global, pelaku usaha di Indonesia masih menerapkan etika bisnis yang benar, tidak mencari untung sendiri," jelasnya kepada Bisnis.

Menurutnya, hasil survei ini dapat memberikan gambaran pemahaman kepada masyarakat mengenai kesulitan pelaku usaha saat ini.

Meskipun kepercayaan terhadap dunia usaha masih tinggi, penelitian itu juga menunjukkan adanya gejala awal menurunnya kepercayaan terhadap pimpinan perusahaan, khususnya CEO.

Sebagai imbasnya, peran regulasi dalam mengawasi prilaku dunia usaha di berbagai sektor industri, khususnya perbankan perlu ditingkatkan.

Dalam survei ini, para responden juga meminta pemerintah memperketat aturan mengatasi prilaku CEO dan sejumlah eksekutif perusahaan.

Saran responden lain, pengusaha diharapkan memperkuat kerja sama dengan stakeholder melalui komunikasi yang transparan, serta memperkuat kerja sama dengan pemerintah dalam merespons krisis global.

Peran media

Ada hasil yang cukup menarik dari survei ETB di Indonesia. Survei yang dilakukan pada akhir 2008 itu menunjukkan media massa di Indonesia merupakan institusi sosial yang paling dipercaya masya-rakat.

Peringkat kedua diduduki oleh perusahaan di luar media massa dengan dukungan 62% respoden.

"Sebanyak 77% responden di Indonesia menempatkan media sebagai lembaga yang paling dipercaya untuk melakukan hal yang benar," kata Chadd McLisky, Chairperson IndoPacific Edelman, di tempat yang sama.

Dia berpendapat hasil penelitian ini memberikan makna penting bagi media di Indonesia.

Berdasarkan sektor, sebanyak 88% responden menilai sektor teknologi merupakan industri paling dipercaya melakukan hal yang benar.

Di tingkat global, tingkat kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap sektor teknologi hanya mencapai 76%.

Sementara itu, sebanyak 82% responden menilai sektor perbankan di Indonesia dapat dipercaya, meskipun hampir semua bank di dunia sedang mengalami pembatasan kredit akibat keterbatasan dana dan tingginya potensi kredit macet. Angka itu jauh di atas tingkat kepercayaan terhadap perbankan global, yang hanya didukung oleh 47% responden.

"Optimisme dari hasil survei itu memberikan sentimen positif bagi Indonesia. Betapa tidak, di tengah ketidakpastian yang harus dihadapi pada 2009, masih ada kepercayaan dari masyarakat terhadap dunia usaha di Indonesia," tambah Sofjan.

Tidak hanya sektor teknologi dan perbankan, tujuh sektor lain yang menjadi indikator survei juga menunjukkan kepercayaan terhadap Indonesia di atas rata-rata kepercayaan dan harapan bagi dunia usaha internasional.

Tingkat kepercayaan terhadap sektor bioteknologi Indonesia mencapai 78%, sedangkan rata-rata dunia 65%, sektor farmasi Indonesia 71% dan rata-rata global hanya 53%. Hal yang sama terjadi di sektor lain yang menjadi indikator survei, yaitu media massa dan komunikasi, energi dan pertambangan, manufaktur serta asuransi.

Bagaimana peran pemerintah dalam menciptakan kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap dunia usaha. Hasil survei itu menilai pemerintah kurang terlibat dalam pengawasan dan mendukung pelaku usaha.

"Sejalan dengan mulai terasanya efek krisis keuangan global di Indonesia, kami melihat adanya peningkatan dukungan responden terhadap pemerintah untuk lebih terlibat mendukung dan mengawasi dunia usaha," papar McLisky.

Sebanyak 74% responden mendukung gagasan pemerintah perlu meningkatkan dukungan dan memperketat aturan terhadap perbankan dan industri keuangan, sedangkan 26% mendukung pelaksanaan pasar bebas.

Responden memiliki ekspektasi tinggi agar perusahaan lebih agresif merespons isu global, seperti perubahan iklim, biaya energi, layanan kesehatan yang terjangkau, serta menyelesaikan krisis keuangan, meskipun pihak yang paling bertanggung jawab dalam mengatasi isu sosial adalah pemerintah. (erna.girsang@bisnis.co.id)

http://web.bisnis.com/artikel/2id1960.html

Mimihitam

February 16th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Presiden kita dan Indonesia kita

http://www.indonesia.com/w/images/110.jpg

Sudah terlalu lama saya tidak menulis artikel dengan bahasa indonesia. Masa masa pemilu gini, memang paling semangat kalau ngomongin siapa yang menang, dan siapa yang kalah. Tapi, maaf saja, kalau ngomongin partai politik, saya males banget, never ever ever ever deh. Dalam banyak hal, partai partai politik kita nggak kenal sopan santun, bikin rakyat bingung (dan pengin muntah), dan ngabisin anggaran negara, bikin pemandangan kota jadi rusak karena bendera bendera, bikin jalanan macet karena pawai pawai, bikin kuping meledak karena knalpot dan otaknya sengaja dibocorin. Mari ngomongin pemimpin bangsa saja, ya..presiden. Ini sepenuhnya pendapat pribadi.

Sejak reformasi, saya rasa kepemimpinan SBY-Kalla, disetujui atau tidak (gak penting bagi saya) adalah yang paling baik, dibanding sebelum2nya. Pembangunan mulai terasa, ekonomi tumbuh, image kita mulai baik di mata dunia, pariwisata juga baik, pertanian baik, GDP paling tinggi sepanjang sejarah, cadangan devisa juga paling tinggi sepanjang masa. Di ASEAN, tetangga tetangga indonesia mulai "tunduk", dan mulai kembali memandang indonesia secara defacto adalah pemimpin di ASEAN.

Gak percaya? percayalah, saya sekarang ada di Cambodia, dan sudah keliling asia tenggara sejak setahun terakhir. Dalam sebuah percakapan dengan seorang petinggi di pemerintahan di salah satu negara ASEAN (saya gak akan bilang dari negara mana), dia bilang ..Malaysia and Singapore are (has been) competing each other to be the ASEAN leader, just like Indonesia under Soeharto, and you can see, ASEAN is really messy now. I personally miss Indonesia to lead this big organization. Big organization needs big leadership.

SBY-Kalla, dengan timnya, adalah kombinasi terbaik dari pilihan pilihan yang ada. Sri Mulyani, dinobatkan menjadi menteri keuangan terbaik di ASIA selama 2 kali, Marie Elka Pangestu, juga diberi penghargaan yang membanggakan, Menteri Luar Negeri kita, Hassan Wirayuda, sangat dihormati diluar negeri karena pendekatannya yang soft, yet brilliant. Lalu Menteri pertahanan kita yang begitu pandai membaca geopolitik, meski sering komplain. Banyak yang lain...

MAjalah TIME pernah memuat, betapa INDONESIA telah menjadi emerging power di Asia, namun ada hal hal kecil yang membuat Indonesia masih belum mampu memanfaatkan seluruh potensinya. Kata seorang wartawan al-jazeera, saat ini,indonesia hanya memakai kurang dari 35% kekuatan terpendamnya, dan dia bilang bahwa bisa jadi kita gak sadar, kita mempunyai remaining potentials sebanyak 65% yang belum digunakan.

Mertua saya yang orang SIngapura, berkali kali menyatakan bahwa kalau kita BETUL BETUL memakai potensi kita, maka besarlah kita. Saya kadang tidak mengerti, bagaimana orang orang SIngapura begitu mencintai bangsa Indonesia. Saya pernah melihat seorang singapura menangis ketika melihat berita berita kriminal di BUSER, melihat orang yang lain begitu bersemangatnya memberi semangat pada saya untuk tetap menatap ke depan.

Seorang Thailand, pernah berujar pada saya, thailand pernah berencana memperkuat tentaranya, karena ingin menyaingi kekuatan dan kemampuan tentara Indonesia..sebelum akhirnya menyerah, dan berkata "Do not challenge Mike Tyson if you are only a small boy".

Saya tidak habis pikir, bagaimana mungkin media media kita, TV TV kita, nggak pernah berhenti,nggak pernah capek, menyiarkan berita berita yang bahkan membuat orang indonesia sendiri meragukan bangsanya. Bagaimana mungkin, TV TV kita, mencemari otak otak kita sepanjang waktu, dan kita tidak berbuat apa apa.

http://www.myindonesia.co.nr/

tollfreak

February 16th, 2009, 12:01 PM

Sudan’s trade with RI surges above 200 percent in 2008

Veeramalla Anjaiah , The Jakarta Post | Mon, 02/16/2009 10:17 AM | World

With increasing pressure from the western countries over the Darfur issue, Sudan is moving closer eastward by establishing strong relations with Asian giants such as China, India and Indonesia. Sudanese Ambassador to Indonesia Ibrahim Bushra Mohamed Ali, an articulate and polished career diplomat with an excellent command of French and English, recently talked to The Jakarta Post’s Veeramalla Anjaiah in detail about the growing relations between the two countries. The following are excerpts from the interview.
Question: What is the present state of relations between Sudan and Indonesia?

Answer: Our relations with Indonesia are good and they are developing [constantly]. They are witnessing considerable progress in all fields of cooperation, but despite this improvement, some areas deserve more effort and attention. For example, it is my conviction that economic cooperation is an area of great potential and both countries can achieve tangible results in this area for the benefit of the people of the two countries
It is a time when both countries are stressing for greater bilateral cooperation in the economic field. Bilateral trade grew by more than 200 percent last year. Could you throw some light on the growing economic ties?

The recent increase in the volume of trade and commercial exchange between the two countries was the result of both countries’ efforts in the past few years. These efforts are aimed at encouraging the movement and activities of the private sector and businesspeople in both countries. From our side, we have reactivated the role of private sector in our trade.

Our bilateral trade increased to $781.39 million in the first 10 months of 2008, from $242.50 million in the same period in 2007.

But I can say what has been achieved is far less than our expectation and the potential of our countries. We are now trying to increase the volume of trade between the two countries by increasing the interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.

So I am glad to say that now the Indonesian market is very well-known to Sudanese businesspeople. Furthermore, one of our plans is to encourage the participation of businesspeople in commercial exhibitions in both countries. For instance, Sudanese businesspeople participated at the Indonesian Trade Expo in October 2008. Indonesian businesspeople are now participating in the 25th Session of the International Fair of Khartoum.

We are also planning to reactivate the Joint Indonesian-Sudanese Business Council to boost our economic ties.

What are the main export and import items?

We mainly sell our oil to Indonesia. We buy furniture, car batteries, cement and paper. We are also planning to buy 300 locomotives from Indonesia.

What about the investment climate in Sudan?

I am glad to mention the new Sudanese investment code is very attractive and encouraging. It offers excellent opportunities for foreign investors.

We have already Indonesian investments in Sudan. Indonesian state oil and gas company PT Pertamina and private company PT Medco Energi International are already exploring oil in Sudan. The cooperation in the energy sector is very promising.

We want to invite Indonesian investors to invest in Sudan. We need foreign investment to build mainly national highways and railway lines.

How does Indonesia figure in Sudan’s foreign policy?

Indonesia is the biggest Muslim-majority country. It has considerable weight in the region as well as in international politics. The Indonesian economy is now looked at as one of the important emerging economies in the world.

Taking into consideration these facts and the common values between the two countries, I think it is very natural that our relations with Indonesia are seen by our policymakers as one of the strategic relations in our foreign policy. We are keen to promote and strengthen these relations for the benefit of the two friendly countries and peoples.

Indonesia has sent 130 police officers to Darfur under the banner of the United Nations. What is your comment on this?

It is true Indonesia sent 130 police officers in October 2008 as part of its 140-member Formed Police Unit. Indonesia did it because it is keen to see security and stability prevails in Darfur and in Sudan. The presence of these forces in Darfur is a clear manifestation of the excellent relations between the two countries.

The people in Darfur welcomed and accepted the presence of Indonesian police, because Indonesians are very friendly and they respect local customs. If the Indonesian government decides to send more police to Sudan, the government will definitely welcome this gesture.
What is your perception of Indonesian people and their culture?

Since my arrival in Indonesia last year, I felt the Indonesian people and the Sudanese people have much in common. Both people are open, hospitable, nice, pacifist. Both people love to have contact and relationships with friends and foreigners.

Moreover, as a multiethnic and multicultural country, I think Indonesia enjoys a very rich diversified culture that needs to be explored.

What is your main mission in Indonesia?

My mission is to promote and enhance Sudanese-Indonesian relations in all domains. Of course we have a set of priorities in this regard. For instance, we are now making efforts to boost economic and cultural cooperation. It’s my conviction that both fields are of great potential.

It is also worth mentioning that both sides have agreed to convene the second session of the Technical Commission in the very near future in Khartoum. It will be a good forum to discuss and review bilateral cooperation and strengthen relations.

rilham2new

February 16th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Perkiraan di akhir tahun 2009, ekonomi RIAU hanya tumbuh 7.5% saja :ohno:

Tidak hanya itu, di akhir tahun 2008, ekonomi RIAU juga jatuh ke posisi 7.7% saja ... :ohno:

Padahal di akhir tahun 2007, ekonomi Riau pernah menyentuh 8.25% :nuts:
Ekonomi Pekanbaru lagi bombastis, di tahun yang sama Riau dapat angka 8.25%, Pekanbaru berhasil menyentuh 8.9% :nuts: ..

Tapi jatuhnya ini sudah bisa diduga, karena ekspor minyak bumi, kelapa sawit, dan kertas yang masih menjadi andalan Riau. itu smuanya lagi jatuh sebagai dampak krisis global.

Ohya, Riau adalah penghasil MINYAK BUMI Nomor 1 di Indonesia. Penghasil Kelapa Sawit Nomor 1 di Indonesia, dan penghasil KERTAS Nomor 1 di Indonesia :) ... Cuman sekedar ngasih tahu, doank :p .. kali aja ada yang gak tahu .... :D

Riau dan Kepulauan Riau adalah provinsi di Indonesia yang punya ketergantungan terhadap pasar ekspor yang sangat-sangat tinggi .. terlebih di Riau daratan, pasaran ekspor yang kita maksud adalah pasar bahan2 mentah :nuts: .. Yang harganya fluktuatif.. Hal ini menyebabkan, pemain di sektor ini tidak banyak, sangat sedikit. Tapi pemain tersebut betul2 besar .... (ketika aku bilang besar, berarti memang besar).

Sebut saja.
1. PT. CHEVRON PACIFIC INDONESIA (memproduksi 60% minyak bumi di Indonesia) .. Kapasitas produksi 600 ribu barrel per hari.
2. PT. RIAU ANDALAN PULP PAPER (produsen kertas PaperONE, kualitas ekspor .... TERBESAR DI INDONESIA, salah satu terbesar di ASIA PASIFIK), kepunyaan APRIL Group, pokoknya ada nama2 SUKANTO TANOTO di dalamnya :D
3. PT. INDAH KIAT PULP PAPER (produsen kertas INDAHKIAT, TERBESAR Nomor 2 di Indonesia, salah satu terbesar di ASIA PASIFIK) ... kepunyaan SINARMAS Group ...

=== Dari RIAUPOS
Ekonomi Riau Tumbuh 7,5 Persen
Selasa, 10 Pebruari 2009
PEKANBARU (RP)- Meski perlambatan ekonomi global mempengaruhi ekonomi nasional termasuk Riau namun pertumbuhan tetap ada. Pertumbuhan ekonomi di 2008 diperkirakan 7,7 persen atau melambat dibandingkan 2007 8,25 persen.

2009, diperkirakan ekonomi Riau tetap tumbuh meski sedikit melambat yakni 6,5 persen hingga 7,5 persen.

“Kondisi ini disebabkan lesunya pertumbuhan ekonomi mitra dagang sehingga menurunkan nilai ekspor komoditas utama Riau yakni CPO, Pulp dan kertas,” ujar Pemimpin Bank Indonesia Cabang Pekanbaru, Gatot Sugiono. Hal itu diungkapkannya dalam pertemuan tahunan BI yang dihadiri Wakil Gubernur Riau Drs HR Mambang Mit dan para bankir serta kalangan pengusaha, Senin (9/2) malam.

Menurut Gatot, hal ini menunjukkan bahwa perkembangan ekonomi di Riau tetap menggembirakan. Adapun laju inflasi pada 2008 (yoy) mencapai 9,02 persen. Meski demikian angka ini lebih rendah dibanding inflasi nasional, 11,06 persen. 2009, lanjutnya lagi, laju inflasi Riau diharapkan dapat dipertahankan di bawah inflasi nasional.

Pincab BI itu mengatakan bahwa optimisme itu bukan tanpa alasan. Optimisme itu sesuai dengan pertimbangan bahwa sejak keluarnya SK Gubri tentang pembentukan Tim Pengendalian Inflasi Daerah (TPID) Provinsi Riau yang beranggotakan Bank Indonesia, Bappeda, BPS, Dishub, Dinas Perindustrian Perdagangan serta Perum Bulog Riau adalah bentuk sinergi yang cukup kuat.

“Perlu kami informasikan bahwa TPID Riau ini merupakan tim yang pertama di Indonesia, dibentuk secara formal berdasarkan SK KDH,” ujarnya lagi. Lewat tim ini, diharapkan angka inflasi terkendali, rendah dan stabil.

Pada kesempatan itu dengan disaksikan oleh Wagubri juga dilakukan penandatanganan nota kesepahaman antara tiga lembaga yakni BI Pekanbaru, Iwapi Riau oleh Ketuanya Irma Rafidhah Rahman dan dari PT Riau Consultan Global Detri Karya yang bersinergi membantu usaha mikro kecil menengah (UMKM) di Riau.

“Lewat kerja sama ini diharapkan persoalan UMKM di Riau yang punya kendala di bidang masing-masing dapat dibantu mengatasinya,” ujar Gatot lagi.(fiz)

Ternyata masih "lumayan" ... angka NON-MIGAS tahun ini gak jatuh2 amat ...

RIAU Penghasil 60% minyak bumi nasional tergantung kepada MIGAS ????

Kata siapa, wak ??? LIhat sektor ekonomi Non-Migas berkembang pesat bahkan sampe di level 8.06% :nuts:

Ck ck ck ... Riau sudah mulai beralih nih gak cuman kawasan yang sekedar mengandalkan minyak :D ... Harap2 nanti ketika Minyak Bumi habis ... Perekonomian Riau sudah sangat mandiri :p~ ... Hari ini juga Rakyat RIau sudah dididik untuk seperti itu karena DANA BAGI HASIL Minyak Bumi cuman 85:15 (Pusat : Daerah) ..

Padahal industri Riau dan perekonomian Riau sering disangka dalam keadaan terkapar karena krisis listrik, ehh gak tahunya masih tumbuh dalam angka "lumayan" tinggi juga :nuts:

Dari RIAUTERKINI ...
Senin, 16 Pebruari 2009 17:06
Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Riau Tanpa Migas Capai 8,06 Persen

Pertumbuhan ekonomi Riau tanpa migas capai 8,06 persen. Pertumbuhan terjadi di semua sektor. Tertinggi adalah sektor pertambangan dan penggalian.

Riauterkini-PEKANBARU-Kepala BPS Riau, Irland Indrocahyo kepada Riauterkini senin (16/2) mengatakan bahwa pertumbuhan ekonomi Riau tanpa migas selama tahun 2008 terjadi pada semua sektor. Pertumbuhan tertinggi terjadi pada sektor pertambangan dan penggalian sebesar 18,13 %.

Selama 2008, Product Domestik Regional Bruto (PDRB) tanpa migas atas dasar harga berlaku sebesar Rp 149,125 triliun. Sedangkan PDRB atas dasar harga konstan 2000 sebesar Rp 42,6 triliun.

“Pertumbuhan juga terjadi di sektor keuangan, persewaan dan jasa perusahaan sebesar 13,65 persen, sektorabangunan sebesar 11,14 % dan sektor pengangkutan dan komunikasi sebesar 10,45 %. Sedangkan sektor pendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi Riau adalah sektor pertanian, perkebunan, peternakan, kehutanan dan perikanan dengan sumbangan sebesar 1,80 %, sektor perdagangan, hotel dan restoran 1,69 %, sektor industri pengolahan 1,58% dan sektor jasa-jasa sebesar 0,94%,” terang Irland.

Menurut Irland, struktur ekonomi Riau tanpa migas pada triwulan IV 2008 ditandai dengan sumbangan terbesar berasal dari pengeluaran konsimsi rumah tangga sebesar 51,47%. Diikuti ekspor 45,42% dan investasi fisik atau pembentukan modal tetap[ bruto sebesar 19,64%.

Laju pertumbuhan ekonomi Riau tanpa migas tahun 2008 tersebut didorong oleh pengeluaran konsumsi rumah tangga sebesar 8,00 %, pembentukan modal tetap bruto 8,82%, pengeluaran konsumsi rumah tangga sebesar 8,21 % dan ekspor 6,03 %. Sementara import tumbuh sebesar 11 %.***(H-we)

=NaNdA=

February 16th, 2009, 04:38 PM

Jum'at, 13 Februari 2009
EKONOMI
KRISIS GLOBAL: Ekonomi RI Masuk Tiga Terbaik Asia :okay:

JAKARTA (Lampost): Perekonomian Indonesia pada tahun ini masih termasuk yang lumayan di Asia. Di kawasan Asia, hanya tiga negara yang diperkirakan pertumbuhan ekonominya masih positif, dan satu di antaranya adalah Indonesia. "Sampai saat ini posisi kita relatif baik, di Asia hanya tiga negara yang pertumbuhannya positif yaitu China, India, dan Indonesia. Sementara Malaysia 0% dan yang lainnya negatif," kata Gubernur Bank Indonesia (BI) Boediono dalam rapat kerja dengan Panitia Anggaran DPR di Gedung DPR Jakarta, Kamis (12-2).

Dalam rapat tersebut Boediono menceritakan hasil pertemuan bank sentral se-Asia Pasifik yang dihadirinya beberapa waktu lalu di Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Suasana yang ditangkap dari pertemuan itu, hampir semua bank sentral, situasi global tampaknya lebih buruk dari yang dibayangkan, dan pemburukannya akan semakin sangat cepat. Jadi saat ini mereka memikirkan bagaimana memperkuat ketahanan masing-masing negara," kata Boediono.

Oleh karena itu, menurut Boediono, Indonesia perlu meningkatkan kewaspadaan karena dampak krisis ekonomi global yang datang berangsur-angsur. "Kita perlu siapkan diri menghadapi krisis yang mungkin lebih dalam dan panjang, jadi perkuat stamina," kata dia.

Asumsi pertumbuhan ekonomi 2009 Indonesia menurut BI adalah 4%--5%. Dengan downside risk atau risiko ke bawah cukup besar. Inflasi 2009 diperkirakan 5%--7%, suku bunga SBI tiga bulan adalah 7,5%, dan nilai tukar rupiah Rp11 ribu/dolar AS.

Dalam menjaga ketahanan negara dari ancaman situasi krisis ekonomi global yang terjadi, Bank Indonesia mengatakan ada tiga hal yang menjadi kunci langkah. "Pertama melonggarkan kebijakan moneter, semua negara melakukan itu dan negara yang cadangan devisanya kuat akan cepat melonggarkan, seperti AS di mana seluruh uang yang beredar adalah cadangan devisa, sehingga bank sentralnya menurunkan suku bunga hampir ke 0%," kata dia.

Boediono mengatakan negara-negara seperti Indonesia yang punya dua masalah likuiditas yang perlu dikendalikan yaitu mata uang lokal dan mata uang cadangan devisa, akan lebih hati-hati melonggarkan kebijakan moneternya. "Hal kedua ialah memperkuat sektor perbankan karena macam-macam masalahnya, ada negara yang perbankannya mandek atau tidak mengucurkan kredit."

Kemudian hal ketiga adalah stimulus fiskal, di mana dikatakan Boediono hampir semua negara menerapkan stimulus fiskal dan ini sangat penting. "Stimulus fiskal sangat penting dan tidak bisa kita tinggalkan. BI mendukung usulan pemerintah untuk persetujuan Dewan untuk paket stimulus fiskal," ujar dia. n E-1

Hadi

February 17th, 2009, 07:31 PM

Sebulan Cadangan Devisa Kurang USD 10 Miliar
SOS! Rupiah Didorong Terjun ke Level 15.000

Jakarta- Terjawab sudah kenapa posisi rupiah sangat volatile belakangan ini. Ternyata, ini ulah Menkeu Sri Mulyani Indrawati dan Gubernur BI Boediono yang menginginkan agar rupiah bisa tergerus hingga ke posisi 15.000 per USD.

Hal ini diutrakan pengamat ekonomi, Iman Sugema dalam acara diskusi bulanan 'Hancurnya Kapitalisme' yang diadakan Institute for Policy Studies di Hotel Ambara, Kamis (13/11/2008). "Rupiah ini sudah digiring pemerintah ke level Rp 15.000 per USD," ujarnya.

Yang dimaksud pemerintah di sini adalah Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani Indrawati dan Gubernur BI Boediono. "Ini dilakukan supaya ada alasan bagi Sri Mulyani dan Boediono untuk mendatangkan IMF," tandasnya.

Hal ini juga terlihat pada cadangan devisa yang berkurang USD 10 miliar dalam sebulan (dari September ke Oktober). Ini akan berbahaya jika IMF sampai berkuasa lagi di Indonesia. Berdasarkan pengalaman beberapa waktu lalu, kebijakan IMF terbukti membahayakan Indonesia.

Ini bisa dilihat dari beberapa kebijakan IMF yang sama sekali tidak sesuai dengan keinginan masyarakat, yaitu privatisasi BUMN, market liberalisasi, pencabutan subsidi, dan pasar bebas.

Jadi, inilah caranya agar IMF bisa masuk kembali ke Indonesia. Sebab, jika pemerintahan kuat, IMF tidak akan punya alasan datang. "Kemungkinan IMF masuk tidak semata-mata by accident, tapi by disign. Dengan masuknya IMF, Indonesia menjadi terbagi-bagi dan dikavling-kavling."

Plt Menko Perekonomian yang juga Menteri Keuangan, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, awal September lalu ditunjuk menjadi salah satu anggota komite reformasi internal Dana Moneter Internasional (IMF).

Dengan tugas itu, Sri diminta untuk memberikan proposal reformasi dalam memperbaiki kredibilitas institusi yang berbasis di Washington itu. [Inilah.com/bj2]

This Article from surabayapost.info
Apa ini benar????? kalo sampe iya, bener2 dah ga ada pemikiran yang baik buat negara ini dua orang itu

VRS

February 18th, 2009, 03:11 AM

pls...check double check ur source news information again...
are that source has confirm that Sri Mulyani & Budiono have same opinion like that..??

yudz83

February 18th, 2009, 05:25 AM

Indonesia`s per capita income up 24% in 2008

Jakarta, (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia's per capita income rose 24 per cent to US$2,271 in 2008 from US$1,942 in 2007 with Gross Domestic Product at Rp4,954 trillion (US$450 billion) based on current prices.

Last year, the country's GDP based on constant prices of 2000 reached Rp2,082.1 trillion, head of the central bureau of Statistics Rusman Heriawan said.

The country's per capita income is still far below those of neighboring countries - Malaysia at US$6,948, Singapore at US$30,000, Thailand at US$3,737 and China at US$2,460, the newspaper Investor Daily said.

The country's per capita income has increased significantly in the past five years from US$1,186.2 in 2004.

Source:
Business in Asia Today - Feb. 17, 2009
published by <a href="http://www.asiapulse.com">Asia Pulse</a>

David-80

February 18th, 2009, 06:26 AM

Apa ini benar????? kalo sampe iya, bener2 dah ga ada pemikiran yang baik buat negara ini dua orang itu

artikel politik....tolong Hadi, lain kali post sumber nya yg credible, bukan yg kacangan kayak gitu...

pake logika...kalo menkeu mau rupiah turun sampe 15,000, ngapain sampe intervene dollar ....sampe2 reserves nya kekuras banyak buat senjata vs US dollar....dan artikel itu terlalu berlebihan....forex reserves nya ga sampe turun 10 milyar....turun 5 milyar aja sudah alarming buat capital negara kita....

cheers

=NaNdA=

February 18th, 2009, 06:40 AM

biasa mau PEMILU, kan Sri Mulyani kabarnya calon Wapres.. :D

rilham2new

February 18th, 2009, 08:10 AM

Ini nih berita HOT !! :D hahahaa

Gila yaa,, ternyata CPI udah memasuki prestasi 11 Miliar Barrel Produksi :nuts:

Makjanngggg .... Besarnya .... 11 Miliar Barrel itu. Awalnya aku bingung, dalam rangka apa Menteri ESDM PURNOMO YUSGIANTORO, ke Pekanbaru kali ini ...... EHhh. ternyata untuk meresmikan Prestasi 11 Miliar barrel, toh :cheers: .. dan seingat aku, PURNOMO YUSGIANTORO ini tergolong sering juga jalan ke Riau :p~ ... Kenapa, pak ?? Mengamankan posisi pemerintah pusat di Riau, ya ??? :naughty: ... Tenang, pak ... kami belum niat mau merdeka kayak Aceh. :D

Dan aku baru tahu kalau ternyata UNIT PRODUKSI CHEVRON di seluruh dunia, gak ada yang pernah mencapai prestasi sebesar ini. Yang dikelola CHEVRON itu berapa banyak sih :tongue2: ... Kan baru tahun 2004-2005 ke atas kalau gak salah .... Dulu itu namanya CALTEX PACIFIC INDONESIA.

Masih jadi Produsen Minyak terbesar di Indonesia ????? Jadi ladang minyak duri udah 11 Miliar ???? Kok cepat banget, ya ????

Kendati ladang minyak DURI (terbesar di Indonesia) baru dibuka tahun 1952, sebenarnya ada ladang minyak MINAS yang sudah dibuka sejak tahun 1940-an.

EHh. ngomong2 Pertumbuhan ekonomi Provinsi Riau tanpa MIGAS tahun 2008 kemaren berada di kisaran 8.06% saja. Tahun ini mungkin agak terkoreksi nih ke 7.7%. Tapi tetep lah THANX TO MINYAK BUMI, karena mampu mempertahankan ekonomi RIAU di level POSITIF waktu krisis ASIA 1998 dulu. Seperti yang kita ketahui bersama dulu, pertumbuhan ekonomi Indonesia dan mayoritas provinsi2 di Indonesia berada di level MINUS. Namun, tidak halnya di Provinsi Riau ;).....

===============================================

Dari RIAUPOS

Rabu, 18 Februari 2009 , 08:14:00
Produksi CPI Capai 11 Miliar Barel

11 MILIAR BAREL: Gubernur Riau HM Rusli Zainal menan-datangani prasasti 11 miliar barel produksi CPI selama 1952-2008 disaksikan Menteri ESDM RI, Purnomo Yusgiantoro di Duri, Selasa (17/2/2009).(said mufti/riau pos)
PEKANBARU (RP)-Kontribusi minyak yang diambil dari perut bumi Riau jadi tulang punggung produksi minyak Indonesia. Dengan lebih dari 50 persen produksi minyak yang dilakukan oleh PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), menempatkan minyak asal Riau sebagai penyumbang produksi minyak negara.

Bahkan PT CPI yang beroperasi di Riau mencatat prestasi produksi kumulatif 1952-2008 mencapai 11 miliar barel.

“Bagi saya angka kumulatif 11 miliar barrel benar-benar penting. Mengapa? karena tidak satu unit bisnis pun di Chevron seluruh dunia yang mencapai ataupun mendekati angka ini,” ujar Presiden Direktur CPI-Indo Asia Business Unit Minas, Indonesia, Suwito Anggoro.

Hal itu diungkapkannya dalam acara perayaan pencapaian produksi kumulatif PT CPI 11 miliar barrel di Golden Barrel Club Minas, Siak, Selasa (17/2). Hadir pada kesempatan itu Menteri ESDM RI, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Gubri HM Rusli Zainal, Kepala BP Migas RI, R Priyono, Dirjen Migas Evita Legowo, Presdir Asia Pacific Exploration and Production, Jim Blackwell dan Managing Director Indo Asia Bussiness Unit Minas, Stve Green.

Pada acara penting itu juga hadir manta Presdir PT CPI sebelumnya yakni Humayunbosha, Baihaki Hakim, Yudiana dan keluarga dari Presdir pertama PT CPI yakni George dan Sjakon Tahija. Dalam sambutannya Presdir PT CPI, Suwito Anggoro mengatakan bahwa apa yang telah dicapai CPI di Riau adalah sebuah prestasi yang gemilang. “Yang kita rayakan hari ini bukan tentang angkanya tetapi tentang manusia dan kerja kerasnya, tentang kemitraan yang saling mengerti dan tentang kinerja yang penuh kesungguhan,” ujarnya lagi. Menurutnya makna di balik angka 11 miliar barrel itu yang pantas dirayakan.

Produksi monumental ini, lanjutnya, tidak semudah membalik telapak tangan, tidak terjadi hanya karena uang dan kemauan namun memerlukan dedikasi, komitmen, kemampuan teknis dan fokus tanpa henti terhadap keselamatan dan efisiensi kerja dari ribuan karyawan.

“Saya bangga bagaimana pemerintah, Chevron dan masyarakat telah bekerja sama untuk menjadi penghasil devisa terbesar untuk Indonesia, mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi nasinal dan regional selama lebih dari lima dasawarsa,” ujarnya lagi. Sumberdaya Migas, lanjutnya, milik rakyat Indonesia dan sebagai kontraktor yang dipercayai mengembangkan sumberdaya ini Chevron telah menjalankannya dengan kesungguhan.

“Hampir setiap hari saya ditelepon oleh Dirjen Migas RI ibu Evita Legowo yang menanyakan kondisi produksi minyak kami. Syukurlah kami mampu menjawabnya dengan prestasi,” ujarnya lagi disambut aplaus hadirin. Suwito juga menjelaskan kebanggan lainnya adalah keungulan operasional dan keahlian teknis tenaga kerja 97 persen adalah SDM Indonesia. “Hanya 3 persen lagi tenaga asing,” ujarnya.

Presdir CPI ini yakin di bawah bumi Sumatera ini masih tersimpan miliaran barel lagi cadangan minyak. “Mungkin teknologi kita hari ini belum bisa mengangkatna ke atas. Namun tidak ada yang tidak mungkin di masa mendatang,” tegasnya.

Di Atas Target
Sementara itu Kepala BP Migas RI, R Priyono memberikan apresiasi atas kinerja PT CPI dengan nilai sangat baik. “Produksi CPI punya pernanan sangat penting dalam mengejar target-target pemerintah Indonesia terkait dengan penerimaan negara,” ujarnya. Bahkan jika ada gangguan operasional sedikit saja maka jumlah produksi minyak nasional bisa anjlok dan mengurangi penerimaan negara.

Priyono mengatakan bahwa dari data yang ada pada mereka mencatat bahwa pencapaian produksi minyak rata-rata tahun 2008 adalah 407,466 barel per hari. Sedangkan hingga 12 Februari 2009 produksi berkisar 393,084 per hari. “Meski ada sedikit penurunan dari 2008 namun upaya CPI meningkatkan produksi di berbagai sumur minyak tua telah mampu memproduksi minyak di atas target yang ditetapkan pemerintah untuk tahun 2009 yakni 380,330 barel per hari,” ujarnya.

Perhatikan Daerah
Sementara itu Gubri HM Rusli Zainal pada kesempatan itu mengatakan bahwa apa yang telah dicapai CPI adalah prestasi yang patut disyukuri. Meski demikian, lanjutnya, ke depan perhatian terhadap daerah hendaknya ditingkatkan.

“Kalau Dirjen Migas selalu telepon soal produksi saya juga rajin telepon ke Presdir CPI untuk meningkatkan corporate social responsibility (CSR),” ujarnya sembari tersenyum. Menurutnya di zaman orde baru Riau terabaikan meski kaya dengan minyak. “APBD Riau termasuk Kepri waktu itu cuma Rp300 miliar,” ujarnya mengenang.

“Dana itu sekarang hanya cukup buat jembatan,” ujarnya lagi. Oleh karena itu, lanjutnya, ke depan kemajuan CPI hendaknya juga memberi kontribusi yang lebih banyak kepada daerah. Apalagi, tambahnya, tahun 2012 mendatang Riau akan jadi tuan rumah PON sehingga memerlukan fasilitas olahraga yang layak untuk pertandingan tingkat nasional.

Sementara itu menteri ESDM, Purnomo Yusgiantoro dalam kesempatan itu atas nama pemerintah menyampaikan apresiasi yang tinggi atas kinerja PT CPI dalam memenuhi target-target yang telah ditetapkan pemerintah. “Ini bukti bahwa dedikasi, komitmen dan kerja keras telah mampu memberikan hasil terbaik,” ujarnya lagi.

Dalam jumpa pers, Purnomo mengungkapkan, ESDM menyetorkan dana sebesar Rp350 triliun ke negara namun yang kembali hanya Rp5 triliun, Rp4 triliun dibagi-bagikan ke daerah dalam bentuk bantuan listrik pedesaan.

Tunggakan Retorasi
Dalam pada itu, di dari Jakarta Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) akan terus mengejar tagihan uang negara dan berencana menagih biaya restorasi pasca eksploitasi migas yang menjadi kewajiban para kontraktor asing. Nilai tunggakannya mencapai US 20 juta dollar.

Wakil Ketua KPK Haryono Umar mengatakan, total kewajiban sejumlah kontraktor asing senilai US 34 juta dollar. Namun, KPK selama ini baru menerima informasi bahwa setoran biaya restorasi baru mencapai US 13,8 juta dollar. ‘’Kami (akan) meminta sisanya segera diserahkan,” jelas Haryono di Gedung KPK, kemarin.

Paling tidak, kata dia, penyerahan itu harus segera dilakukan dalam waktu sebulan hingga dua bulan ke depan. ‘’Kami luwes saja sebulan atau dua bulan ke depan harus segera dikembalikan,’’ terang Haryono. Dana itu harus segera disetorkan kepada rekening bersama yang dikelola Badan Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi (BP Migas) dan Kontrak Karya dan Kerja Sama (KKKS). Rekening bersama itu tercatat di Bank BRI dan BNI.

Haryono mengungkapkan pengembalian dana tersebut harus dibawah pengetahuan Departemen Keuangan (Depkeu). ‘’Depkeu juga harus tahu masalah ini sebab terkait penertiban (anggaran),’’ terang Haryono.

Dia menambahkan biaya restorasi merupakan biaya yang dikenakan sesuai kontrak karya antara kontraktor asing dengan BP Migas. Dana itu digunakan untuk memperbaiki kondisi lingkungan yang rusak pascaekspolitasi minyak dan gas di suatu daerah. Untuk menagih pengembalian ini, komisi juga menggandeng Departemen Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM).(git/agm/jpnn/fiz/hen)

Ada PRO pasti ada KONTRA donk .... Sebenarnya, pembangunan prasasti 11 Miliar barrel ini menyebabkan kalangan elite politik daerah di Riau rada gerah ..... Maklum sajalah, kondisi kelistrikan dan infrastruktur PEMERINTAH PUSAT di Riau ini agak berantakan kondisinya.... Sangat tidak sebanding dengan apa yang telah RIAU Kontribusikan untuk menyeimbangkan APBN.

Maklum sajalah, gimana coba rasa sakitnya PROVINSI PENGHASIL BERAS dan TKI, malah lebih baik kondisi jalan negara dan kelistrikannya dari PROVINSI PENGHASIL MINYAK .... Ada yang aneh ??? NO OFFENSE AT ALL, BECAUSE I REALLY MEAN IT ... IN VERY RUDE WAY ... Asli kesel banget .....

Dari RIAUTERKINI

Selasa, 17 Pebruari 2009 17:17
Prasasti 11 Miliar Barel Produksi Minyak CPI Sakiti Rakyat Riau

PT. CPI membuat prasasti 11 miliar barel pencapaian produksi komulatif minyak. Hal itu menyadarkan betapa besar sumbangsih Riau, namun yang diterima belum seberapa. Menyakitkan!

Riauterkini-PEKANBARU- Terhitung awal Januari 2009 lalu produksi komulatif minyak mentah PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), sejak 1956 di Riau mencapai 11 miliar barel. Pencapaian tersebut diabadikan dalam prasasati yang ditandatangani Menteri Energi Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Kepala Badan Palaksana Kegiatan Hulu Migas R Priono, Gubernur Riau M Rusli Zainal dan Direktur Utama CPI Suwito Anggoro di Minas, Selasa (17/2/09).

Penandatangan prasasti tersebut dinilai Ketua DPRD Riau Johar Firdaus sebagai sikap paradok. Karena prasasti tersebut menyadarakan masyarakat Riau mengenai betapa besar sumbangsih yang telah diberikan untuk kemakmuran bangsa ini, namun tetap saja masyarakat Riau masih banyak yang miskin dan terbelakang. "Menurut saya sikap CPI tersebut sangat paradok. Di sisi lain mereka bangga atas prestasi mampu mencapai produksi hingga 11 miliar barel, namun di sisi lain keberadaannya tak memberikan banyak manfaat bagi kesejahteraan dan kemajuan masyarakat Riau," ujarnya saat berbincang dengan riauterkini di gedung wakil rakyat, Selasa (17/2/09).

Diakui Johar Firdaus, bahwa selama ini CPI telah menggulirkan program community developmen (CD), namun program tersebut belum memberikan manfaat sebagaimana diharap masyarakat Riau. Terlebih belakangan program CD CPI cenderung menurun kualitas dan kuantitasnya. Sebagai contoh, Johar menyebut masih sangat banyak masyarakat yang tinggal di kawasan ladang minyak CPI masih hidup dalam kemiskinan dan keterbelakangan. "Misalnya di Rohil, banyak masyarakat yang tinggal di kawasan ladang minyak CPI masih miskin dan tertinggal," sindirnya.

Terhadap pemerintah pusat, Johar juga berharap agar moment pencapaian produksi 11 miliar barel menjadi titik awal kesadaran, bahwa sudah semestinya Riau menerima lebih dari apa yang telah diberikan kepada bangsa ini. "Perjuangan untuk minta tambah DBH Migas harus direspon, karena faktanya Riau telah memberikan sedemikian besar hasil buminya bagi kesejahteraan bangsa," pintanya.

Penilaian lebih kritis disampaikan budaywan Riau Al Azhar. Menurutnya sikap CPI dari dulu tak berubah. Merasa sebagai perusahaan yang tak memiliki kaitan dengan wilayah dan masyarakat tempatnya melakukan kegiatan usaha. "Mereka (CPI.red) seperti pompa angguk. Terus saja menyedot dan menyedot minyak dari perut bumi, tanpa perduli kalau lingkungan disekitarnya bersemak," sindirnya.

Karena itu Al Azhar menilai pembuatan prasasti pertanda pencapaian produksi 11 miliar barel minyak CPI sangat menyakitkan. "Ini menambah pedih perasaan masyarakat Riau. Terutama saudara kita masyarakat Sakai, yang tanah tumpahnya menjadi lokasi pertambangan Chevron," runtuknya.

Karena itu, Al Azhar mengajak semua pihak untuk menjadikan moment pencapaian produksi minyak CPI ke-11 miliar barel sebagai kesempatan mengkalkulasi ulang sumbangsih Riau dari sumber daya alam. Kemudian mengghitung juga berapa yang telah diterima Riau. "Sekaranglah saatnya semua komponen masyarakat Riau mengkalkulasi ulang sumbangsi Riau kepada pemerintah dan yang diterima Riau dari pemerintah pusat dan Chevron," ajaknya.

Lebih lanjut tokoh asal Tambusai, Rokan Hulu tersebut mengatakan, sudah saatnya pengelolaan sumber daya alam di Riau diambilalih daerah, seperti yang telah dilakukan Siak melalui PT. Bumi Siak Pusako yang mengelola ladang CPP Blok.

Sebagaimana Johar Firdaus dan Al Azhar, kalangan mahasiswa juga beranggapan sama. Ketua Badan Koordinasi Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) Riau dan Kepulauan Riau Misbah Ibrahim menilai CPI tidak semestinya menyakiti masyarakat Riau dengan sekedar menggelar seremoni menandai pencapaian produksi 11 miliar barel. Semestinya CPI membuat program fenomenal yang memberi manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat Riau sebagai penanda prestasi tersebut. "Kalau CPI menandai pencapai produksi 11 miliar barel dengan meluncurkan program fenomenal yang memberi manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat Riau, tentu masyarakat Riau akan turut bangga dengan pancapaian itu, namun ternyata tidak. CPI sekedar membuat kegiatan seremoni yang menyakiti perasaan masyarakat Riau," sesalnya.

Sebagai misal, Misbah mengatakan, seandainya hari ini CPI menandai pencapaian produksi komulatif 11 miliar dengan mengumumkan kesiapannya membangun sarana pendukung PON, mengingat 2012 Riau menjadi tuan rumah PON ke-XVIII. "Kalau itu yang dilakukan CPI, maka perusahaan itu akan dikenang sepanjang massa oleh masyarakat Riau," demikian tanggapan Misbah.***(mad)

================

Selasa, 17 Pebruari 2009 18:12
Ditanya Sumbangsih, Dirut Chevron Gusar

Dirut PT.CPI Suwito Anggoro meradang. Ia gusar saat ditanya soal sumbangsih perusahaannya kepada Riau, terkait pencapaian produksi 11 miliar barel minyak.

Riauterkini-PEKANBARU- Direktur Utama (Dirut) PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI) meradang saat ditanya wartawan mengenai tanggapannya terhadap anggapan sebagian pihak, bahwa sumbangsih CPI terhadap Riau tak sebanding dengan apa yang telah didapat dari daerah ini, mengingat produksi komulatif minyak CPI sudah melampau 11 miliar barel sejak beroperasi di Riau tahun 1956. Prasasti pencapaian tersebut hari ini ditandatangani Menteri ESDM Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Gubri M Rusli Zainal, Kepala Badan Pelaksana Kegiatan Hulu Migas R Priono dan Suwito sendiri di Minas, Kabupaten Siak.

Wawancara yang dilakukan beberapa wartawan, termasuk riauterkini di ruang VIP Lancang Kuning Bandara Sultan Syarif Kasim (SKK) II Pekanbaru, Selasa (17/2/09) sambil menunggu keberangkatan Menteri ESDM ke Jakarta. Suwito menjelaskan, bahwa pencapaian produksi komulatif 11 miliar barel minyak mentah perusahaannya bukan target berkala. “Tidak bisa disebut apakah pencapaian tersebut secara waktu sudah sesuai target, karena kami tak pernah menetapkan target pencapaian dengan patokan waktu, melainkan kami lakukan sesuai prosedur teknis yang ada,” paparnya.

Suwito lantas mengatakan, bahwa produksi seluruh ladang minyak perusahaannya di Riau saat ini jauh dari puncak pencapaian yang pernah sampai sejuta barel sehari. “Sekarang tinggal sekitar 390 ribu barel setiap harinya. Usianya ladangnya sudah tua. Sudah limapuluh tahun,” tukasnya.

Ketika ditanya, apakah CPI tidak berniat membuat sebuah program fenomenal yang langsung memberi manfaat nyata bagi masyarakat Riau sebagai prasasti pencapaian 11 miliar barel? Suwito mengatakan pihaknya tak memiliki rencana seperti itu, karena hasil minyak yang didapat di Riau mayoritas untuk negara, bukan untuk perusahaannya. “Bagian kita hanya sekitar sepuluh persen. Sembilanpuluh persennya untuk negara,” tukasnya lagi.

Tak lama kemudian Suwito menunjukkan perubahan sikap. Ia menjadi gusar ketika ditanya tanggapannya terhadap anggapan sebagian pihak, bahwa sumbangsih CPI masih sangat kecil, dibandingkan dengan sedemikian besar yang telah didapat dari daerah ini. Dengan nada agak tinggi ia menyergah, “Kalau tak punya data, jangan mengatakan itu!”

Suwito kemudian memanggil Djati Susetya yang berdiri tak jauh darinya. “Pak Jati sini. Jelaskan apa saja yang telah kita buat untuk Riau,” perintahnya sambil meninggalkan wartawan. Namun Djati yang diminta memberi penjelasan lanjutan sama sekali tak berkata apupun kepada wartawan.***(mad)

Kebetulan saya orang Riau asli Melayu .... tapi keluarga saya bukan dari Perusahaan Minyak itu, dan keluarga saya juga bukan ELITE POLITIK di Riau apalagi pejabat Tinggi itu.. Jadi bagi saya, mengkritisi pemerintah daerah, pemerintah pusat, dan juga CHEVRON bisa saya lakukan sesuka hati ..... mohon diteliti, kalau kritisi saya salah. Domisili Jakarta, frequently visit Pekanbaru as well ....

kaki_langit

February 18th, 2009, 04:19 PM

^^

Yang benar-benar menikmati hasil minyak di Indonesia (pada waktu jaman Mbah Harto dulu) yang pasti adalah Keluarga Cendana + Kroni-kroninya + Birokrat Maling (Kleptokrat) ... Hehehehe ...

Go Ahead Eagles

February 18th, 2009, 05:20 PM

RI may slap anti-dumping duties on Thai-made plastics

Mustaqim Adamrah , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 02/18/2009 2:07 PM | Business

The Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee (KADI) plans to impose temporary anti-dumping measures on bi-axially oriented polypropylene film (BOPP film) imported from Thailand, waiting only for the Finance Ministry's approval.

"After an investigation, Thai companies are proven to have dumped (their products)," KADI secretary Penta Riris Nasution told reporters on Tuesday.

"We have submitted a letter to the Finance Ministry and are still awaiting for its approval for (imposition of) temporary anti-dumping import duties," she said.

She said KADI had gone through all the required preparatory procedures since May 9 last year.

She also said temporary additional import duties would be effective for four months once they were applied, but refused to disclose the percentage of additional import duties that KADI had proposed.

The Finance Ministry's fiscal policy agency head Anggito Abimanyu told The Jakarta Post that he had not heard of the KADI's proposal as yet.

Anti-dumping measures, usually in the form of additional import duties, are applied to counter dumping.

At present, the government imposes a 5 percent import duty on BOPP - the raw material for plastic packaging.

Dumping is an act by a country's manufacturer to exports products to another country in bulk and at prices below those charged in the home country or below production costs, thus causing injury to local manufacturers in the receiving country.

Temporary anti-dumping measures are allowable under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, while giving time for the local authority to ask for clearance from the WTO to apply the actual anti-dumping measures which can then be effective for a maximum of five years, but in common practice this is subject to an annual review.

In a report on the investigation, KADI chairwoman Halida Milijani said previously KADI proposed anti-dumping import duties of 11.03 percent on A.J. Plast Public Co Ltd and 16.11 percent on Thai Film Industries Co Ltd.

She said a decline in domestic production, sales and market shares resulted directly from an increase in the volume of dumped BOPP between 2005 and 2007.

The plaintiffs for anti-dumping measures are PT Trias Sentosa, PT Argha Karya Prima Industry and PT Fatrapolindo Nusa Industri, the report said.

Budi Susanto Sadiman, Indonesian Plastic and Olefin Industries Association (INAplas) secretary general, said as a result of dumped BOPP, one local manufacturer had gone bankrupt.

"Actually, BOPP dumping by Thai companies has allegedly occurred since 2004," he told the Post.

"As a consequence, all five BOPP manufacturers have to cut their production capacities because their profit margins have slumped."

Go Ahead Eagles

February 18th, 2009, 05:26 PM

Chevron to decide big investment in 2011

Alfian , The Jakarta Post , Minas, Riau | Wed, 02/18/2009 2:55 PM | Business

US-based energy giant Chevron Corp. may come up with the final investment decision to develop Indonesia's first deep-water gas project off East Kalimantan as early as 2011.

Meanwhile the government hints that this expensive project may get privileged exemption from the regulation which requires all producers to sell at least 25 percent of gas produced on the domerstic market.

Chevron won the government's approval for its plan of development (POD) for the project in the Kutai basin in October last year and now the company is preparing to conduct the front end engineering design (FEED) by the end of the year.

"In the FEED, we will make a very detailed study of the project including costs and schedules, that we can construct and execute," Chevron's managing director for its IndoAsia business unit Steve Green told reporters Tuesday at Chevron's Minas field in Riau Province .

Chevron celebrated on Tuesday achieving 11 billion barrels of cumulative production from Minas.

Steve added that the FEED would be completed in 12 to 14 months and afterwards Chevron will then make its final investment decisions.

Earlier media reports mentioned that the project would require a projected total cost of US$6.97 billion. But, Steve said that the real investment figure would be known after the completion of the FEED .

"It's too early to speculate on the project's economic viability," he said.

Steve said it needed at least four years for project development, but he did not give the exact date when the project could be on stream.

"I am not going to speculate on the first gas date, we will able to answer that question after the FEED process. But, we are still committed to develop the project," Steve said.

The Kutai basin deep-water project consists of the development of five gas fields, with project development separated into five production sharing contracts, Steve said.

It will be the deepest gas exploration project in Indonesia, with the depth of the water ranging from 2,500 to 6,000 feet, approximately 80 kilometers offshore from East Kalimantan near the Bontang LNG facility.

Chevron currently holds an 80 percent operating interest in these projects and Italy's Eni SpA owns the rest.

According to Bloomberg, the entire venture may pump a maximum of close to one billion cubic feet of gas a day, equivalent to 13 percent of Indonesia*s current output

Under the current regulation, gas producers are required to sell at least 25 percent of their production to the domestic market.

However, minister of energy and mineral resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro has repeatedly hinted that the Chevron's deep-water project might get special treatment in this respect (due to costs involved).

"This project is a very expensive one, meaning that it requires a high price. According to the government regulation, the gas has to first prioritize domestic markets.

"But, if the domestic gas users, for various reasons, cannot afford to buy this expensive gas, what we are thinking is to combine the use of the gas (the domestic obligation proportion) for domestic market and for export," Purnomo said.

He added that even though Indonesia had set a priority to supply gas to the domestic market, the country did not close off other options.

"The economic viability of the project is also important," Purnomo said.

Hadi

February 18th, 2009, 05:31 PM

artikel politik....tolong Hadi, lain kali post sumber nya yg credible, bukan yg kacangan kayak gitu...

pake logika...kalo menkeu mau rupiah turun sampe 15,000, ngapain sampe intervene dollar ....sampe2 reserves nya kekuras banyak buat senjata vs US dollar....dan artikel itu terlalu berlebihan....forex reserves nya ga sampe turun 10 milyar....turun 5 milyar aja sudah alarming buat capital negara kita....

cheers

Sorry kalo emang kacangan, tapi ini aku ambil dari web! www.surabayapost.info, tapi ga tau ini bener kagak

peseg5

February 18th, 2009, 05:49 PM

artikel politik....tolong Hadi, lain kali post sumber nya yg credible, bukan yg kacangan kayak gitu...

pake logika...kalo menkeu mau rupiah turun sampe 15,000, ngapain sampe intervene dollar ....sampe2 reserves nya kekuras banyak buat senjata vs US dollar....dan artikel itu terlalu berlebihan....forex reserves nya ga sampe turun 10 milyar....turun 5 milyar aja sudah alarming buat capital negara kita....

cheers

Kalo gak salah ada forumer sini yg pernah ngasih tau, web inilah.com memang (ada kecenderungan) sering mendiskreditkan ny. Menkeu kita...

AceN

February 18th, 2009, 06:09 PM

^^ beToeL skalee..

K14N

February 19th, 2009, 10:45 AM

Figur dari Kompas bbrp waktu lalu (br sempet posting skrg)

Pembacaan diserahkan kepada pembaca dan afiliasi partai politik masing2, hahaha :lol:

http://www.freeimagestoring.com/images/44x3do4zpa8jnh8jwik.jpg (http://www.freeimagestoring.com/)

VRS

February 19th, 2009, 12:27 PM

33 juta penduduk indonesia are poor...??? 33 juta...???
yg dimaksud poor = tak punya rumah n penghasilan dibawah 100rb per bln...??

tollfreak

February 19th, 2009, 03:42 PM

Motorcycle sales slowest in 18 months on economic downturn

The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Thu, 02/19/2009 1:41 PM | Business

Sales of new motorcycles nose-dived by 22 percent in January as the country started to feel the full impact of the global economic crisis and downturn which has already triggered a wave of job layoffs.

Motorcycle producers, who are mostly Japanese based, only sold 367,736 units in January as against 473,060 units in the same period of 2008, according to the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) and motorcycle producer PT Astra Honda Motor in a report
issued Wednesday.

The figure is the lowest since July 2007. The January sales dropped by 8.6 percent compared to December.

Honda sold 179,685 units in January or about 49 percent of the market share. This was followed by Yamaha, which sold 162,135 units or about a 44 percent market share.

This left Suzuki and Kawasaki trailing far behind their two rivals.

Motorcycle sales are often used to gauge the purchasing power of middle to low-income consumers

While AISI did not explain the sales drop, numerous analysts had already painted a bleaker outlook given the deepening global crisis and economic downturn.

According to figures from the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), in Jakarta alone around 4,000 employees had already been laid off in December and about 6,000 more might end up jobless by the end of January.

On a national scale, as many as 27,578 workers were laid off from last September to Jan. 23. and almost 25,000 will follow soon, according to the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry.
Motorcycle sales topped a record 6.21 million units last year as against 4.68 million units in 2007, according to AISI last month.

Four-stroke engine motorcycles with below 125 cylinder capacity are the country’s most popular type due to fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs and being easy to ride.

They are designed to suit the Indonesian average body size and can weave in and out of traffic jams.

Indonesia is the third largest market for motorcycles in the world, after China and India.
Industry players forecast new motorcycle sales will decline by around 30 percent this year.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati forecasts that the economy will still grow this year by between 4.7 and 5.5 percent, at the most.

Bank Indonesia (BI) has been slashing its benchmark interest rates to boost consumer purchasing power, which normally propels more than 70 percent of the economy.

BI recently cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 8.25 percent, earlier this month.

Industry players, however, believed BI’s move would not have a major impact until the second semester of this year when purchasing power is expected to start to pick up. About 80 percent of motorcycle purchases are financed by loans with financing companies offering interest rates of between 18 and 20 percent.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/files/images/moto%20sales.jpg

lombok

February 20th, 2009, 09:23 AM

Bali Tourism Development Corporation Coordinator for Joint Venture Company

Friday, 20 February, 2009 | 12:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Mataram: The Indonesian government appointed state-owned enterprise the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC) to work towards establishing a joint venture company, with Emaar Properties, a company from the United Arab Emirates. They will strive to develop a tourism zone of Putri Mandalika, in Pujut Sub-District, regency of Central Lombok.

The area that is 1.175 hectares has been released by the tourism company of PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Lombok. The government of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) will have the right to manage it. The Indonesian government owns fifteen percent of its share while the regional government has 35 percent.

Emaar Properties that has invested initial capital amounting to US$65 million (around Rp781.6 billion) will own 85 percent.

BTDC, is a state-run enterprise experienced in developing tourism sites in Bali and Sulawesi.

SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID

tollfreak

February 20th, 2009, 11:26 AM

Indonesia and Australia go for comprehensive deal

Endy M. Bayuni , THE JAKARTA POST , SYDNEY | Fri, 02/20/2009 8:41 AM | Headlines

Australia wants a better investment climate and Indonesia wants assistance with its own production capacity. The two countries have now agreed that both items, along with trade liberalization, would go into the economic agreement that they are working on.

The trade ministers of the two countries concluded on Thursday another round of their meeting
to set up a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which they said would be built into the FTA
that will be signed later this month between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia and New Zealand in Thailand.

During their joint press conference, Minister Mari Pangestu of Indonesia underlined the importance of capacity building.

She called it a key component of the future agreement to ensure that the benefits of a better investment climate would also accrue to the recipient country.

She specifically mentioned Indonesia’s agriculture sector as one potential area where Australia could help in return for the opening up of the dairy and beef sectors to Australian investors.

Her Australian counterpart Simon Crean underlined the importance of creating the right environment for Australian investors.

“Investment is the new trade,” he said, pointing at the fact that investment could lead to better access to the global supply chain as well as to markets.

Indonesia is Australia’s fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN, a rank that prompted Crean to describe a trade relationship that is “underdone”

Two-way trade in 2007/8 reached A$10.3 billion, according to Australian official figures.
Australian investment in Indonesia was valued at A$3.4 billion at the end of 2007.

Neither minister was willing to put a time frame on when the comprehensive economic agreement would be signed, in spite of the numerous meetings they have had in the past year.

Crean however agreed that moving toward more free trade would be the best course to lift countries out of the current economic risis. “Protectionism only invites retaliatory action.”

Addressing concerns at home about the possible negative impact on Indonesia’s own industry, Mari said the two countries have agreed to put the sensitive sectors as the last to be liberalized under the free trade agreement.

Indonesia’s dairy and beef sector, she said, would only be liberalized between 2017 and 2020.
The meeting to discuss the bilateral free trade agreement also involved the business community from both sides.

The trade meeting preceded the Australia-Indonesia Conference which was opened later on Thursday evening by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

A total of 120 people, 60 from each side, are taking part in the conference which winds up Saturday.

Mimihitam

February 21st, 2009, 12:27 PM

Post dari forum sebelah

Realita dan persepsi kita harus ada allignment, kalau tidak kemauan kita tidak akan terpenuhi. Tentunya banyak orang yg melihat realita secara tidak keseluruhan, dimana mereka tidak bisa melihat "the bigger picture".

The bigger picture menunjukan bahwa negara kita benar2 sedang menuju prophecy 2030, yaitu pelestarian ekonomi, sosial, budaya, dan politik kita. Di saat 2030 tentunya akan terjadi awalnya kemakmuran, kejayaan, dan kemajuan yang agung di negri Indonesia.

Prophecy 2030 juga bukan hanya sekedar "myth", tetapi juga sebuah subyek yg dipelajari oleh orang barat, tentunya di Harvard administration of International Affairs.

Walaupun dunia sedang krisis dan juga dampak tersebut melanda Indonesia, kita akan melihat bahwa pada Quarter ketiga di tahun 2009, akan terjadi Production Boom <--> Buyers Market Shift. Disaat ini semua investor yg fokus ke industri makanan, manufacturing, dan industri kreativitas akan merasakan demand yg besar, sehingga akan terjadi kenaikan growth. Hal tersebut akan menjadi tangga yang pertama untuk kejayaan kita.

Di sejarah, negara maju seperti Jerman dan AS diawali oleh production boom ==> Manufacturing Capacity yang luar biasa. Hal seperti ini menyebabkan ekonomi kedua negara tersebut jadi besar karena sumber daya alam domestik dan foreign di utilasi semaksimal mungkin dan secara efficient, sehingga dapat menguntungkan rakyat semata. Proses tersebut dapat di breakdown menjadi detail, sampai bisa dibikin buku 500 halaman. Tetapi dalam general, hal yang sama akan terjadi di Indonesia.

Cuma Indonesia saja? Tidak... justru China, India sudah memulai duluan. ASEAN bergantungan kepada Indonesia, kita harus menjadi leader dan harus memulai hal tersebut biar negara2 ASEAN lain juga akan dapet head start.

Apa yang akan terjadi kepada negara lain? Di Asia akan menjadi seperti Eropa, dimana New Great Powers dilahirkan dan akan ada kompetisi yang besar. Bedanya, di Eropa kompetisi tersebut di ilustrasikan lewat perang besar seperti WWI dan WWII. Saya hanya harap negara2 Asia dapat melontarkan kompetisi tersebut kepada area bisnis, olah raga, teknologi, dan informasi - bukan militarisme.

F-ian

February 21st, 2009, 03:29 PM

^^ kenapa Q3 2009? krn Pemilu?

=NaNdA=

February 21st, 2009, 03:37 PM

Motorcycle sales slowest in 18 months on economic downturn

http://www.thejakartapost.com/files/images/moto%20sales.jpg

banyak yang bilang garis penjualan motor tahun 2007 - 2008 kaya roller coaster..naik terus.. sampe puncak, terus turun drastis.. :D

walau bagaimanapun penjualan motor yang 6juta unit tahun 2008 itu rekor teringgi sepanjang sejarah Indonesia.. ;)

Mimihitam

February 21st, 2009, 05:15 PM

^^ kenapa Q3 2009? krn Pemilu?

Bisa dibilang gitu :D

tollfreak

February 22nd, 2009, 06:17 AM

Japan to help RI guard rupiah, says Mulyani

Rendi A. Witular , THE JAKARTA POST , PHUKET | Sun, 02/22/2009 9:04 AM | Headlines

Indonesia and Japan inked Saturday a bilateral cooperation agreement aimed at warding off currency speculators from the ailing rupiah amid the deepening global economic slowdown.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Shinsuke Suematsu forged the long-awaited deal during a special meeting of finance ministers from member countries of the ASEAN + 3 organization on Thailand’s resort island of Phuket.

Under the deal Japan has agreed to double its existing bilateral swap agreement with Indonesia to US$12 billion, strengthening Indonesia’s foreign currency reserves in case of a sharp depreciation in the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. The latest central bank data shows Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves currently stand at $50.87 million.

Bank Indonesia (BI) uses the reserves to supply the financial market with the greenback to help ease volatility in the rupiah, which has depreciating to above Rp 12,000 per US dollar.
Under the planned revision of the state budget the government has set the currency at an average of Rp 11,000 against the dollar for this year.

While the declining value of the rupiah is in part good for exports, it creates greater harm, especially when it comes to the country’s ability to pay dollar-denominated government and private sector debts, as well as its ability to financing international trade.

Mulyani said the support from Japan would help increase the stability of the Indonesian economy and complement its current, strong foreign reserve position.

“The deal with Japan, which is a very progressive move, will ease speculation on the rupiah because Indonesian foreign currency reserves are getting bigger and stronger. This will boost confidence in the market and in businesses,” Mulyani said.

“Although the Indonesian economy remains sound, there’s still a need for a second-line of defense to fully anticipate the worst from the impact of the global economic crisis,” she said.

The deal is part of the Chiang Mai Initiative, inked in Thailand in 2000, which is aimed at creating a network of bilateral swapping arrangements among ASEAN+3 countries to address short-term liquidity problems in the region and to supplement the existing international financial arrangements.

ASEAN+3 includes the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos — as well as three East Asian nations — Japan, China, and South Korea.

The ministers are expected to come up with concrete measures to help cushion the region from the fallout from the US-led financial crisis

kaki_langit

February 22nd, 2009, 07:20 AM

^^ kenapa Q3 2009? krn Pemilu?

Business cycle only ... bukan karena faktor Pemilu.

Awal pemulihan ekonomi diproyeksikan di Q3-2009 setelah mencapai "bottom line" di Q2-2009 .. dengan syarat jika pemerintah RI sungguh-sungguh memperbaiki ekonomi kita dan hasil pemilu 2009 bisa menghasilkan pemerintahan yang lebih kredibel dari yang sekarang ..

Mudah-mudahan pemulihan ekonomi kita nantinya berupa "Kurva V" .. nggak seperti 1997/98 yang berupa "Kurva U". Jika kita mengikuti kurva V maka ekonomi Indonesia diproyeksikan akan mulai tumbuh lagi di atas 6% paling cepat tahun 2011/2012 .. sedangkan jika berupa Kurva U maka kita akan tumbuh lagi di atas 6% paling cepat tahun 2014/2015.

Kedepan .. jika kita ingin mengejar China dan India + menjadi negara maju di tahun 2030 .. maka pertumbuhan ekonomi harus mencapai minimum 8.0% untuk perioda 2020 - 2030..

Terlalu Ambisius ? .. tentu saja tidak asalkan Indonesia ke depan tidak dipimpin dan dikelola oleh Maling-Maling seperti sekarang ... sebab sebenarnya Indonesia berpotensi untuk tumbuh minimal 5.0% per tahun walaupun tanpa ada inisiatif dan intervensi dari pemerintah ..

lombok

February 24th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Selasa, 24/02/2009 20:42 WIB

Realisasi Investasi Januari 2009 Melonjak 57%

Suhendra - detikFinance

Jakarta - Berdasarkan data Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal (BKPM), pertumbuhan realisasi investasi Januari 2009 dibandingkan Januari tahun lalu mengalami lonjakan pertumbuhan hingga 57,8%, dari Rp 4,53 triliun menjadi Rp 7,15 triliun.

Pertumbuhan tertinggi masih didominasi oleh realisasi investasi asing (PMA) sebesar
61,4% dari Rp 3,96 triliun menjadi Rp 6,39 triliun. Sedangkan pertumbuhan realisasi
investasi dalam negeri (PMDN) hanya 33,3% yaitu dari Rp 0,57 triliun menjadi Rp 0,76
triliun.

Jika dilihat dari sektor, nampaknya sektor industri karet dan plastik menempati tempat teratas. Rincian investasi berbagai sektor adalah:

Industri karet dan plastik untuk alokasi investasi PMDN yang mencapai Rp 300 miliar terdiri dari 2 proyek
Sektor tekstil sebanyak 2 proyek nilai Rp 190 miliar,
Kelompok industri logam, mesin dan elektronika terdiri dari 3 proyek senilai Rp 101,9 miliar
Industri makanan dan tanaman pangan perkebunan masing-masing 1 proyek dengan nilai Rp 73,4 miliar dan Rp 58 miliar.

Sedangkan sektor investasi PMA adalah:

Sektor konstruksi yang menyumbang US$ 384,6 juta terdiri dari 3 proyek
Sektor perdagangan dan reparasi mencapai US$ 74,4 juta terdiri dari 27 proyek
Industri makanan hanya US$ 67 juta sebanyak 1 proyek
Sektor jasa mencapai US$ 43,8 juta sebanyak 15 proyek dan
Investasi hotel dan restoran sebanyak 2 poyek senilai US$ 38,3 juta.

Dari sisi wilayah, investasi PMDN masih masih banyak berlokasi di Jawa Barat, disusul Jambi, Jawa Timur, Bali dan Banten dengan total 10 proyek. Wilayah investasi PMA berada terbanyak di DKI Jakarta, Jawa Barat, Riau, Jawa Timur dan Banten total
sebanyak 70 proyek.

Mengenai negara asal investasi PMA masih dipimpin oleh Korea Selatan dengan total investasi US$ 205 juta sebanyak 18 proyek, disusul Seychel sebesar US$ 156,3 juta dengan 1 proyek, Inggris sebanyak US$ 119,9 juta sebanyak 5 proyek, Mauritius senilai US$ 89,5 juta 1 proyek dan Belanda sebesar US$ 60,5 juta sebanyak 6 proyek.

Dari total investasi yang digulirkan sepanjang Januari 2009 diperkirakan akan ada serapan tenaga kerja sebanyak 23.317 orang terdiri dari investasi PMA 20.344 orang dan PMDN 2.973 orang.

Menurut Kepala BKPM Muhammad Lutfi, kenaikan investasi Januari 2009 ini tidak terlepas dari tren realisasi investasi setiap tahunnya, dimana awal tahun selalu terjadi lonjakan realisasi investasi.

"Biasanya kita itu paceklik diakhir tahun, kalau Januari Februari itu bagus, Maret akan turun lagi. Nanti bulan April Mei dan Juni mulai melemah, nggak tahu kenapa, lalu naik lagi, menjelang aklhir tahun turun lagi," jelas Lutfi di Jakarta, Selasa (24/2/2009).

Lutfi menambahkan selama ini realisasi investasi PMDN selalu rendah dari PMD, dimana secara rata-rata 30% adalah PMDN dan 70% PMA.

"Perkiraan tahun ini PMDN itu lebih tinggi dari tahun lalu, PMDN tahun lalu itu jeblok sampai minus 40%," ujarnya.

(hen/qom)

lombok

February 24th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Selasa, 24/02/2009 17:27 WIB

BKPM: Laju Investasi Asing akan Melambat 50% di 2009

Suhendra - detikFinance

Foto: dok detikFinance Jakarta - Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal (BKPM) memperkirakan pertumbuhan investasi asing di Indonesia akan melambat hingga 50% di 2009. Sebaliknya, investasi dalam negeri justru diperkirakan bakal lebih agresif dibanding investasi asing.

Hal ini disampaikan oleh Kepala BKPM Muhammad Lutfi usai acara MoU antara BKPM dengan HSBC di gedung BKPM, Jakarta (24/2/2009).

"Saya lihat bahwa pertumbuhan domestik akan lebih baik dibandingkan modal asing dalam arti pertumbuhannya," ucap Lutfi.

Lutfi menjelaskan pada tahun 2008 lalu investasi modal asing mengalami pertumbuan hingga lebih dari 40%. Namun untuk tahun ini ia agak pesimistis, sehingga memperkirakan pertumbuhannya akan terpangkas 50%. Artinya investasi asing diperkirakan hanya akan tumbuh 20% saja.

"Tapi investasi domestik akan tumbuh di atas asing," ujarnya.

Dikatakannya selama ini BKPM menghitung pertumbuhan investasi berdasarkan realisasi yang sudah dilaksanakan. Untuk realisasi tahun 2009 ini dipastikan berdasarkan izin investasi yang sudah terjadi pada 2 sampai 3 tahun lalu atau tahun 2006.

Ia mencontohkan untuk investasi hotel dan pabrik. Artinya, investasi akan dihitung berdasarkan hotel dan pabrik yang sudah dibangun, bukan menghitung rencana investasi hotel dan pabrik.

"Bahwa yang kita hitung adalah realisasi, jadi persetujuan yang diberi BKPM pada tahun 2006 atau 2007, yang sekarang adalah hasil hitung yang dulu. Yang 2009 baru keliatan nanti sekitar tahun 2012 atau 2013," jelas Lutfi.
(hen/lih)

lombok

February 24th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Banten Targets Rp10.8 Trillion Investment

Tuesday, 24 February, 2009 | 13:03 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Serang:The Banten Province is targeting Rp10.8 trillion in investments from foreign or national companies.

Muhamamd Husni Hasan, Regional Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD) chairman, said he was convinced that investors’ interest in the province was still high.

“The investments in the third quarter last year amounted to 107 projects. Foreign capital investments topped US$423 million and regional investments were Rp1.9 trillion," Husni said in Banten yesterday (23/3).

Last year, Husni said, Banten’s foreign and national investments did not achieve the targeted Rp8.9 trillion.

The province only absorbed Rp5.97 trillion as the financial crisis hit the area.

Bank Indonesia office manager in Serang, Andang Setyobudi, said the economic growth in Banten decreased due to the crisis, to only 5.89 percent last year.

MABSUTI IBNU MARHAS

tollfreak

February 25th, 2009, 11:27 AM

Indonesia Berpotensi Rebut Pasar Elektronik China di Australia

RABU, 25 FEBRUARI 2009 | 15:55 WIB
JAKARTA, RABU - Indonesia berpotensi merebut pasar produk elektronik China di Australia setelah implementasi perjanjian perdagangan bebas ASEAN dengan Australia dan Selandia Baru (AANZFTA) mulai Oktober 2009.

"Produk China banyak beredar di Australia. Kita berharap bisa mulai mengambil posisi karena pasti lebih murah impor dari kita dari pada dari China," kata Ketua Gabungan Pengusaha Elektronik (Gabel) Rachmat Gobel di Jakarta, Rabu (25/2).

Menurut Rachmat, pasar Australia memang tidak semenarik pasar domestik namun perluasan pasar ekspor tetap penting untuk mencapai komposisi 50 persen ekspor dan 50 persen pasar domestik bagi industri elektronik. "Dari jumlah penduduk Australia, saya kira pasarnya belum semenarik pasar Indonesia yang besar, tapi kerjasama perdagangan bebas ini berguna untuk memperluas pasar ekspor kita," ujarnya.

Rachmat menjelaskan pencapaian komposisi 50 persen ekspor dan pasar domestik akan mengamankan industri elektronik dari kondisi apapun seperti krisis. "Ini untuk mendorong pertumbuhan industri elektronik dalam negeri," tuturnya.

Selain itu, standar kualitas produk yang beredar di Australia yang tinggi akan mendorong peningkatan kualitas produk elektronik Indonesia.

Kepala Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan (Balitbang) Depdag, Muchtar mengatakan, ekspor Indonesia ke Australia diproyeksi naik sebesar 5 persen setiap tahun hingga 2030 setelah implementasi perjanjian perdagangan bebas ASEAN dengan Australia dan Selandia Baru (AANZFTA) mulai Oktober 2009.

Ia menjelaskan hasil studi kelayakan terkait AANZFTA menyimpulkan proyeksi pertumbuhan ekspor 5 persen per tahun itu akan lebih signifikan jika implementasi AANZFTA segera dilakukan.

Ekspor nonmigas Indonesia 2007 ke Australia mencapai 1,9 miliar dollar AS dan tumbuh sekitar 15 persen sejak 2003. Ekspor TPT dan alas kaki Indonesia ke negara kangguru itu senilai 51 juta dollar AS per tahun. Nilai impor Indonesia mencapai 2,8 miliar dollar AS pada 2007.

Sedangkan ekspor nonmigas Indonesia ke Selandia Baru 2007 mencapai 259,9 juta dollar AS dan impornya sebesar 496,9 juta dollar AS.

EDJ

kaki_langit

February 25th, 2009, 12:00 PM

Sungguh sangat memalukan kelakuan orang-orang yang tidak terhormat ini ....

Ex-BI officials clash in court

Dicky Christanto , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Wed, 02/25/2009 10:07 AM

A corruption trial turned into an all-out argument between two former top Bank Indonesia officials over who was responsible for the illegal distribution of funds in 2003.

The heated exchange began after Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) chief Anwar Nasution, then BI senior deputy governor, told the Corruption Court he never approved the payment of the Rp 100 billion fund.

The testimony infuriated the defendant, former BI deputy governor Aulia Pohan, who insisted that Anwar should share the blame as he signed a document approving the cash handout.

The BPK, under Anwar, later found the funds went to five former senior BI officials implicated in graft cases and House of Representatives lawmakers deliberating the amendment of the BI law.

Anwar said he did not witness any evidence of endorsement for the fund at the meeting, which was held on July 22, 2003.

“I did attend the meeting but I did not see any sign of endorsement [of the fund], let alone know the money was going to lawmakers,” Anwar said.

Anwar said, however, that he signed the notes of the meeting’s proceeding.
“I thought the fund was intended to finance some social community service activities conducted by the central bank,” he told the court.

Anwar was summoned to testify as a witness in the trial of four former BI deputy governors, including Aulia, who is the father-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s eldest son.

Besides Anwar, former BI governor Burhanuddin Abdullah, who was sentenced to five years in jail and fined Rp 250 million in the same case, testified in the trial.

State prosecutors said in their indictment that during the July 22, 2003 meeting, the BI board of governors gathered to hear reports from BI director Rusli Simanjuntak about various issues, including the distribution of Rp 100 billion intended for legislators and legal assistance for former BI officials Paul Sutopo, Sudradjad Djiwandono, Hendro Budianto, Heru Supraptomo and Iwan Prawiranata.

The BI officials were implicated in corruption cases related to the misuse of BI liquidity support funds during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis.

The court found the legislators had received a total Rp 31.5 billion while the former BI officials received Rp 68.5 billion.

However, Aulia challenged Anwar’s statement, saying Anwar was aware all along of the beneficiaries of the BI funds.

“He did not say a word to protest the funds being distributed at the meeting. If he disagreed with the payments, then it should have been written in the meeting minutes,” Aulia told the hearing.

After hearing this, Anwar said he would not change his testimony.

Corruption Eradication Commission investigators are searching for new facts in the case, including the possible involvement of Anwar, who has pleaded innocent throughout the trial.

The court was adjourned until next Tuesday to hear the testimonies of other witnesses.

VRS

February 26th, 2009, 07:12 AM

now,...education also information TAX knowledge can find inside the mall

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8184/090225214917.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/090225214917.jpg/1/w800.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img6/090225214917.jpg/1/)

Sade

February 26th, 2009, 10:24 AM

Nice article Mr.Pesek :)

Clinton’s Slumming May Boost Asia’s $120 Billion: William Pesek

Feb. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Eight long years of “you are either with us or against us” ended in a Jakarta slum.

It was an apt place to turn the page on a dark chapter of U.S. foreign policy. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked it last week by visiting Indonesians most at risk as a crisis that began in the U.S. spans the globe.

The chants of “Hillary! Hillary!” greeting arguably the most powerful woman in the world were sign enough that the bellicosity of the Bush years is over. Southeast Asia is anxious for better relations with the U.S., and vice versa.

Yet the most important moment of Clinton’s Asia tour received scant attention. It wasn’t Clinton talking about the Rolling Stones on a Jakarta talk show. Nor was it urging China to continue buying U.S. debt, calling on North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to chill out, or visiting Japan’s royal family in Tokyo. It involved the rather arcane issue of swap lines.

Indonesia proposed a currency-swap accord with the U.S. to help bolster the rupiah, the second-worst performer in Asia outside Japan. It would be akin to those the Federal Reserve has with Brazil, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea. It’s the right thing to do and Clinton should expedite her pledge to take the request to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Impressive Stability

Much has been said about Indonesia’s impressive stability. Even as the U.S. and Japan slide into deepening recessions, Indonesia’s $433 billion economy is expected to grow about 4 percent this year. Clinton was right to praise Indonesia as a model of how “Islam, democracy and modernity not only can coexist, but thrive together.”

Few nations are as geopolitically important. Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim community and the fourth- largest population, spread out on the largest archipelagic state. Imagine overseeing 17,000 islands. Indonesia also is resource rich. The place even has oil.

Indonesia has found success in the bond market, too. On Feb. 23, the government sold triple the amount it targeted in its first sale of Islamic bonds to local individual investors this year. It raised 5.56 trillion rupiah ($466 million). Not bad considering the state of international credit markets.

Even so, with per-capita income of $2,271, persistent poverty and rampant corruption squandering output, 2009 won’t be kind to Indonesia. It may be in better shape than, say, politically unstable Thailand, yet global turmoil is closing in.

Just an ‘Appetizer’

Marc Faber, Hong Kong-based publisher of the Gloom, Boom & Doom Report, makes a good point when he says we have seen only the “appetizer” of a global slump. The worst is yet to come.

Finance ministers from Japan, China, Korea and 10 Southeast Asian nations agreed this week to form a $120 billion pool of foreign-exchange reserves that can be used to fend off speculators. It’s a good move for a region that has been unimpressive on the cooperation front during this crisis.

Not that it’s a cure-all. Investment strategist Simon Grose-Hodge of LGT Group in Singapore says the fund will “only act to control speed rather than direction and try to keep intra-Asia cross-rates roughly in line” amid increased market turmoil.

The trouble is, the money leaving economies such as Indonesia isn’t speculative in nature. It’s not hedge funds or banks with highly leveraged proprietary trading desks, but pension funds, insurance companies and mutual funds. They aren’t selling in panic, but analyzing market risks globally. Many are wondering anew about Indonesia.

Debt Load

The nation’s currency reserves slid to $50.9 billion at the end of January, from $60.6 billion in July, as the central bank intervened to slow the rupiah’s decline. A low credit rating complicates things. Moody’s Investors Service rates it Ba3, three levels below investment grade. This also is an election year, an added challenge for Indonesia in wooing foreign capital.

The swap arrangements announced by the Fed in October bestowed a “Good Housekeeping” seal on economies that are following responsible policies yet feeling the brunt of the credit crisis. Indonesia will fit that category more and more as 2009 unfolds. It would be a mistake for the U.S. not to reach out.

The risk is that Indonesia will struggle to raise dollars if things darken. Yet not standing by Indonesia “risks diminishing U.S. influence with an ally and the most populated Muslim country and exacerbating the country’s challenges with the risk of unintended consequences,” Marc Chandler, global head of currency strategy at Brown Brothers in New York, wrote in a note yesterday.

Asians are livid that their post-1997 recovery has been sidetracked by irresponsible U.S. policies and clumsy crisis management in Washington. While Asians should have done more to reduce their reliance on exports, governments were broadsided by the U.S. economy’s crash. If things worsen, $120 billion isn’t going to do it.

Clinton saw firsthand how the U.S.’s woes are hurting Asia. The U.S. should put money where its public-relations intentions are. Indonesia is as good a place to start as any.

Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_pesek&sid=awBc0IOhiij0

tollfreak

February 26th, 2009, 01:43 PM

Indonesia, Malaysia agree to cut supply of commodities

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 02/26/2009 4:03 PM | Business

Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to work together in strengthening the prices of global commodities, particularly crude palm oil and rubber, through production cut backs.

Malaysia and Indonesia jointly account for 85 percent of global palm oil production and 40 percent of natural rubber production.

State news agency Antara reported Thursday that the two countries had issued a joint statement saying that they were preparing measures to “ensure stable pirces in particular for palm oil”.

"These measures include managing palm oil stocks and reducing supply through replanting programs," the statement said.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui and Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia Dr. Ir. Anton Apriyanto met in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cooperation on the matter.

The Indonesian Minister is in the city to attend the Developing-Eight (D-8) Ministers Meeting.

For palm oil, the ministers have agreed to accelerate replanting of oil palm trees which are above 25-years old, implementation of biofuel program, increasing domestic demand for crude palm oil and jointly engage major importing countries of palm based methyl ester in addressing non-tariff barriers for the exports of biofuel.

Malaysia has implemented the blending of five percent palm based methyl ester with fossil diesel.

Indonesia implemented a minimum of one percent blending program in the public transportation sector and a minimum of 2.5 percent blending in the industry and commercial sector. These minimum percentages will be increased to 2.5 percent in the public transportation sector and five percent in the industrial and commercial sectors.

Both ministers also want to exchange production and stock level data on a regular basis to facilitate stock management and promote palm oil through engaging the related legislators of importing countries.

As for rubber, both countries will accelerate replanting of rubber trees aimed at managing the supply of natural rubber.

"Malaysia has revised upwards the original target of replanting rubber areas to 50,000 hectares in 2009 from 32,000 hectares. Indonesia is replanting 55,000 hectares with rubber in 2009," the statement was quoted by Bernama as saying.

Meanwhile, both countries also agreed to control the expansion of new planted area for rubber, encouraging the reduction of tapping frequency.

The ministers hope that these measures will reduce price volatility and contribute towards stability of both palm oil and natural rubber prices in the longer term.

tollfreak

March 2nd, 2009, 01:15 PM

Muslim nations seek closer ties in economic crisis

Zakki Hakim , The Associated Press , Jakarta | Mon, 03/02/2009 3:36 PM | National

http://www.thejakartapost.com/files/images/1sby2_3.jpg

Muslim nations need to forge closer ties to meet challenges posed by the global financial crisis, Indonesia's president said Monday at the opening of the annual World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono proposed creating a Muslim support fund, noting that Islamic nations account for nearly half of the 50 leas-developed and heavily indebted countries in the world.

He also said oil-exporting countries should help cushion the economic blow for developing countries by investing more in their agricultural sectors.

"Muslim countries with vast reserves but without a real agricultural sector can come to the rescue," he told the delegates. "And since they are food importers, they will also be securing their own food supply needs."

Yudhoyono said the financial crisis also opened up new opportunities for Islamic banks in oil-exporting countries, noting that they have not been as severely affected as their Western counterparts because they did not invest in "toxic" assets or in leveraged funds.

Yudhoyono also touched on climate change, energy security and food shortages.

This is the fifth meeting of the World Islamic Economic Forum. This year nearly 1,600 participants from 36 countries - including the leaders of Malaysia and Morocco, as well as senior government ministers and corporate leaders - are attending the three-day event.

K14N

March 4th, 2009, 12:11 PM

Indonesia cuts key interest rate

JAKARTA - INDONESIA'S central bank cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point on Wednesday to 7.75 per cent to stimulate growth in South-east Asia's largest economy amid the global crisis.
'This decision has been taken after reflecting and evaluating fully on financial and economic developments at home and abroad, especially concerning the ongoing global financial crisis,' Bank Indonesia said in an online statement.

'The economic slowdown in developed nations has triggered a drop in Indonesia's exports, which will eventually affect Indonesia's overall economic well being,' it said.

Indonesia has dropped its growth forecasts for 2009 from more than six percent to about 4.5 per cent due to the global economic crisis.

Export sales plunged 36 per cent in January compared to the year before, marking the biggest drop in 22 years for Indonesia. -- AFP

Rabu, 04/03/2009 12:09 WIB
BI Rate Turun Jadi 7,75%
Wahyu Daniel - detikFinance

Jakarta - Bank Indonesia kembali menurunkan suku bunga acuan, BI Rate hingga 50 basis poin menjadi 7,75 persen. Keputusan tersebut diambil setelah mencermati dan melakukan evaluasi menyeluruh terhadap perkembangan ekonomi dan keuangan di dalam dan luar negeri, khususnya terkait dengan masih berlanjutnya krisis keuangan global.

Demikian disampaikan Kepala Biro Humas BI Didy Laksmono R dalam siaran pers hasil Rapat Dewan Gubernur di Gedung BI, Jakarta, Rabu (4/3/2009).

Berikut pernyataan BI tentang hasil RDG:

Perkembangan ekonomi global masih menunjukkan perlambatan yang lebih dalam, tercermin dari prakiraan merosotnya perekonomian negara-negara maju yang lebih besar dari perkiraan semula. Kondisi pasar keuangan global pun masih rapuh dengan semakin banyaknya laporan kerugian lembaga keuangan dunia.

Perlambatan kondisi ekonomi negara maju tersebut memicu penurunan kinerja ekspor Indonesia, yang pada akhirnya akan mempengaruhi kinerja perekonomian secara keseluruhan. Memburuknya kondisi pasar keuangan global menimbulkan kembali sentimen negatif terhadap negara-negara di emerging market yang masih berpotensi menekan perekonomian sejumlah negara, termasuk Indonesia.

Sementara menurunnya kinerja ekspor telah memberikan tekanan pada neraca pembayaran Indonesia, walaupun masih berada pada batas-batas yang aman. Cadangan devisa saat ini masih berada pada posisi US$ 50,56 miliar atau masih mampu memenuhi 5,4 bulan kebutuhan impor dan pembayaran utang luar negeri pemerintah.

Jumlah cadangan devisa ini akan bertambah dengan masuknya dana hasil penjualan global bond Pemerintah yang baru-baru ini diterbitkan sebesar USD 3 milyar.

Tekanan inflasi pada bulan Februari masih relatif rendah, yaitu sebesar 0.21% (mtm) jauh lebih rendah dari rata-rata historisnya, sehingga inflasi tahunan menurun dibanding Januari 2009 menjadi 8,6% (yoy). Rendahnya tekanan inflasi pada Februari terutama disebabkan oleh ekspektasi inflasi yang membaik didukung oleh pasokan kebutuhan pokok yang terjaga dan harga BBM yang lebih rendah. Tekanan inflasi yang terkendali juga terkait dengan perkembangan imported inflation yang menurun sejalan dengan harga komoditas internasional yang lebih rendah.

Kondisi perbankan nasional sampai saat ini cukup stabil, seperti tercermin dari perkembangan berbagai indikator keuangan dan kesehatan bank. Kondisi likuiditas perbankan, termasuk aliran likuiditas dalam pasar uang antar bank, mulai mengalami perbaikan dibanding dengan beberapa bulan yang lalu.

Sementara itu, penyaluran kredit menunjukkan penurunan sebesar 2,1% pada Januari 2009 akibat melemahnya perekonomian dan kehati-hatian perbankan dalam menyalurkan kredit. Namun demikian, Bank Indonesia tetap mencermati kecenderungan meningkatnya risiko kredit yang berpotensi meningkatkan NPL dalam industri perbankan.

Bank Indonesia memperkirakan perekonomian tahun 2009 akan tumbuh sekitar 4% dengan downside risk yang cukup besar terutama apabila pertumbuhan ekonomi global terus memburuk lebih dari yang diperkirakan. Indikasi perlambatan perekonomian ini juga tercermin dari melambatnya konsumsi rumah tangga akibat turunnya daya beli masyarakat, dan pertumbuhan M1 yang masih cenderung turun. Di sisi lain, hal ini akan mengurangi tekanan inflasi ke depan sehingga cenderung mendekati batas bawah kisaran 5% - 7%.

(qom/ir)

lombok

March 5th, 2009, 07:43 PM

Kamis, 05/03/2009 19:26 WIB

Bakrieland bangun kawasan di sekitar tol

oleh : A. Dadan Muhanda

Cetak Kirim ke Teman Komentar
JAKARTA (bisnis.com): PT Bakrieland Development Tbk menyiapkan dana sekitar Rp800 miliar untuk membangun kawasan terpadu di pinggir jalan tol Kanci-Pejagan yang akan digarap selama dua tahun di atas lahan 200 ha.

Presdir Bakrieland Development Hiramsyah S. Thaib mengatakan dana itu diluar biaya yang dikeluarkan untuk investasi jalan tol sepanjang 35 km sebesar Rp2,1 triliun.

Investasi baru itu dikeluarkan karena keberadaan kawasan di sekitar tol dapat meningkatkan lalu lintas harian (LHR) sehingga mempercepat pengembalian investasi.

"Manajemen lalu lintas tol harus dibuat sedemikian rupa agar LHR-nya terjaga, bahkan bisa meningkat" katanya saat jumpa pers mengenai perkembangan pembangunan tol hari ini.

Jalan tol Kanci-Pejagan saat ini sedang dalam tahap konstruksi dan akan diuji coba sekitar Juli atau Juni tahun ini. (tw)

lombok

March 5th, 2009, 07:44 PM

Jateng akan bangun pelabuhan di Kendal
oleh : Endot Brilliantono

SALATIGA, Jateng (bisnis.com): Pemprov Jateng akan membangun pelabuhan bongkar muat dan penumpang di Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus (KEK) di Kabupaten Kendal untuk menggantikan kegiatan perniagaan di Tanjung Emas, Semarang.

Gubernur Jateng Bibit Waluyo mengatakan pelabuhan Tanjung Emas sudah tidak dapat dikembangkan lagi sehingga tidak bisa mendukung kegiatan perniagaan yang semakin meningkat kompleksitasnya.

"Saya punya mimpi untuk bikin Pelabuhan Tanjung Emas II di Kendal," katanya seusai membuka Rakorbang Penanaman Modal Jateng, di Salatiga, hari ini.

Menurut dia, saat ini sudah ada calon investor asal Jakarta yang berminat menanamkan modalnya di Kendal. Bibit tidak menyebutkan nilai investasi yang direncanakan investornya itu, namun dia opitimistis rencananya itu akan terwujud karena sudah melakukan penelitian dan studi kelayakan serta mengukur kedalaman laut untuk menentukan posisi pelabuhan.

Dia menjelaskan calon invetor yang tidak disebutkan namanya itu diketahui memiliki reputasi yang bagus di bidang pelabuhan dan perkapalan. Saat ini calon investor itu sedang mengerjakan galangan kapal di Batam yang mengerjakan perbaikan kapal internasional yang lewat Selat Malaka.

Pemprov sampai sekarang masih menunggu Rancangan Undang-Undang (RUU) KEK yang belum juga disahkan DPR. Pelabuhan Tanjung Emas kini semakin padat arus kapal penumpang dari dan ke Semarang cukup tinggi, rata-rata mencapai per hari 2-3 kapal berlabuh di pelabuhan itu.

Padahal kondisi Tanjung Emas saat ini banyak infrastruktur pendukung yang mulai rusak disamping banjir rob yang terus terjadi. Dermaga Pelabuhan Kendal diproyeksikan bisa menampung kapal berkapasitas sampai dengan 5.000 GT dengan kemampuan merapat kapal berdaya tampung 1.000 orang. (tw)

tollfreak

March 6th, 2009, 01:29 PM

Pemerintah: Ekspor 1 Juta Ton Beras Pun Bisa

JUMAT, 6 MARET 2009 | 16:37 WIB
Laporan wartawan KOMPAS Adi Sucipto

LAMONGAN, JUMAT - Meskipun beberapa kali areal pertanian diterjang banjir di beberapa daerah, namun niat pemerintah mengekspor satu juta ton beras bisa diwujudkan. Pada panen raya padi hibrida di Desa Mojorejo Kecamatan Modo Kabupaten Lamongan, Direktur Jenderal Tanaman Pangan dan Hortikultura Departemen Pertanian RI Sutarto Ali Muso mengatakan meskipun banjir mengakibatkan puso di beberapa daerah, target 40 juta ton beras masih bisa diwujudkan.

Sutarto menyatakan pemerintah tahun ini menargetkan bisa panen 63,5 juta ton gabah kering giling (GKG) atau setara dengan 40 juta ton beras. Jika target tersebur bisa diwujudkan, meskipun ekspor 1 juta ton beras, cadangan beras nasional masih akan dalam kondisi aman pada 2010 mendatang.

Menurut Sutarto meskipun banjir melanda beberapa wilayah pertanian di Indonesia, hal itu tidak akan berpengaruh secara nasional. "Hujan lebat juga diperkirakan masih akan terjadi hingga awal Maret ini. Namun secara keseluruhan padi yang puso sampai saat ini mencapai 66.000 hektar. Tahun lalu lebih besar, mencapai 100 ribu hektar," katanya.

Pemerintah sudah menyiapkan bibit bantuan bagi petani dan kemungkian ada bantuan pupuk juga untuk korban banjir. Saat ini cadangan benih nasional tersedia sebanyak 30.000 ton bibit atau setara untuk 1,5 juta hektar lahan pertanian.

Dia menambahkan hasil produksi padi hibrida sudah cukup memuaskan. Sutarto mencontohkan di Modo bisa mencapai 12 ton per hektar. Namun memang ada kelemahan yang harus diatasi masalah harga benih masih tinggi. "Masalah harga bisa diatasi jika nanti sudah diproduksi di dalam negeri dan tidak impor lagi. Selain itu benih hibrida juga masih memerlukan sedikit adaptasi dengan iklim tropis di Indonesia karena benih ini asalnya dari daerah subtropis," paparnya.

Sutarto menyatakan prihatin petani belum banyak yang menggunakan pupuk organik sebagai penyeimbang dan perbaikan tanah pertanian. "Tahun ini alokasi produksi pupuk kimia mencapai 5,5 juta ton melampaui tahun lalu yang 4,8 juta ton. Namun jika petani tidak mau beralih ke pupuk organik, alokasi tersebut tidak akan pernah cukup. Pemerintah daerah juga harus mengawasi penyelewangan pupuk," katanya.

Masfuk pada kesempatan itu juga menyampaikan uneg-uneg petani Lamongan pada Sutarto. Dia menyampaikan, meski (harga) pupuk naik sedikit, itu tidak masalah bagi petani asal barangnya tersedia cukup. "Meski pupuk ewet (jawa : susah), namun Lamongan bisa men jadi produsen padi nomor satu di Jatim. Apalagi kalau kebutuhan pupuk bisa terpenuhi," ujar Masfuk.

Bupati Lamongan Masfuk menyatakan pada 2008 lalu produksi padi Lamongan mencapai 839.974 ton gaba kering giling (GKG). Tahunini sesuai data Dinas Pertanian dan Kehutanan Lamongan sampai Februari 2009 realisasi tanam padi mencapai 73.912 hektar dan realisa si panen mencapai 25.235 hektar. "Produksinya mencapai 167.308 ton dengan produktivitas rata-rata mencapai 6,63 ton per hektar GKG. Produksi ini mencapai 21,88 persen dari target produksi 764.433 ton GKG tahun ini," katanya.

Masfuk menyebutkan Program Bantuan Langsung Bibit Unggul (BLBU) tahun ini, Lamongan mendapat alokasi padi hibrida sebanyak 42 ton atau setara 2.800 hektar. Benih padi non hibrida sebanyak 53,875 ton atau setara 4.500 hektar. Bibit jagung hibrida sebanyak 67,5 ton setara untuk 4.500 hektar dan kedelai sebanyak 81,4 ton atau setara 2.035 hektar. Selain itu juga ada program Bantuan Langsung Pupuk (BLP) NPK sebanyak 524,95 ton serta pupuk organik cair sebanyak 10.499 liter.

tollfreak

March 8th, 2009, 04:49 PM

BKPM: Indonesia’s motorcycle market still wide open

The Jakarta Post | Sat, 03/07/2009 9:54 PM | Business

The head of Indonesia's Capital Investment Coordinating Board, M Lutfi, said Saturday that the opportunity for new investors to gain a share in the country's motorcycle market was still wide open.

He made the statement after speaking on "Investment Climate and Economic Prospect of Indonesia" at the meeting of Indonesia-Korea Chambers of Commerce in Jakarta as quoted by Antara state news agency.

"I think investing in automotive industry will not be a choice because demand is just turning down," he said.

However the industry still has a good prospect in the country because demand will return in line with economic improvement, he said, adding therefore South Korea would not increase its investment in the sector.

"Investment opportunity however is still open in the motorcycle industry as its market growth could still reach between six and seven million units a year," he said.

The deputy general chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for Industrial, Technological, Marine Sectors, Rachmat Gobel, meanwhile said that Indonesia needed to strengthen its component industry.

The need to strengthen the industry also applies on electronic as well as automotive industries, he said.

Therefore the meeting between Kadin and the South Korean chamber of commerce was important with regard to increasing investment from that country.

According to data from the Capital Investment Coordinating Board, realization of South Korean investment in the country from 1990 to January 2009 reached US$4.87 billion.

Korean investment in the country's metal, machinery and electronic sectors reached $1.75 billion which is the highest among other sectors.

tollfreak

March 10th, 2009, 03:00 PM

I think since this is sort of related to economy, i'll post it here...:
Ismira Lutfia

Indonesian Touted as International Language, Again

Despite being relatively easy to learn, the Indonesian language could only become an international language if its speakers had strong political and economic influences in the world, an expert said on Monday.

M. Umar Muslim, a lecturer on the Indonesian language at the University of Indonesia, said that the appeal of learning a foreign language was rooted in the economic influence that its speakers had, citing Chinese and Japanese as examples, not because a language has simple grammatical structures.

“Even if those languages are difficult, a lot of people think that they need to learn the language because Chinese, Japanese or even Koreans have influential economic powers,” Umar said, citing the domination of English as the most widely spoken international language because its speakers were some of the most influential people in the world.

State news agency Antara reported on Saturday that Minister of National Education Bambang Sudibyo, speaking in Bandar Lampung, Lampung Province, said that Indonesia had the opportunity to become an international language with its simple grammatical and pronunciation systems and due to the shift of power from the West to the East, including Indonesia.

‘The Roman alphabet makes it easier to learn compared to Chinese’
Dendy Sugono,
Head of Indonesian Language Center

“The power shift can be perceived in the ongoing global crisis with its epicenter in the United States, while Indonesia’s economic development continues to rise,” Bambang was quoted as saying, adding that in the next 50 years Indonesia was predicted to be one of the world’s top 10 economic powers.

The head of the ministry’s Indonesian Language Center, Dendy Sugono, said that there were some factors that could contribute to Indonesian becoming an international language, other than its grammatical simplicity as already mentioned by the minister, namely being the language with the fourth highest number of speakers, including some 225 million native speakers and those who have adopted Indonesian as a second language.

“Another factor is the Roman alphabet, which makes it easier to learn compared to Chinese or Japanese,” Dendy said.

“There are now at least 67 countries in the world that have Indonesian language and cultural studies program in their universities,” Dendy said, adding that the largest number of Indonesian learners now are concentrated in Australia, Japan, China and Korea.

He said that Indonesian was easy to learn because the language itself has adapted many words from foreign languages for science and technology terminologies, 65 percent of which were taken from English.

Dendy said that ministry officials were cooperating with Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, to open an Indonesian studies program, and there have also been talks to open a similar program at a university in Azerbaijan.

“The rising number of Indonesian migrant workers in various countries could help to spread the use of the language in other countries,” Dendy said.

The Language Center indicated that Indonesia has 473 different languages, 206 of which are spoken in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

lombok

March 10th, 2009, 06:32 PM

Indonesia Diharapkan Jadi Basis Produksi Otomotif Eropa

Selasa, 10 Maret 2009 21:35 WIB
JAKARTA--MI: Indonesia tetap diharapkan menjadi negara basis produksi barang otomotif dari negara-negara di Eropa untuk pasar ASEAN dan Asia Timur. "Kita harapkan negara-negara Eropa tetap melihat Indonesia sebagai basis produksi untuk ASEAN dan Asia Timur," kata Direktur Jenderal Industri Alat transportasi dan telematika (IATT) Departemen Perindustrian, Budi Darmadi, di Jakarta, Selasa(10/3). Menurut dia, negara Eropa produsen otomotif seperti Jerman sudah mempunyai pengalaman yang cukup banyak di Indonesia. Dengan pengalaman-pengalaman tersebut secara otomatis mereka mengenal dengan baik pasar domestik di Tanah Air.

"Kalau itu bisa ditingkatkan maka Indonesia bisa menjadi basis produksi peralatan otomotif termasuk mobil setir kanan," katanya. Apalagi dengan era FTA (Free Trade Agreement), produk-produk tersebut dapat leluasa masuk ke pasar yang lebih luas. "Kita sudah mempunyai FTA dengan Australia, ini juga potensi agar kita bisa masuk ke sana," katanya. Belum lama ini, produsen otomotif Jerman sudah menyatakan minatnya untuk menambah varian produk otomotifnya di Indonesia.

Selama ini, produk otomotif produksi Jerman cenderung lebih banyak pada jenis sedan, sehingga rencananya mereka akan menambah varian untuk jenis van dan "multi purpose vehicle" (MPV). Budi berpendapat, Jerman sudah dapat melihat prospek Indonesia sebagai negara yang menjanjikan untuk tempat berinvestasi secara jangka panjang. "Jerman contohnya ingin tetap Indonesia jadi basis produksi dan ingin memperluas variasi produk tidak hanya ke sedan tetapi juga van," katanya.(Ant/OL-01)

tollfreak

March 11th, 2009, 11:47 AM

BRI dan Telkom Jadi Rekomendasi JPMorgan di Asia Tenggara

RABU, 11 MARET 2009 | 14:26 WIB
SINGAPURA, KOMPAS.com — JPMorgan Chase & Co membuat rekomendasi 19 perusahaan unggulan di Asia Tenggara yang bisa dipertimbangkan untuk investasi di tengah anjloknya market saat ini. Dua di antaranya adalah PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BBRI) dan Thai Oil Pcl.

Analis JPMorgan, Sriyan Pietersz, dalam laporannya yang dirilis hari ini mengatakan, para investor harus membeli saham-saham yang mampu bertahan dan memberikan keuntungan di tengah resesi global saat ini. Perusahaan-perusahaan tersebut harus memiliki neraca yang aman, tingkat valuasi yang menarik, dan memiliki risiko rendah pada anjloknya harga sahamnya. “Faktor-faktor tadi yang kami gunakan dalam menganalisis 19 perusahaan yang layak untuk investasi,” katanya.

Saham BBRI yang merupakan bank terbesar kedua dari segi pendapatan di Indonesia sudah mengalami penurunan sebesar 11 persen pada tahun ini. Pada 2 Maret BBRI mengatakan, laba pada tahun lalu kemungkinan bisa melampaui Rp 5 triliun atau 413 juta dollar AS. Angka tersebut lebih tinggi daripada pencapaian tahun 2007 yang hanya mencapai Rp 4,8 triliun.

Selain BBRI, PT Astra International dan PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia juga merupakan beberapa perusahaan yang menjadi pilihan JPMorgan di Indonesia.

Di Thailand, JPMorgan merekomendasikan saham Thai Oil. Saham perusahaan minyak terbesar di Negeri Gajah Putih itu sudah mengalami kenaikan sebesar 1,7 persen pada tahun ini. Pada 13 Februari Thai Oil mengatakan, laba perusahaan akan mengalami peningkatan pada tahun 2009 setelah mengalami penurunan sebesar 99 persen pada tahun lalu.

Selain itu, JPMorgan juga merekomendasikan sejumlah perusahaan lain di Thailand, seperti Advanced Info Service Pcl, BEC Pcl, CP All Pcl, PTT Exploration and Production Pcl, serta Siam Commercial Bank Pcl.

Di Malaysia, sejumlah saham yang menjadi pilihan JPMorgan antara lain Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd, British American Tobacco Malaysia Bhd, Digi.com Bhd, Plus Expressways Bhd, dan YTL Power International Bhd. Perusahaan-perusahaan itu relatif stabil dalam hal pendapatan, neraca, dan dividen.

Sementara itu, di Filipina JPMorgan hanya menyarankan untuk berinvestasi di saham Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Di Singapura, beberapa saham pilihan JPMorgan antara lain Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, City Developments Ltd, DBS Group Holdings Ltd, dan Singapore Exchange Ltd.

Asal tahu saja, indeks MSCI Asia Pacific sudah mengalami penurunan sebesar 18 persen tahun ini. Hal ini semakin memperlebar kemelorotan indeks tahun lalu yang mencapai 43 persen. Sementara itu, bursa saham Filipina menjadi bursa saham dengan performa terbaik di Asia Tenggara tahun ini dengan mengalami kenaikan sebesar 2 persen.

Pada Januari lalu Dana Moneter Internasional (IMF) mengatakan, pertumbuhan ekonomi lima negara terbesar di Asia Tenggara diprediksi akan melambat menjadi 2,7 persen pada tahun ini setelah sebelumnya tumbuh 5,4 persen pada tahun 2008. IMF juga bilang, pertumbuhan ekonomi negara-negara berkembang di kawasan regional ini akan kembali membaik menjadi 4,1 persen pada tahun 2010. (Barratut Taqiyyah/Kontan)

K14N

March 12th, 2009, 10:58 AM

Sedih amat Jakarta cuma posisi 190, dianggap sangat ga menarik oleh ekspatriat... :cry:

Singapore, Sydney top for Asian expats: survey

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Agence France-Presse | 03/11/2009 1:15 PM

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SINGAPORE - Singapore and Sydney are the favourite destinations of Asians relocating to work overseas and the reputation of Chinese cities is improving, a survey showed Wednesday.

The city-state's much better air quality, low crime rates and services give it the edge over other Asian capitals like Hong Kong, where pollution is a big drawback, human resources consultancy ECA International said.

"Good infrastructure and healthcare facilities, low crime and health risks, and decent air quality contribute to Singapore providing the best quality of living for Asian assignees," said Lee Quane, the firm's regional director.

ECA International's 2008 survey of the best postings for Asian expatriates ranked Sydney in second place -- repeating the one-two finish in the previous year's poll -- followed by Kobe in western Japan.

Copenhagen and Vancouver are the only two cities from outside the Asia-Pacific region to feature in the top 10 best locations for Asian expatriates.

The Danish capital shared sixth spot with Tokyo while Vancouver tied with Wellington in ninth position.

Filling up the other spots are Melbourne and Yokohoma in joint fourth position with Australia's administrative capital Canberra occupying the eighth spot, it added.

The results of the survey, carried out in the third quarter of 2008, remain relevant although the economic situation has changed significantly due to the worsening global financial crisis, Quane said.

"Most of the things that we look at in our rankings such as pollution... they tend to be quite static," he told AFP.

The survey is based on data extracted from 1,800 respondents on how they rate over 400 cities using criteria like climate, air quality and housing.

Other Asian destinations did not fare so well in the global rankings although Chinese cities did see some improvement, with Beijing now boasting better infrastructure because of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Among the region's key cities, Hong Kong was placed 11th while Taipei and Macau shared 56th spot.

Among key Southeast Asian cities, Kuala Lumpur came 61st, Bangkok 63rd, Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan 95th and Hanoi 122nd.

Manila was in 138th spot and Jakarta was ranked 190th globally.

In another survey on Asian urban issues, Tokyo and Osaka emerged as the world's most expensive cities for expatriates while sharp currency declines have lowered living costs in Australia and New Zealand.

Shanghai, with a cost of living only two percent cheaper than New York's, is currently more expensive than Sydney, said the survey carried out last month by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a leading provider of country, industry and management analysis.

Seven of the world's 10 most expensive cities are in Europe, with Singapore joining Tokyo and Osaka as the only Asian cities on the list.

Oslo and Paris were the world's costliest cities in the previous EIU survey.

as of 03/11/2009 1:26 PM

ace4

March 12th, 2009, 11:08 AM

^^
waduh... sedih juga...:cry: tapi kalo emang dibandingin ama beberapa kota lainnya yang disebut sih emang Jakarta emang kalah kalo soal kenyamanan secara keseluruhan... apalagi dalam pandangan kenyamanan menurut ekspatriat...:cry:

lain cerita sih kalo buat orang yang udah terbiasa dengan kondisi semrawutnya Jakarta...:D

RonnieR

March 12th, 2009, 11:26 AM

chene

March 12th, 2009, 03:21 PM

chene

March 12th, 2009, 03:26 PM

anyway, dont they say about Seoul???

zeinedean

March 12th, 2009, 03:57 PM

anyway, dont they say about Seoul???

An honest opinion as an outsider who loves Indonesia, your government should start looking for another city as a new Administrative capital!

It is a very expansive undertaking to transform Jakarta to an expat friendly city!

Indonesia should ease the burden of Jakarta!
I'm sure if there is a will there is a way!

RonnieR

March 12th, 2009, 06:47 PM

^^^^mmmmm...dont see Hanoi as a underdog city...IMO, Hanoi is much better than Manila interm of air quality, living cost, tourism and etc...
we have to learn, learn n learn as much as we can from someone who is better than us....:):):)

Okay, Manila terpuruklah, okay, happy? Maunya dimana Manila di 300++ okay, aku terima aja, then are you happy? :nuts: I understand where you're coming from....
no problem.

Survey is just a survey...based on opinion. My argument is very clear, nobody from our city was polled.

vsovereign

March 13th, 2009, 02:08 AM

Okay, Manila terpuruklah, okay, happy? Maunya dimana Manila di 300++ okay, aku terima aja, then are you happy? :nuts: I understand where you're coming from....
no problem.

Survey is just a survey...based on opinion. My argument is very clear, nobody from our city was polled.

:lol: don't take things personally :)

Never been to Hanoi (or was it Saigon?)
I've seen pics of Manila & I think Manila is better than Hanoi.

But I dunno about the crime rate, air pollution, etc there.
I know about Jakarta tho & I think Jakarta at 190th place is...well, not that far off the mark :lol:

But yea, Hanoi is better? Gosh I gotta say I beg to differ too! :ohno:

RonnieR

March 13th, 2009, 02:45 AM

:lol: don't take things personally :)

Never been to Hanoi (or was it Saigon?)
I've seen pics of Manila & I think Manila is better than Hanoi.

But I dunno about the crime rate, air pollution, etc there.
I know about Jakarta tho & I think Jakarta at 190th place is...well, not that far off the mark :lol:

But yea, Hanoi is better? Gosh I gotta say I beg to differ too! :ohno:

:) It's just a forum, I don't take it personally. Hanoi is in the North and the capital of Vietnam and SAigon, now Ho Chi Min city, is in the south, is the largest, even better than Hanoi.

Well, I've visited Hanoi once and it's really different if you personally experience the place rather than based it on news that you read or hear. I'm not here to put down a city.

On crime rate, Manila's index on crime is going down in years. GDP is rising, infrastructure is improving - 3 MRT/LRT lines are serving at least 1 Million passengers a day in the city that traverse 51 kms. with 43 stations. 6 stations for 5.1 kms are under construction in the northern part of M. Manila. In 2007, our Pasig river was revived after years of dormancy and inactivity. The bad smell of the river is gone and these fully A/C ferry boats are being patronized by Metro Manilans. It has 14 stations that traverse different areas of the metropolis.

There is no recession so far, (God willing), although there is an economic slowdown in our country due to global financial crisis.

Based on United Nation Human Development Index (HDI), which measures GDP, life expectancy, educational attainment, literacy and standard of living, our country fared well:

HDI - 2008, UN Report out of 179 countries

102 Philippines 0.745 ▲ +0.002 103 Fiji 0.743 ▬
104 Sri Lanka 0.742 ▲ +0.003
105 Syria 0.736 ▲ +0.005
106 Palestine 0.731 ▲ +0.003
107 Gabon 0.729 ▲ +0.002
108 Turkmenistan 0.728 ▲ +0.001
109 Indonesia 0.726 ▲ +0.007 110 Guyana 0.725 ▲ +0.004
111 Bolivia 0.723 ▲ +0.005
112 Mongolia 0.720 ▲ +0.006
113 Moldova 0.719 ▲ +0.005
114 Vietnam 0.718 ▲ +0.004

I also agree with you that Jakarta's infrastructure, standard of living are better than Hanoi (I lived before in Jakarta).

Well, as I said, the survey is based only on 1,800 ASian expats polled in selected cities/countries. :) Let's not be distracted. I believe that ASEAN countries will grow even bigger.

napoleon

March 13th, 2009, 10:40 AM

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand to cooperate in developing furniture

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) – Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have agreed to cooperate in developing products, particularly household furnishings and furniture, with the goal of positioning the product in markets around the world, according to Department of Export Promotion (DEP) Director-General Rachane Potjanasuntorn,.

Leaders of the three countries discussed their concerns in the matter during the ASEAN Summit recently held Thailand’s Cha-am resort.

Mr. Rachane said state agencies concerned with intra-ASEAN trade affairs will meet soon to lay a tangible framework for their expanding cooperation.

He said that Thai furnishings and furniture had been recognised in quality terms by large- and medium- size markets as well as new markets.

Although many countries had been affected by the global economic meltdown, he believed opportunities and demands for Thai furniture would remain sound this year.

It is expected the export of industrial products would grow 3-5 per cent with a total value of Bt45 billion this year.

“The commerce ministry is still confident that furniture exports will expand satisfactorily,” he said, “but we are more concerned about a labour shortage in furniture production.

“As far as I have seen, the number of employees in the furniture industry has not been cut back. In contrast, the demand for labour in the sector has increased,” he said. (TNA)

chene

March 13th, 2009, 11:47 AM

Okay, Manila terpuruklah, okay, happy? Maunya dimana Manila di 300++ okay, aku terima aja, then are you happy? :nuts: I understand where you're coming from....
no problem.

Survey is just a survey...based on opinion. My argument is very clear, nobody from our city was polled.

u have to learn how to respect other peoples critical opinion/point of view...:ohno::ohno:
dont too emotional...my opinion just state that Hanoi is better than manila in that sense..i believe, manila also has things which are beteer than hanoi...

enjoy the SSC!!

RonnieR

March 13th, 2009, 12:10 PM

u have to learn how to respect other peoples critical opinion/point of view...:ohno::ohno:
dont too emotional...my opinion just state that Hanoi is better than manila in that sense..i believe, manila also has things which are beteer than hanoi...

enjoy the SSC!!

I can see in all your posts that you have this distate about Manila/Phils., well, if that is your opinion, so be it. I can't force you to come and visit here for you to be awakened that in the end, Manila is indeed better than Hanoi.

It's just a survey, okay? Jakarta is way off to be placed at 190th...I don't agree with it. I rest my case. This is OT.

chene

March 13th, 2009, 12:36 PM

^^^^^^:ohno::ohno:

unity

March 13th, 2009, 12:40 PM

Every body has their own point of view... C mon guys, don't be like this...
But in my opinion, of course Manila is much better than Hanoi...:cheers:

chene

March 13th, 2009, 12:42 PM

Hot Money Mulai Masuk Lagi

Rabu, 31 Desember 2008 | 08:27 WIB
JAKARTA, RABU — Dana asing jangka pendek alias hot money mulai berhamburan lagi masuk ke pasar keuangan Indonesia. Walau tak terlalu deras, aliran hot money itu cukup membuat nilai tukar rupiah kembali bertenaga. :banana::banana:Dana asing tersebut kembali masuk lewat dua instrumen, Sertifikat Bank Indonesia (SBI) dan Surat Utang Negara (SUN).

SBI, misalnya. Awal Desember (4/12), dana asing yang bercokol di SBI tercatat Rp 6,54 triliun. Namun saat ini, "Kepemilikan asing di SBI sudah Rp 7 triliun sampai Rp 8 triliun," kata Peneliti Ekonomi Madya Direktorat Moneter Bank Indonesia (BI), Ramdan Deni Prakoso, kepada Kontan, Senin (29/12).

Sementara itu, dana asing di SUN belakangan juga kian menggemuk. Per 23 Desember 2008, kepemilikan asing di SUN sudah mencapai Rp 88,13 triliun. Bandingkan dengan posisi akhir November 2008 lalu yang cuma Rp 86,42 triliun. "Penurunan imbal hasil atau yield di SUN membuat investor menilai risiko gagal bayar mulai berkurang," kata analis obligasi Kim Eng Securities, Dian Abdul Hakim.

Asal tahu saja, yield SUN acuan seri FR 48 pada perdagangan kemarin (30/12) tercatat 11,88 persen. Imbal hasil ini jauh lebih kecil ketimbang besaran yield tertinggi SUN pada 28 Oktober 2008 lalu yang mencapai 20,90 persen. Menurut Dian, naiknya harga SUN juga menjadi indikasi risiko gagal bayar alias default SUN makin minim.

Di perdagangan kemarin, harga SUN seri FR 48 tercatat harganya sudah naik menjadi 83,63. Harga ini mendekati harga tertinggi SUN tahun ini yang sebesar 86,87. Harga tertinggi SUN itu tercatat pada 6 Agustus 2008.

Dian memprediksi kepemilikan asing di SUN bakal makin gendut lagi karena imbal hasil dan risiko SUN yang kembali sebanding. Dana asing di SUN mencapai puncaknya pada bulan akhir Agustus 2008 mencapai Rp 106,66 triliun. Namun, sejak itu hot money terus kabur dari SUN dan baru balik di bulan Desember 2008.

Analis obligasi Danareksa Sekuritas Budi Susanto mengatakan, kepercayaan asing terhadap SUN memang sudah mulai pulih. Mereka pun kembali membeli SUN. "Kebanyakan mereka mengambil SUN dengan tenor jangka menengah dan panjang," imbuhnya.

Menurut hitungan Budi, program pembelian kembali atau buy back SUN yang dilakukan pemerintah rupanya cukup ampuh mengangkat harga SUN. Ia memprediksi, kalau nilai tukar rupiah tetap stabil, kepemilikan asing di SUN akan terus merangkak naik sampai tahun depan.

Direktur Danareksa Research Institute Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa menegaskan, faktor lain yang membuat dana asing ini terus menggelembung di Indonesia adalah tawaran imbal hasil investasi jangka pendek yang menggiurkan. Lihat saja, suku bunga kita jauh lebih tinggi ketimbang suku bunga negara lain. "Makanya dana asing akan terus masuk setidaknya sampai pertengahan tahun depan," ujarnya. (KONTAN)

chene

March 13th, 2009, 12:46 PM

Wah, "Hot Money" Rp 7 Triliun Hengkang dari Indonesia

Jumat, 13 Maret 2009 | 08:21 WIB
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Pemilik dana luar negeri semakin gerah menetap di Indonesia. Sepanjang Februari 2009 hingga 10 Maret 2009 aliran ke luar dana asing yang biasa disebut hot money dari Surat Utang Negara (SUN) mencapai Rp 7,25 triliun.

Uang panas juga hengkang dari bursa saham lokal. Bank Indonesia mencatat, investor asing melakukan net selling pada Februari senilai Rp 627 miliar. Jadi, dana asing yang keluar dari SUN dan bursa saham dalam satu setengah bulan terakhir mencapai Rp 7,852 triliun.

Direktur Jenderal Pengelolaan Utang Departemen Keuangan Rahmat Waluyanto menilai, penurunan dana asing di SUN termasuk tren deleveraging yang melanda seluruh negara berkembang. "Proses deleveraging ini penyebab dana asing keluar dari Indonesia," kata Rahmat, kemarin.

Investor asing menarik dana besar-besaran karena ingin mengurangi risiko nilai tukar. Rahmat mengaku, tindakan investor asing ini bisa dipahami mengingat nilai tukar rupiah terhadap dollar AS sepanjang Februari terus melemah.

Menipisnya dana asing di SUN ini memang bukan berita yang enak didengar. Sebab, dalam kondisi mata uang global yang sedang bergejolak seperti sekarang, hengkangnya dana asing makin memurukkan nilai tukar rupiah.

Pekan lalu kurs rupiah sempat melemah melampaui Rp 12.000 per dollar AS. Dalam perdagangan di pasar lokal kemarin, kurs rupiah memang sudah menguat kembali menjadi Rp 11.993 per dollar AS.

Kaburnya dana asing telah menggerus cadangan devisa Indonesia menjadi sekitar dollar AS 50 miliar, Februari lalu. Cadangan devisa baru kembali naik setelah pemerintah menjual global medium term notes (MTN) senilai 3 miliar dollar AS pada awal bulan ini.

Pindah ke SBI

Memang tak seluruh dana asing yang hengkang dari SUN dan pasar modal langsung kabur ke luar negeri. Sebagian dana pindah lahan parkir, dari SUN ke SBI. Maklum SBI masih menawarkan bunga yang menggiurkan investor, yakni 8,37 persen-9,33 persen.

Hingga 10 Maret 2009 lalu uang asing yang parkir di SBI mencapai Rp 8,1 triliun atau naik Rp 532 miliar dari posisi per tanggal 6 Maret 2009. Berarti, kepemilikan asing di SBI sudah mencapai 3,5 persen dari total dana SBI yang sebesar Rp 230 triliun.

Kepala Biro Stabilitas Sistem Keuangan Direktorat Penelitian dan Pengaturan Perbankan BI Wimboh Santoso menjelaskan, peningkatan uang asing di SBI terjadi dalam beberapa hari terakhir. Wimboh menilai, kondisi itu merupakan sinyal positif bagi kondisi moneter dan perbankan Indonesia:cheers::banana:. "Suplai valuta asing jadi ikut meningkat. Jadi, sangat membantu likuiditas dollar," ujar Wimboh.

Kepala Ekonom Danareksa Research Institute Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa menduga, investor asing memarkir dana di SBI untuk menghindari risiko pasar keuangan yang sedang bergejolak.

Sebab, harga SUN bisa turun mengikuti mekanisme pasar, tidak seperti penempatan dana di SBI yang sudah tentu mendapat jaminan dari bank sentral. "Ini membuktikan, penurunan suku bunga tak menyebabkan capital outflow besar-besaran," ujarnya. (Ade Jun Firdaus/Kontan)

tollfreak

March 13th, 2009, 12:58 PM

Good to see forumers from the region participating here...anyways some news:

Five Indonesians shine on Forbes billionaire list

Lilian Budianto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 03/12/2009 11:32 PM | Business

Everybody is affected by the present global financial crisis. But not Indonesians Michael Hartono and brother R. Budi Hartono, owners of the country’s second-largest cigarette company, who made it into the annual list of billionaires, as published by Forbes magazine.

Though the wealth of the Hartono brothers was trimmed from US$2 billion in 2008 to $1.7 billion in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, they jumped to 430th position on the 2009 Forbes World’s Billionaires list from 605 last year.

Forbes magazine released the names of the world’s 793 richest people on Wednesday, five of whom were Indonesian businessmen. Topping the list was computer czar and Microsoft Corporation founder Bill Gates, followed by property and casualty insurance company Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffet, both from the United States.

Michael, 69, and Budi, 68, who ranked 605 on the list last year with a wealth of $2 billion each, now have only $1.7 billion apiece. Besides owning clove cigarette company Gudang Garam, they also own shares in Indonesia’s largest bank – Bank Central Asia (BCA) – and the Grand Indonesia luxury shopping mall, office building and hotel complex.

The brothers have surpassed Singapore-based tycoon Sukanto Tanoto, 59, ranked 450th on the list with $1.6 billion in wealth. Forbes listed Sukanto, owner of paper, construction and palm oil industries under the Raja Garuda Mas Group, as the richest man in Indonesia in 2008, with $3.8 billion in wealth.

“The cigarette business has shown greater resilience since the 1998 economic crisis, and the trend has continued to date. It can rely much on domestic consumption, at a time when the export-driven sector, such as commodities, has slowed down as global demand shrinks,” said University of Indonesia economist Berly Martawardaya.

Forbes also listed Martua Sitorus, 49, owner of palm oil company Wilmar International Group, in 522nd place with $1.4 billion in wealth. The next Indonesian on the list is the 701st-ranked Peter Sondakh, 57, with $1 billion in interests in the telecommunications, retail and hotel businesses.

“It’s a great thing that we still have Indonesian businessmen in the list, despite the crisis,” said M.S. Hidayat, chairman of the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

“Gudang Garam has shown that it can maintain its market of consumers from the middle- to lower-income brackets under any condition.”

This year, the world’s billionaires have an average net worth of $3 billion, down 23 percent in 12 months. The world now has 793 billionaires, down from 1,125 a year ago, Forbes reported.

The top 20 in the list are still mostly Americans. Bill Gates lost $18 billion, but regained his title as the world’s richest man, even as the world’s richest are also a lot poorer, the Forbes website said.

Warren Buffett, last year’s No. 1, saw his fortune decline $25 billion as shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell nearly 50 percent in 12 months, but he still managed to slip just one spot to No. 2. Mexican telecoms titan Carlos Slim Helú also lost $25 billion and dropped one spot to No. 3.

Forbes said, “It was hard to avoid the carnage, whether you were in stocks, commodities, real estate or technology. Even people running profitable businesses were hammered by frozen credit markets, weak consumer spending or declining currencies”.

The biggest loser in the world this year, by dollars, was last year’s biggest gainer. India’s Anil Ambani lost $32 billion – 76 percent of his fortune – as shares of his Reliance Communications, Reliance Power and Reliance Capital all collapsed.

Ambani is one of 24 Indian billionaires, all but one of whom are poorer than a year ago. Another 29 Indians lost their billionaire status entirely as India’s stock market tumbled 44 percent in the past year and the Indian rupee depreciated 18 percent against the dollar. It is no longer the top spot in Asia for billionaires, ceding that title to China, which has 28.

Russia became the epicenter of the world’s commodities bust, losing 55 billionaires – two-thirds of its 2008 crop. Among them: Dmitry Pumpyansky, an industrialist from the resource-rich Ural mountains region, who lost $5 billion as shares of his pipe producer, TMK, sank 84 percent.

Also gone is Vasily Anisimov, father of Moscow’s Paris Hilton, Anna Anisimova, who lost $3.2 billion as the value of his Metalloinvest Holding, one of Russia’s largest ore mining and processing firms, fell along with his real estate holdings.

Twelve months ago, Moscow overtook New York as the billionaire capital of the world, with 74 tycoons to New York’s 71. Today, there are 27 in Moscow and 55 in New York.

RonnieR

March 13th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Every body has their own point of view... C mon guys, don't be like this...
But in my opinion, of course Manila is much better than Hanoi...:cheers:

Good to see forumers from the region participating here...anyways some news:

Terima kasih ya... entalah, I still have a soft spot for Indonesia, thus my concern. :)

tollfreak

March 13th, 2009, 03:02 PM

Indonesia's Medco signs LNG deal with Chubu, Kansai

JAKARTA, March 13 (Reuters) - Indonesia's PT Medco Energi International Tbk (MEDC.JK) has signed a head of agreement to supply a total of 2 million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to two Japanese buyers, a company official said on Friday.

Under the agreement, Medco will sell 1 million tonnes of LNG from the Donggi-Senoro LNG plant on Sulawesi island to both Chubu Electric Power Co (9502.T) and Kansai Electric (9503.T), Medco director Lukman Mahfoedz told reporters.

"We signed the agreement in February. The contract will run for 15 years," Mahfoedz said without giving details on prices.

In August last year, state oil firm Pertamina, Medco and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.T) signed a natural gas supply agreement for the LNG plant in Sulawesi island.

The three firms signed an agreement in August 2007 to build the $1.4 billion Donggi-Senoro LNG plant, which will have a capacity of 2 million tonnes per year.

The plant is expected to be operational by 2012 or 2013.

Medco expected the government to approve the LNG plant by the end of this month, Mahfoedz said, warning the project would be delayed if approval was not forthcoming.

"We hope to get the government approval so that we can execute the final investment decision. Otherwise, there will be a delay and we will miss a window (of opportunity)," Mahfoedz said.

The project has been criticised by legislators for selling the natural gas to the LNG plant too cheaply.

The plant should give LNG production in Indonesia, the world's third-biggest LNG exporter after Qatar and Malaysia, a much needed boost as the country struggles to juggle exports and local needs.

The outlook for Indonesia's LNG exports has been put in doubt by plans to divert more of its production to domestic use at a time when its oil and gas output has been under pressure from ageing fields and lags in bringing new production onstream.

The Southeast Asian country has failed to meet its contractual commitments to traditional markets such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan due to a slump in production.

Indonesia has far more gas than oil but it faces limited supplies due to long-term LNG export commitments, which it is reviewing.

The country has about 182 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

(Reporting by Muklis Ali; Writing by Fitri Wulandari; Editing by Ed Davies)

DJ_Archuleta

March 14th, 2009, 04:27 AM

:) It's just a forum, I don't take it personally. Hanoi is in the North and the capital of Vietnam and SAigon, now Ho Chi Min city, is in the south, is the largest, even better than Hanoi.

Well, I've visited Hanoi once and it's really different if you personally experience the place rather than based it on news that you read or hear. I'm not here to put down a city.

On crime rate, Manila's index on crime is going down in years. GDP is rising, infrastructure is improving - 3 MRT/LRT lines are serving at least 1 Million passengers a day in the city that traverse 51 kms. with 43 stations. 6 stations for 5.1 kms are under construction in the northern part of M. Manila. In 2007, our Pasig river was revived after years of dormancy and inactivity. The bad smell of the river is gone and these fully A/C ferry boats are being patronized by Metro Manilans. It has 14 stations that traverse different areas of the metropolis.

There is no recession so far, (God willing), although there is an economic slowdown in our country due to global financial crisis.

Based on United Nation Human Development Index (HDI), which measures GDP, life expectancy, educational attainment, literacy and standard of living, our country fared well:

HDI - 2008, UN Report out of 179 countries

102 Philippines 0.745 ▲ +0.002 103 Fiji 0.743 ▬
104 Sri Lanka 0.742 ▲ +0.003
105 Syria 0.736 ▲ +0.005
106 Palestine 0.731 ▲ +0.003
107 Gabon 0.729 ▲ +0.002
108 Turkmenistan 0.728 ▲ +0.001
109 Indonesia 0.726 ▲ +0.007 110 Guyana 0.725 ▲ +0.004
111 Bolivia 0.723 ▲ +0.005
112 Mongolia 0.720 ▲ +0.006
113 Moldova 0.719 ▲ +0.005
114 Vietnam 0.718 ▲ +0.004

I also agree with you that Jakarta's infrastructure, standard of living are better than Hanoi (I lived before in Jakarta).

Well, as I said, the survey is based only on 1,800 ASian expats polled in selected cities/countries. :) Let's not be distracted. I believe that ASEAN countries will grow even bigger.

If compare with GDP per capita, Vietnam is also ranked much lower than both Indonesia and the Philippines

GDP per capita - 2008

Indonesia - $ 2,271
Philippines - $ 1,908
Vietnam - $ 1,047

:)

RonnieR

March 15th, 2009, 04:08 PM

If compare with GDP per capita, Vietnam is also ranked much lower than both Indonesia and the Philippines

GDP per capita - 2008

Indonesia - $ 2,271
Philippines - $ 1,908
Vietnam - $ 1,047

:)

HI DJ Archuleta, your source pls...

Per IMF, 2008 GDP per Capita:

Brunei $43,752
Burma $233
Cambodia $742
Indonesia $2,181
Laos $829
Malaysia $7,866
Philippines $1,908
Singapore $41,291
Thailand $4,099
Timor-Leste $460
Vietnam $1,047

We still have lot of things to catch up :)

jaystar

March 15th, 2009, 08:47 PM

:) It's just a forum, I don't take it personally. Hanoi is in the North and the capital of Vietnam and SAigon, now Ho Chi Min city, is in the south, is the largest, even better than Hanoi.

Well, I've visited Hanoi once and it's really different if you personally experience the place rather than based it on news that you read or hear. I'm not here to put down a city.

On crime rate, Manila's index on crime is going down in years. GDP is rising, infrastructure is improving - 3 MRT/LRT lines are serving at least 1 Million passengers a day in the city that traverse 51 kms. with 43 stations. 6 stations for 5.1 kms are under construction in the northern part of M. Manila. In 2007, our Pasig river was revived after years of dormancy and inactivity. The bad smell of the river is gone and these fully A/C ferry boats are being patronized by Metro Manilans. It has 14 stations that traverse different areas of the metropolis.

There is no recession so far, (God willing), although there is an economic slowdown in our country due to global financial crisis.

Based on United Nation Human Development Index (HDI), which measures GDP, life expectancy, educational attainment, literacy and standard of living, our country fared well:

HDI - 2008, UN Report out of 179 countries

102 Philippines 0.745 ▲ +0.002 103 Fiji 0.743 ▬
104 Sri Lanka 0.742 ▲ +0.003
105 Syria 0.736 ▲ +0.005
106 Palestine 0.731 ▲ +0.003
107 Gabon 0.729 ▲ +0.002
108 Turkmenistan 0.728 ▲ +0.001
109 Indonesia 0.726 ▲ +0.007 110 Guyana 0.725 ▲ +0.004
111 Bolivia 0.723 ▲ +0.005
112 Mongolia 0.720 ▲ +0.006
113 Moldova 0.719 ▲ +0.005
114 Vietnam 0.718 ▲ +0.004

I also agree with you that Jakarta's infrastructure, standard of living are better than Hanoi (I lived before in Jakarta).

Well, as I said, the survey is based only on 1,800 ASian expats polled in selected cities/countries. :) Let's not be distracted. I believe that ASEAN countries will grow even bigger.

gw pernah baca statis yang di tulis infrastructure jkt lebih bagus dari manila...
one of the reason is our taxi system!

vsovereign

March 15th, 2009, 09:45 PM

HI DJ Archuleta, your source pls...

Per IMF, 2008 GDP per Capita:

Brunei $43,752
Burma $233
Cambodia $742
Indonesia $2,181
Laos $829
Malaysia $7,866
Philippines $1,908
Singapore $41,291
Thailand $4,099
Timor-Leste $460
Vietnam $1,047

We still have lot of things to catch up :)

I would hazard a guess that DJ Archuleta's source is Wikipedia or probably CIA Factbook.

As you can see, from HDI & GDP percapita, Indonesia & Philippines aren't that different. I would, again, hazard a guess that our infrastructure isn't that different too...

Hehehe :lol:

vsovereign

March 15th, 2009, 09:50 PM

gw pernah baca statis yang di tulis infrastructure jkt lebih bagus dari manila...
one of the reason is our taxi system!

I have to say that that I doubt this.
Probably back before the economic crisis 10 years ago.

Manila has a subway system. THAT is waaaaay better than our busway system which is....well, you know how that is :ohno:

Our taxi system? Okay, I don't know about crime rate in Manila, but I do know that Jakarta taxi users sometimes got robbed or raped...

Overall what's with the entire "argo kuda" thing...I don't think that our taxi system should be made into an example.

jaystar

March 15th, 2009, 10:00 PM

I have to say that that I doubt this.
Probably back before the economic crisis 10 years ago.

Manila has a subway system. THAT is waaaaay better than our busway system which is....well, you know how that is :ohno:

Our taxi system? Okay, I don't know about crime rate in Manila, but I do know that Jakarta taxi users sometimes got robbed or raped...

Overall what's with the entire "argo kuda" thing...I don't think that our taxi system should be made into an example.

i dont know if u understand german or not but in your profile ur location is mecklenburg-vorpommern.
so i found this "reisebericht" "laporan perjalanan" "journey advice"
i quote: "Es wird für die meisten eine Überraschung sein, aber Taxifahren in Jakarta ist überhaupt kein Problem. Im Gegensatz zu den umliegenden Ländern wie Malaysia, Thailand, Philippinen. Wer mit dem Taxi in Manila klar kommt, überlebt es überall in der Welt. Dort hatte ich bisher die schlimmsten Erlebnisse. Das wurde auch nicht von Afrika übertroffen. Jakarta dagegen? Kein Problem. In den letzten Jahren, seit dem ich hier in Jakarta unterwegs bin, ist das sogar noch besser geworden."

source: http://reisen.mkihr.de/index.php/2009/02/20/taxi-in-jakarta/

RonnieR

March 16th, 2009, 10:16 AM

I have to say that that I doubt this.
Probably back before the economic crisis 10 years ago.

Manila has a subway system. THAT is waaaaay better than our busway system which is....well, you know how that is :ohno:

Our taxi system? Okay, I don't know about crime rate in Manila, but I do know that Jakarta taxi users sometimes got robbed or raped...

Overall what's with the entire "argo kuda" thing...I don't think that our taxi system should be made into an example.

Hi, when I stayed in Jakarta before, I never felt threatened in riding taxis. I even tried bajaj :lol:

Let me correct on our metro system. It is not underground based but rather ground level and elevated except for some stations which are underground or subway.

Current:
LRT 1 (yellow line), 18 stations, 15.5 kms. – all elevated, 400,000 to 500,000 average daily ridership.
LRT 1 (north extension), 6 stations, 5.1 kms. – all elevated. Construction is on-going, for completion in May 2010.
MRT 2 (purple line), 11 stations, 13.8 kms. – only 1 station is underground, 250,000 to 300,000 average daily ridership
MRT 3 (blue line), 13 stations, 16.9 kms. – mostly ground level (similar to tram but rapid transit) with 2 underground stations, 500,000 average daily ridership.
We have a total of 48 stations covering 51 kms.

Plan:
MRT 4, 22.6 kms. (red line) – On-hold
LRT 6, (South extension of yellow line), 10 stations, 11.7 kms. – Approved
MRT 7, 13 stations, 20 kms. – Approved, US$1.2Billion
MRT 8, 48 kms. – Proposed

Crime rate is going down. The most common crime in Manila is cellphone theft, robbery.

AceN

March 16th, 2009, 12:37 PM

Agree. Taxis doesn't represent our infrastructure at all.. Taxis in Jakarta are better than those in KL, but don't ask me which one is better in term of infrastructure between them.

kaki_langit

March 16th, 2009, 03:21 PM

Hehehehe ... Menunjukkan betapa masih parahnya mental Birokrasi atau tepatnya Kleptokrasi kita ....

US$600m Lombok Resorts Scrapped

Citing governmental paralysis and hinting that too many officials had their hands out, Dubai’s state-owned Emaar Properties PJSC has cancelled its massive $600 million property project that was to turn the pristine island of Lombok into another Bali.

“We have closed our office in Jakarta starting Friday,” said Elly Savitri, Emmar Indonesia’s human resources manager. “Emaar has pulled out of its operations in Indonesia because the government cannot comply with the terms of the agreement with our joint venture company.

“There have been too many delays on the realization of the project and the company just could not wait any more.”

Elly also said Emaar had spent Rp 50 billion ($4.2 million) in consultancy fees on master plans.

Winarno Sujas, the Tourism Ministry’s director for businesses and investment, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that Vice President Jusuf Kalla had summoned the related ministries for a meeting this coming Wednesday in a bid to save the project.

The cancellation of the project — announced with great fanfare in May 2007 by Kalla — is an enormous black eye for the Indonesian government and the local government of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province.

“Indonesia is our 16th global market and the Lombok development will scale up our property portfolio to a wider Southeast Asian region,” Muhammad Ali Al Abbar, Emaar Properties chairman, said at the project signing.

The announcement of the failure of the project follows the recent pullout of the Saudi Binladin Group from a project to invest as much as $4.3 billion in developing rice crops in Merauke, Papua Province.

The joint venture between Emaar and the state-owned Bali Tourism Development Corp. envisioned development of 1,200 hectares along seven kilometers of natural beachfront that would have transformed central Lombok’s Kuta and Tanjung An beaches over the next 12 years into a world-class resort and residential community consisting of 10,000 luxury villas, eight hotels and two 18-hole golf courses.

Emaar’s Elly said the agreement stipulated that the government would provide a detailed master plan by last November to support infrastructure including an international airport, an access road to the property and finalizations of land acquisitions. The finalizations, however, never materialized.

A plethora of government agencies failed to complete their part of the bargain and asked for an extension until this month. When Indonesian officials asked for another extension until June, Emaar called off its investment.

“You understand the Indonesian government,” said an Emaar executive who asked not to be named, in a veiled reference to allegations of corruption in the local and central governments.

Sumaryanto Widayatin, a special adviser to the Public Works Ministry, blamed unprofessionalism for the tangled negotiations.

“I think it’s because the Ministry of Finance was worried about selling the land cheaply to Emaar,” he said, adding that the global economic crisis had also cut into the company’s liquidity.

He said every large project in this country attracted officials who had their hands out.

“Where in Indonesia do we not have the problem of corruption?” he asked.

vsovereign

March 16th, 2009, 03:52 PM

i dont know if u understand german or not but in your profile ur location is mecklenburg-vorpommern.
so i found this "reisebericht" "laporan perjalanan" "journey advice"
i quote: "Es wird für die meisten eine Überraschung sein, aber Taxifahren in Jakarta ist überhaupt kein Problem. Im Gegensatz zu den umliegenden Ländern wie Malaysia, Thailand, Philippinen. Wer mit dem Taxi in Manila klar kommt, überlebt es überall in der Welt. Dort hatte ich bisher die schlimmsten Erlebnisse. Das wurde auch nicht von Afrika übertroffen. Jakarta dagegen? Kein Problem. In den letzten Jahren, seit dem ich hier in Jakarta unterwegs bin, ist das sogar noch besser geworden."

source: http://reisen.mkihr.de/index.php/2009/02/20/taxi-in-jakarta/

Yes I understand German and yes this is...I need to look at this first.
....
Ach, but this is just a blog. The guy had a bad experience with taxis in Manila.
Worse than in Africa, lol :lol:

Probably because our taxis are treating foreigners better? I dunno. But then again this blog is hardly non biased. Since this is just a personal experience.

Im Gegensatz zu Deutschland sind Taxifahrten hier günstig

Warum? Ich habe keine probleme mit deutschen taxis.

Zorobabel

March 17th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Hate to say it, but "I told you so" about Lombok. I knew that all those Arab investments were vapor-money. Lombok itself doesn't have as much potential as people think, anyway. It's not like a mall where everyone opens cell phone shops hoping to attract all the same customers in the same area. Tourism doesn't work that way. Just because Lombok is next to Bali and it has nice beaches doesn't mean it's going to be able to syphon significant numbers of tourists away from Bali.

Alvin

March 20th, 2009, 07:29 AM

OECD Indonesia re-enters the club of fast growing economies
Riyadi Suparno , THE JAKARTA POST , PARIS | Fri, 03/20/2009 9:27 AM | Headlines

After sinking deep during the financial crisis, Indonesia has now entered the club of the world’s fastest growing economies, but it needs further economic reforms and liberalization to gain more from international trade.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in its latest report “Globalization and Emerging Economies” released in Geneva on Thursday, includes Indonesia among the world’s best performing large developing economies.

Indonesia now sits alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, in a group the OECD calls BRIICS.

“The inclusion of Indonesia into BRIICS is a recognition of the importance and size of the country, the situation relative to OECD member countries, and the desire of OECD countries to engage in it more closely,” Douglas Lippoldt, acting head of the Development Division at the Trade and Agricultural Directorate of the OECD.

Des Alwi, an official at the Indonesian embassy in Paris, said the inclusion of Indonesia into BRIICS puts Indonesia back on the global radar as a future economic powerhouse following the financial crisis.

He also said the inclusion acts as recognition of Indonesia’s relatively fast recovery from the severe financial crisis of the late 1990s.

The report said while Indonesia had not yet recovered to pre-crisis levels of growth, the national economy had done very admirably considering the sharp depreciation of the rupiah and the rise of oil prices.

The biggest drawback is Indonesia’s international trade, which has been declining in proportion to its gross domestic product and global trade, as well as new constraints on business in the country. The increasing rigidity of the labor market, in particular, is of big concern.

Before the crisis, Indonesia’s international trade had long been a key catalyst for growth, but since the crisis trade has played a much smaller role. The emergence of new competitors, or the fact the severity of the crisis affected the ability of firms to trade, could be two reasons for this change. Another factor is that Indonesia, which has the lowest tariff levels among the BRIICS nations, has become less open to international trade. The nation has been raising tariff barriers for agriculture, textiles and steel products. Since 2001, new non-tariff barriers have emerged and creeping protectionism has set in.

In addition, the recovery of the economy has not spread equally across sectors. Growth has been strongest in capital-intensive services, while labor intensive primary and manufacturing sectors are experiencing sluggish growth. This results in persistently higher unemployment.

High unemployment has also been attributed to the increasingly rigid labor market, where hiring and firing has become more expensive for businesses.

Indonesia, therefore, needs to continue deeply integrating into the world market and improve the investment climate to boost its attractiveness as a global production base. This way, with the momentum of high growth being sustained, it will remain relevant to the global economy.

As Indonesia becomes significantly more important economically on the world stage, the OECD has adopted an “enhanced engagement” process with the BRIICS countries, with the view being they will eventually become members.

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said that engaging Indonesia and other BRIICS countries was important for the OECD to maintain its relevance.

OECD countries’ share in global trade has declined for several decades to just 60 percent, while the BRIICS countries’ shares has increased to 30 percent.

“If we are not engaging BRIICS nations, we run the danger of becoming less and less relevant,” Gurria told journalists from BRIICS countries at his office Thursday.

“Whether you are going to be a member or not, we say we are representing 60 percent [of global trade] and working closely with the other 30 percent, and therefore, we remain a relevant organization.”

Jungle_surf

March 20th, 2009, 06:05 PM

BEI Serahkan Kasus Petrosea ke Bapepam

JAKARTA - PT Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) menyerahkan sepenuhnya pemeriksaan kasus PT Petrosea Tbk (PTRO) ke Badan Pengawas Pasar Modal dan Lembaga Keuangan (Bapepam-LK). Tapi, otoritas bursa mendukung langkah Bapepam-LK.

Dirut BEI Erry Firmansyah menjelaskan, pihaknya hanya memberikan data terkait kasus dugaan insider trading tersebut. ''Kewenangan soal pemeriksaan lebih lanjut atas indikasi kebocoran informasi terkait aksi korporasi perusahaan jasa migas ini berada pada Bapepam,'' ujarnya kemarin (19/3).

Menurut Erry, otoritas bursa dan pasar modal telah sepakat untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini bersama-sama. Meski demikian, Erry menolak menyebutkan nama broker-broker yang telah diperiksa.

''Saya tidak bisa bilang cuma 10, tapi ternyata di sana 5 atau 20 yang diperiksa. Jangan tanya soal jumlahnya karena saya tidak tahu,'' tuturnya.

PT Indika Energy Tbk (INDY) mengambil alih 81,95 persen saham PT Petrosea Tbk (PTRO) senilai USD 83,8 juta pada 26 Februari 2009. Dari aktivitas perdagangan, saham Petrosea dan Indika mengalami lonjakan luar biasa pada periode 9-16 Februari 2009.

Harga saham kedua emiten itu naik signifikan. Padahal, informasi rencana aksi korporasi itu baru diumumkan pada 16 Februari 2009. Dalam periode itu, saham INDY naik sekitar 13 persen ke level Rp 1.560. Sementara saham PTRO melonjak sekitar 82 persen menjadi Rp 6.350.

Pada 13 Februari 2009, aktivitas transaksi kedua saham tersebut juga dinilai tidak wajar atau di luar kebiasaan ketimbang hari-hari sebelumnya. Volume transaksi saham Indika tercatat 6,85 juta lembar dan Petrosea 1,09 juta lembar.

Saham PTRO yang biasanya cenderung stagnan secara tiba-tiba bergerak aktif dan menanjak meski informasi aksi korporasi belum diumumkan. Lantaran adanya dugaan kebocoran informasi, BEI melakukan pemeriksaan atas data-data transaksi saham PTRO di lantai bursa. Kini, BEI menyerahkan wewenang pemeriksaan lebih lanjut ke Bapepam. (iw/dwi)

lombok

March 23rd, 2009, 11:16 AM

Ciliwung riverbank residents to start ‘cash for trash’ project

The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Mon, 03/23/2009 11:37 AM | City

Squatters living along Ciliwung’s riverbank will get around Rp 900 (less than 10 US cents) once every three months for all the organic trash they collect.

“This will be the first time we will pay residents for their trash,” said NGO activist Lestari recently.
Since last year residents have been separating their organic and nonorganic trash voluntarily following encouragement from the Ciliwung Merdeka foundation.

Starting from the second week of April, residents in four neighborhood units (RT) in Bukit Duri subdistrict of South Jakarta and one in Kampung Pulo of East Jakarta will be paid Rp 10 for every kilogram of organic waste.

The garbage will be sent to collecting points that will be made available in five neighborhoods in the area, said Lestari, who is the foundation coordinator.

“We are targeting cooperation with two other RTs in Kampung Pulo by June this year,” she said.
The program is a joint venture between Ciliwung Merdeka, a nonprofit organization focusing on environmental and socio-cultural issues, and Ciliwung Hijau foundation, which was founded by residents in the five RTs.

“We want to motivate people in the area to boost their participation in the program,” Lestari said.

The collected waste will become additional raw material for compost production at the Compost House (Rumah Kompos), a compost-producing facility built by Ciliwung Merdeka foundation in 2008.

With additional material, Lestari said, Compost House will be able to mass produce the compost.

“Then we will be able to sell compost in large amounts to earn more money,” she said.

“The profit from the sales will be returned to residents in the form of a raise in the price of the trash to Rp 25 and then to Rp 50.”

Residents gave mixed reactions.

Housewives in RT 5 in Bukit Duri subdistrict were eager to take part in the program, according to Lestari.

“They said it was good that the trash had some value,” she said.

However, Karsinah from RT 7 in Bukit Duri regency was not too enthusiastic. “If they price the trash higher, say like at Rp 100 per kilogram, then I will [do it],” she said.

Lestari acknowledged that one of the challenges was to raise settlers’ awareness about the importance of trash management.

According to RT 7 Chairman Husen Gunawan, residents in his area have different opinions on the trash problem.

“There are those who are concerned about the trash problem, and those who aren’t, who say ‘I have paid Rp 3,000 (25 US cents) a month to the RT, if no one takes care of my trash, I’ll just throw it into the river’,” Husen said. (adh)

tollfreak

March 23rd, 2009, 01:32 PM

March 22, 2009
Consumer Spending Needed To Offset Decline in Exports
Muhamad Al-Azhari-Jakarta Globe

Household consumption — the main engine of Indonesia’s economy — needs to grow at about 3.5 percent this year to compensate for negative growth of non-oil and gas exports and slowing investment, a official from the National Development Planning Board, or Bappenas said.

Bambang Priambodo, director of macro economics planning at Bappenas, said such a level of household consumption growth was vital if Indonesia wanted to achieve about 4 percent economic growth.

“As we all know, projections for the world’s economic growth in January are worse than the previous prediction,” Bambang said.

In Bappenas’ latest forecast, it predicted non-oil and gas exports would fall 20 percent this year on a gloomier world economic outlook. The agency also forecast investment to grow at only 5 percent due to tight liquidity in the financial sector, hampering private expansion.

Bambang had said last year that the agency was still optimistic that Indonesia could grow at between 4.5 percent and 5 percent, but as the latest reading of the world’s economy revealed worse-than-expected results in January, he said “4 percent growth [for Indonesia in 2009] would be good enough, compared to other countries that may experience a contraction.”

But, he added, that level would depend on how fast the government’s Rp 73.3 trillion ($6.2 billion) fiscal stimulus package could be delivered, and in turn have a domino effect to help boost household consumption and compensate for slowing exports.

“By October we should be able to see how it goes,” Bambang said, adding that 5 percent investment growth would be supported mainly from government spending on infrastructure.

Household consumption — which is given a 61 percent weighting in GDP calculations – grew at 5.3 percent in 2008 from a year earlier. It helped Indonesia’s economy grow 6.1 percent in 2008.

Exports of non-oil and gas commodities – which comprised 78.8 percent of total exports — were recorded at $107.8 billion last year, up 17.2 percent from a year earlier, the Central Bureau of Statistics, or BPS, data showed.

Exports slowed as major overseas buyers of the country’s commodities and manufactured goods — including the United States, European nations and Japan — reduced their spending due to the global slump.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s gross capital formation, or physical investment recorded by BPS in the country, was reported at Rp 1,369 trillion ($116.4 billion) in 2008, growing at a rate of 11.7 percent from a year earlier.

The International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 0.5 percent in 2009, according to its World Economic Outlook report in January. In October, it forecast global growth of 2.2 percent.

The WEO’s January prediction estimated US economic growth of minus 1.6 percent.

tollfreak

March 23rd, 2009, 01:55 PM

China, Indonesia Agree CNY 100 Bln Currency Swap Deal
3/23/2009 3:20 AM ET

(RTTNews) - Monday, China and Indonesia agreed on a three-year CNY 100 billion or IDR 175 trillion currency swap pact, the People's Bank of China said.

"This arrangement is designed to promote bilateral trade and direct investment for economic development of the two countries, and to provide short-term liquidity for stabilization of financial markets," the central bank said in a statement on its Web site.

The effective period of the arrangement could be extended if both parties agree, the central bank said.

In February, the PBoC and Malaysia's central bank had announced a bilateral currency swap arrangement of CNY 80 billion or MYR 40 billion. This follows a currency swap agreement of up to CNY 200 billion or HKD 227 billion agreement with Hong Kong in January and CNY 180 billion or KRW 38 trillion deal with South Korea in December 2008.

by RTT Staff Writer

tollfreak

March 23rd, 2009, 02:18 PM

India explores investment opportunities in South Sulawesi

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 03/23/2009 2:42 PM | National

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Biren Nanda met with South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo to explore investment opportunities between the two countries in Makassar on Monday.

"South Sulawesi holds a very important role in Indonesia. Currently, the province has exported various goods to India, such as pine sap, " Nanda said, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Nanda added that his trip to South Sulawesi was part of a means to tap into Indonesia's massive natural reserves.

Some Indian entrepreneurs have already invested in Indonesia's various business sectors, such as textiles, steel, automotive, finance, natural resources, trade, and coal, he said.

During the visit, Limpo introduced various other potential future export comodities from the region, including cocoa and seaweed.

He added that he looked forward to enhancing further ties between the two Asian nations.

lombok

March 23rd, 2009, 06:19 PM

Senin, 23/03/2009 19:08 WIB

Proyek properti di Jatim bakal stagnan

oleh : Dwi Wahyuni

SURABAYA (bisnis.com): Pertumbuhan proyek properti menengah dan mewah di Jatim diperkirakan akan stagnan sampai awal tahun depan karena merosotnya permintaan pasar.

Ketua Realestate Indonesia (REI) Jatim Henry J. Gunawan membenarkan jika sekarang ini hampir seluruh pengembang rumah mewah dan menengah di Jatim mengalami kelebihan pasok. Sementara daya serap penjualanya merosot hingga mencapai 20%.

"Jadi yang sekarang terlihat masih ada pembangunan itu adalah penyelesaian proyek lama karena pengembang baru akan membangun unit perumahannya setelah ada pemesanan," ujar Henry kepada Bisnis di Surabaya.

Hal itu pun, menurut dia, sebagian besar terpusat di wilayah barat Surabaya seperti di daerah Menganti Kabupaten Gresik dan yang tidak jauh dari fasilitas publik di Surabaya Barat. Setidaknya kondisi seperti ini akan berlangsung hingga awal tahun depan. Bahkan untuk perumahan mewah, lanjut dia, kemungkinan besar justru akan mengalami pertumbuhan minus.

"Kalau kami memperkirakan penurunan bisnis perumahan menengah atas di Surabaya berkisar 20%-30%," ujarnya.

Pada kuartal I/2008 penjualannya merosot hingga 20% lebih akibat sebagian besar pengembang tidak siap dengan sistem pembelian secara in house sebagai dampak dari tingginya bunga KPR. "Minat konsumen untuk membeli properti dengan cara in house ternyata tidak banyak disambut positif oleh pengembang di Jatim".

Dengan begitu bukan hanya bank yang hati-hati didalam menyalurkan kredit, tetapi juga pengembang tetap melakukan seleksi ketat terhadap pembelian rumah dengan angsuran langsung. Namun, tandasnya, kebijakan tersebut tidak bisa dipersalahkan. Apalagi dengan berkaca dari krisis global di Amerika Serikat yang awalnya juga akibat kredit macet di sektor properti.

Henry mengatakan dalam kondisi krisis seperti sekarang ini segmen pasar yang masih terlihat adalah untuk kelas menengah bawah dengan harga Rp300.000 ke bawah. Namun permintaan tersebut masih dapat dipenuhi oleh pengembangan proyek 2008. (tw)

tollfreak

March 23rd, 2009, 07:09 PM

Senin, 23/03/2009 14:16 WIB
Wapres: RI Harus Bersyukur Terjadi Krisis Ekonomi Global
Nur Wahid - detikFinance

Krisis ekonomi global menyebabkan sistem perdagangan dunia menjadi lebih adil. Indonesia pun harus bersyukur atas munculnya krisis ekonomi global.

Hal tersebut disampaikan Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla saat menyampaikan orasi ilmiah dalam rangka acara Ulang Tahun atau Milad ke-28 Universitas Muhamadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) di Kampus Terpadu Universitas Muhamadiyah Yogyakarta, Jalan Ringroad Selatan, Tamantirto, Bantul, Yogyakarta Senin (23/3/2009). JK menyampaikan orasi bertema "Pengembangan Jiwa Kewirausahaan Dalam Rangka Menghadapi Tantangan Global".

"Indonesia juga harus bersyukur dengan terjadinya krisis ekonomi global. Krisis ini menyebabkan sistem perdagangan dunia akan menjadi lebih adil," kata Jusuf Kalla.

Jusuf Kalla didampingi istri Ny Mufidah Jusuf Kalla, Gubernur DIY Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono, Menteri Perhubungan Jusman Syafei Jamal, Menteri Negara BUMN Sofyan Jalil, dan Mendiknas Bambang Soedibyo.

JK mengatakan Indonesia juga dinilai bisa lebih survive dalam menghadapi krisis ekonomi global karena Indonesia dinilai lebih konservatif dalam arti rakyat Indonesia tidak pintar dalam menggelembungkan keuangan terutama di bursa saham.

"Ke depan, kita menginginkan ekonomi Indonesia agar memasukkan unsur teknologi dalam mengolah sumber daya alam agar memberikan nilai tambah," pungkas dia.

Terkait jiwa kewirausahaan sebagaimana tema orasinya, JK mengatakan bahwa hal itu menjadi keharusan bagi umat muslim di Indonesia. Dalam Sejarahnya, Islam di Indonesia menjadi lebih moderat karena dibangun oleh jiwa kewirausahaan para pedagang (pengusaha).

"Para pedagang tidak mencari musuh tetapi mencari kawan sebanyak-banyaknya," katanya.

tollfreak

March 24th, 2009, 11:53 AM

Saudis Invest $1.3 Billion in Indonesian Agriculture
Source: Reuters
24/03/2009

Riyadh, March 24 - Saudi investors launched agricultural projects in Indonesia worth $1.3 billion last year, a top business official said on Monday, as the world's top oil exporter seeks to secure food supplies from abroad.

Mohamed Abdulkader al-Fadel, who chairs Saudi Arabia's Commerce and Industry Chambers Council, made the remarks during a meeting with Indonesia's ambassador, state news agency SPA reported.

Alwi Shihab, the Indonesian president's special envoy to the Middle East, said last week the Asian archipelago would allocate at least 2 million hectares (4.94 million acres) of farmland to joint ventures with Saudi investors to be used mainly to cultivate rice.

The move would turn Indonesia into the world's top rice exporter in 2009, Shihab said.

Saudi BinLadin Group plans to invest at least $4.3 billion in Indonesia's rice-farming sector on 500,000 hectares of land in the Papua province, Shihab said last year.

Indonesia is among countries prospected by Saudi investors under a government-sponsored push for agricultural investment outside the kingdom to secure food supplies. The countries also include Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, the Philippines and Turkey.

Under the plan, Saudi Arabia would import a "reasonable amount" of commodities, provide support for those investments and sign bilateral agreements with relevant governments, the government said.

Saudi Arabia, among the world's top ten rice importers, said in January it had received the first batch of rice produced abroad by local investors.

Three listed Saudi firms have already announced plans to invest in either farming or agri-business projects abroad.

A food security panel, affiliated to Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has identified wheat, barley, corn, soybean, maize, rice and sugar among strategic crops that should constitute priorities for foreign investments.

lombok

March 29th, 2009, 10:18 AM

28/03/2009 14:45 WIB

IMF prediksi ekonomi pulih tahun depan

oleh : Taufik Wisastrat

WASHINGTON �(Bloomberg) : Direktur Pelaksana IMF Dominique Strauss-Kahn mengatakan ekonomi dunia akan pulih tahun depan sepanjang pemerintah mengambil kebijakan yang tepat termasuk memperbaiki sistem keuangan.

“Pertumbuhan mungkin terjadi pada 2010 bila diterapkan kebijakan yang tepat. Poin terpenting adalah membenahi sektor finansial,” ujar �Strauss-Kahn dalam jumpa pers di Paris kemarin.

IMF yang berbasis di Washington menyebutkan pada awal bulan ini ekonomi global akan melemah 1% tahun ini.

Strauss- Kahn sebelumnya mengungkapkan kekhawatiran atas keengganan sejumlah negara memberikan stimulus fiskal untuk mendorong pertumbuhan.

“Krisis finansial �akan memaksa negara seperti China akan lebih memperhatikan permintaan domestik dan merevaluasi mata uang,” tuturnya

IMF memprediksi ekonomi AS akan menurun 2,6% tahun ini, dengan kontraksi 3,2% di wilayah �euro.

Lembaga itu merekomendasikan pemerintahan G20 untuk memberikan stimulus fiskal ekuivalen �2% terhadap produk domestik bruto. �(tw)

tollfreak

April 1st, 2009, 01:54 PM

INDONESIA GOVT TO BUILD FLOATING LNG TERMINALS IN N SUMATRA, JAKARTA
Tue. March 31, 2009; Posted: 03:21 AM
JAKARTA, Mar 31, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- MALRF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The government has decided to build floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in North Sumatra and in the sea north of Jakarta, a cabinet minister said.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Monday the construction of a floating LNG terminal was the most possible option in an effort to overcome gas stock deficit in the two regions for the coming 2010-2014 term.

"After 2014, a relatively big gas stock will begin to come from East Kalimantan and the Masela Block," the minister said.

The terminal in North Sumatra will be built by publicly listed PT PGN while that in Jakarta by state-owned oil and gas company PT Petamina and state-run power firm PT PLN.

The gas supplies from the two terminals will be used to meet the need for gas of power plants and industries.

PT PGN director Hendi P Santoso said that the floating LNG terminal in North Sumatra would be built with a capacity of 150 million cubic feet per day (MCFPD).

In the meantime, the LNG terminal in Jakarta will be built with a capacity of 1.5 million tons per annum.

In the meantime, Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that the need for gas of thermal power plants (PLTGU) in Belawan, North Sumatra, could not be met by gas fields in the area, namely the Glagah Kambuna and JOB Costa.

Besides with natural gas, the government is also trying to do its best to meet the need for gas in Java with gas produced from coal methane in South Sumatra, East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, the minister said.

PLN President Director Fahmi Mochtar said the need of PLTU for gas in Belawan, Medan, reached 130 million MCFPD, but only 20 MMSCFD had been made available.

In the meantime, the for gas of power plants in Jakarta and its surroundings, he said, reached 875 MMSCFD but gas already made available was only 550 MMSCFD.

tollfreak

April 2nd, 2009, 01:01 PM

City exports, tourist numbers down, while inflation at 6.98%

Prodita Sabarini and Multa Fidrus , The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Thu, 04/02/2009 11:04 AM | City

Exports through and from Jakarta continued their drop due to the global economic crisis, with February recording a 15 percent year-on-year decline in the value of exports through Jakarta, the city statistics agency (BPS) reported Wednesday.

BPS head Agus Suherman said exports through the capital in February stood at US$2.4 billion, 14.99 percent lower than last year, but up 8.84 percent from the January figure. Exports through Jakarta contributed 34.89 percent to the total national export value, which stood at US$7.08 billion.
Exports from the capital stood at $672.53 million in December 2008, down 5.09 percent from the previous month and down 4.73 percent year-on-year. Agus said his agency had yet to obtain January and February report of the city’s exports value.
Products from Jakarta contributed 24.88 percent of total exports through Jakarta, up 1.37 percent from last month’s 23.51 percent. The highest export value came from clothing, automobiles, gold jewelry, electrical appliances, fish and processed shellfish.
“It’s certain that exports in general have decreased compared to 2008. In 2008, exports boomed in March, April, May and June, and declined again in October. We will see whether this trend continues,” Agus said.
He added declining exports could impact on the unemployment rate, as industries would be hard-pressed to retain workers if demand dropped.
More than 40,000 workers in Jakarta have been laid off so far this year, according to the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo).
Meanwhile, March inflation was at 0.33 percent, rising from deflation of 0.22 percent in February. The inflation rate this year as of March stood at negative 0.13 percent, while year-on-year inflation rate stood at 6.98 percent.
Agus said the inflation was due to a rise in the prices of gold jewelry, home rentals, construction workers’ wages, helmets and rice.
Visitor numbers to Jakarta in February also dropped 11.33 percent year-on-year, with only 103,284 tourists.
Jakarta contributes almost a quarter of the overseas visitor total to the country. As of February, some 421,556 visitors had entered Indonesia.
In Tangerang, Mayor Wahidin Halim said his municipality had experienced continued economic growth exceeding Banten provincial and even national figures.
Tangerang’s economic growth in 2008 stood at 7.15 percent, 0.27 percent higher than the previous year.
“Provincial economic growth in Banten province reached an average of 5.53 percent, while national growth was 5.48 percent during the same period,” he said.
Tangerang’s revenue reached Rp 1.1 trillion last year, 10.51 percent higher than the mayor’s target.
Wahidin said that in the last four years, per capita income had also increased, reaching 15.9 million in 2008 from Rp 13.6 million in 2004.

paradyto

April 2nd, 2009, 02:13 PM

Medco posts highest profit since 1980

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia's PT Medco Energi Intenasional (JSX:MEDC) posted a net profit of US$280.2 million in 2008, the highest it had recorded since 1980, Medco finance director D Cyril Noerhadi said.

Noerhadi said on Tuesday that the net income in 2008 was 34 times the profit in 2007, which stood at US$6.6 million. He said the company's sales and income in 2008 recorded the highest proceeds ever in its history, namely US$1.3 billion, or an increase of 19.3 per cent over the 2007 figure of US$1.1 billion.

Noerhadi said the increase in sales was triggered by the rise of the world crude price to US$100.6 per barrel and gas US$4.2 per million Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU).

lombok

April 4th, 2009, 09:53 AM

Hasil G-20
Indonesia Sekadar Jadi Objek

Jakarta – Indonesia kembali sekadar menjadi objek pengaruh negara-negara besar yang berpartisipasi dalam pertemuan tingkat tinggi G-20 di London. Ketidakmampuan Presiden dan para delegasi Indonesia memperjuangkan kepentingan nasional membuktikan negara berpenduduk lebih dari 220 juta jiwa ini, tak lebih hanya sebagai penggembira dalam hiruk-pikuk diplomasi ekonomi-politik internasional.
“Indonesia datang ke pertemuan G-20 tanpa konsep perjuangan yang jelas. Hasilnya bisa ditebak, Indonesia hanya ikut-ikutan saja,” kata pengamat ekonomi-politik Yanuar Rizky di Jakarta, Sabtu (4/4).
Selama ini Indonesia cukup puas dan bangga sebagai satu-satunya negara ASEAN yang diikutsertakan dalam pertemuan tersebut. Jika negara-negara seperti Rusia, Brasil, China, atau India kompak memperjuangkan kepentingan nasionalnya, Indonesia justru setia mendukung kepentingan penyelamatan aset-aset perusahaan finansial Amerika Serikat (AS) yang terkena krisis.
“Apa yang dilakukan Indonesia di G-20 itu sama artinya membiayai krisis ekonomi di negara AS dan sekutunya,” kata Yanuar. Hal ini terlihat dari rencana tim ekonomi yang ingin meminta pinjaman dari Jepang sebesar US$ 14,4 miliar atau lembaga donor seperti IMF dan Bank Dunia.
“Indonesia mustinya mendesak pinjaman dengan bunga nol persen karena operasi moneter pada akhirnya digunakan untuk menyelamatkan portofolio asing yang mencapai 60 persen di pasar modal dan pasar uang,” katanya.
Menurut Yanuar, Indonesia terlalu naif melihat konstelasi ekonomi-politik internasional karena memandang negara-negara yang mengulurkan pinjaman sebagai malaikat penolong yang bebas kepentingan.
“Saya contohkan, Bank Sentral China yang membantu Indonesia, sudah pasti mereka memberikan suku bunga tinggi atau term of condition yang tidak kalah keras dengan IMF atau Bank Dunia,” ujar Yanuar.
Paradigma tim ekonomi Indonesia masih kuno karena melihat pinjaman asing sebagai bentuk kepercayaan. Yanuar menyatakan, saat ini semua negara berpikir untuk menyelamatkan dirinya masing-masing. “Jika Indonesia hanya mau disetir AS dan sekutunya, terutama dalam pinjaman luar negeri berbunga tinggi, sama artinya delegasi Indonesia memperjuangkan penyelamatan aset-aset negara-negara maju di negara berkembang,” papar Yanuar.

Utang Makin Besar
Ekonom Tim Indonesia Bangkit Ichsanuddin Noorsy juga berpendapat, delegasi Indonesia di bawah pimpinan Presiden ternyata tidak membawa hasil apa pun bagi kepentingan nasional. Indonesia justru masih mengandalkan stimulus fiskal berbasis gali lubang tutup lubang. Lubang tersebut makin besar, yang terlihat dari utang luar negeri yang meningkat dari Rp 1.275 triliun pada 2004 menjadi Rp 1.667 triliun pada 11 Februari 2009.
Ia menyatakan, G-20 sebenarnya penting bagi Indonesia untuk memperjuangkan penghapusan penjajahan ekonomi lewat instrumen utang. Namun, kesempatan itu justru dimanfaatkan untuk mengemis utang luar negeri saat krisis global. Sesungguhnya, resesi ekonomi dan pertemuan G-20 London tak mampu dimaksimalkan para politisi, birokrat, dan intelektual di pemerintahan untuk mengembalikan harkat dan martabat bangsa yang sudah terbenam.
Ia menyatakan, pertarungan ekonomi pada pertemuan G-20 di London itu sebenarnya sekadar mengumumkan pada dunia bahwa AS tetap seiring sejalan dengan Inggris dan Australia. Di sisi lain, Inggris membangun kerja sama dengan Prancis dan Jerman. Sebagaimana dokumen “AS Project 2020”, kerja sama AS dengan Uni Eropa yang didukung Jepang dan Korea Selatan, serta mengajak Indonesia bergabung bersama mereka berhadapan dengan Brasil, India, Rusia, dan RRC di kutub lain.
Menurutnya, saat G-20 tidak lagi mampu mengarahkan ekonomi global maka setiap negara akan melindungi dan menjaga kepentingan nasionalnya. Namun, Indonesia justru makin terperangkap dalam jerat internasionalisme Bank Dunia dan IMF.
Seperti diketahui, pertemuan G-20, kumpulan negara maju dan berkembang, di London, Inggris, Kamis (2/4), menghasilkan beberapa langkah yang dianggap sebagai pertanda lahirnya sebuah era baru dalam perekonomian global.
Konsensus Washington lama yang merujuk pada konsep reformasi dan liberalisasi ekonomi yang diinginkan Washington (Gedung Putih), yang dipaksakan lewat Dana Moneter Internasional (IMF) dan Bank Dunia telah berakhir.

Konsensus Washington dianggap sebagai instrumen neoliberalisme atau neokapitalisme. Konsensus ini telah memaksa semua negara yang belum siap untuk membuka diri terhadap persaingan internasional.
G-20 juga berikrar untuk mengakhiri tax haven, mendobrak kerahasiaan perbankan, pembatasan bonus bagi eksekutif perusahaan, dan kesepakatan soal langkah-langkah baru untuk membantu negara berkembang.
Sementara itu, Presiden Yudhoyono pada pertemuan tersebut menyerukan pentingnya kebersamaan negara-negara di dunia. Ia menyampaikan aspirasi bahwa negara berkembang bukan meminta belas kasihan dari negara maju. Presiden meminta tanggung jawab negara maju menciptakan sistem keuangan yang kondusif bagi stabilitas ekonomi global dalam jangka panjang. (swo/ap)

Mimihitam

April 4th, 2009, 02:42 PM

kaki_langit

April 5th, 2009, 08:17 PM

Yah pengamat lagi, kalo "pengamat" ga percaya gw :nuts: ditambah rizal ramli juga yang ngomong,.

Gw setuju ama substansi penilaian yang dilakukan oleh Tim Indonesia Bangkit ... kita seolah-olah mengabaikan kepentingan nasional kita sendiri bukan hanya di forum G-20 tapi juga di forum-forum internasional lainnya .. bahkan juag di forum ASEAN .. Hehehehe

tollfreak

April 6th, 2009, 10:20 AM

Senin, 06/04/2009 14:16 WIB
Pertumbuhan Ekonomi RI Masih di Atas 4% Kuartal I-2009
Wahyu Daniel - detikFinance

Jakarta - Di tengah lesunya perekonomian global, perekonomian Indonesia diperkirakan masih akan tumbuh di atas 4% di kuartal I-2009. Perekonomian memang turun, namun tidak akan drastis.

Hal tersebut disampaikan Direktur Riset Ekonomi dan Moneter Bank Indonesia Made Sukada ketika ditemui di kantor Menko Perekonomian, Jalan Lapangan Banteng, Jakarta, Senin (6/4/2009).

"Yang jelas dibandingkan kuartal sebelumnya memang kuartal I-2009 diperkirakan akan turun, tapi tidak drastis masih di atas 4%," ujarnya.

Untuk pertumbuhan ekonomi 2009, BI memperkirakan akan turun di kisaran 3-4%. ADB sebelumnya memperkirakan perekonomian Indonesia hanya akan tumbuh 3,6% di tahun 2009.

"Karena ekspor dan konsumsi dalam negeri diperkirakan lebih rendah dibandingkan periode sebelumnya 2008, itu gambaran secara keseluruhan," imbuhnya.

Faktor yang mempengaruhi pertumbuhan ekonomi 2009 di tengah kondisi krisis ekonomi global saat ini adalah pemulihan ekonomi negara-negara maju dan juga implementasi stimulus fiskal pemerintah.

"Kita lihat pertumbuhan ekonomi sangat tergantung dari beberapa variabel, terutama recovery pemulihan negara-negara maju. Kalau bisa lebih cepat dari perkiraan banyak pihak tentu bisa ke arah tengah 3-4% itu. kedua, stimulus fiskal. Mudah-mudahan semua stimulus jalan sesuai yang direncanakan sehingga pertumbuhannya tidak jauh, kalau toh melambat tidak sampai anjlok," urainya.

Aliran Modal Masuk

Sukada juga menjelaskan, aliran modal asing sudah mulai masuk lagi ke Indonesia, seiring membaiknya kondisi pasar modal. Berbagai usaha yang dilakukan oleh pemerintah dan BI untuk menciptakan sentimen positif pada perekonomian dalam negeri menjadi pemicu pasar modal kembali bergairah.

"Pemerintah dan BI berupaya memberikan confidence kepada pelaku pasar dan pelaku ekonomi dengan perkembangan positif seperti kerjasama BSA (Bilateral Swap Arrangement) dengan Jepang, Cina dan juga diusahakan dari negara lain. Jadi kami punya strong commitment untuk membuat pasar positif," tuturnya.

Pada hari ini sendiri, BI dan BoJ (Bank of Japan) telah menandatangani perjanjian peningkatan nilai BSA dalam kerangka Chiang Mai Initiative sebagai bagian dari kerjasama keuangan negara anggota ASEAN+3. Dimana Indonesia dapat melakukan swap rupiah/dolar AS dengan nilai maksimum US$ 12 miliar dalam rangka berjaga-jaga apabila diperlukan bantuan likuiditas jangka pendek.

"Penarikan BSA itu tergantung dari kebutuhan. Kalau memang diperlukan paling tidak payungnya sudah tersedia. Kalau seandainya dibutuhkan untuk menariknya tentu akan ditarik," kata Made.

hellothere123

April 9th, 2009, 01:45 PM

Dunia Usaha Jambi Menurun

Gubernur Jambi, Zulkifli Nurdin menyampaikan, secara umum perkembangan dunia usaha di Provinsi Jambi mengalami penurunan. Namun tetap menunjukkan nilai positif. Hal ini berdasarkan hasil survei dari kegiatan dunia usaha yang dilakukan Bank Indonesia (BI) Jambi, menunjukkan saldo bersih tertimbang pada triwulan III tahun 2008 sebesar 8,91% menurun menjadi 4,13% pada triwulan IV Tahun 2008.

Kondisi ini mencerminkan bahwa pada akhir tahun 2008 dampak krisis global finansial secara tidak langsung, telah mempengaruhi dunia usaha di Provinsi Jambi. Menurut gubernur, kalau dilihat dampak krisis global finansial tersebut telah mempengaruhi pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia, dan ekonomi nasional yang terus terkoreksi dari 6,5 % menjadi 4,0 % pada tahun 2009. Begitu juga dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi Jambi yang diprediksi akan tumbuh sebesar 7 sampai dengan 7,5 % pada tahun 2009 terkoreksi menjadi 6,5 % sampai dengan 7 %.

“Namun demikian kalau kita lihat angka pertumbuhan ekonomi Provinsi Jambi pada tahun 2008 sebesar 7,16 % tertinggi di Sumatera. Ini mengindikasikan bahwa perkembangan perekonomian di Provinsi Jambi masih cukup menjanjikan bagi dunia usaha,” jelas gubernur.

Lebih jauh Gubernur menjelaskan, semuanya itu perlu disikapi dengan cermat, dengan segala ketajaman intuisi serta dengan penuh kecekatan dalam memanfaatkan setiap peluang. Pemerintah Daerah (Pemda) dan Bank Jambi harus dapat melihat adanya berbagai kemungkinan yang saling menguntungkan, sehingga keberadaan Bank Jambi sebagai penyediaan modal, akan dapat bersaing dengan Bank lainnya dalam pengumpulan modal dan distribusi kredit kepada masyarakat.

lombok

April 12th, 2009, 09:01 AM

Pakuwon Jati: A Large and Stable Money Maker in the Property Sector

Di luar Amerika, tak banyak yang tahu dimanakah kota Charlotte itu berada.

Ini adalah ibukota negara bagian North Carolina. Tapi sebelum krisis keuangan global, memang sulit untuk membuat orang luar Amerika melirik ke sana. Padahal di kota itu bukannya tidak ada perusahaan yang mengglobal.

Salah satu perusahaan yang mengglobal adalah Bank of America. Meski merupakan salah satu bank besar di Amerika dan punya presence bagus di Amerika dan cukup lumayan di dunia, tapi bank ini seperti kalah pamor dibandingkan Citibank yang merupakan salah satu unit usaha dari raksasa keuangan Citigroup. Maklum, Citibank dan Citigroup adalah pemain yang high profile dan punya banyak exposure ke produk keuangan derivatif, sementara Bank of America, lebih low profile dan sekalipun punya exposure pada produk keuangan derivatif, tapi pada jumlah yang relatif kecil.

Tapi krisis keuangan global membuat kondisi kedua bank tersebut berbalik 180 derajat. Sekalipun punya aset yang jauh lebih besar, market capitalization dari Citigroup jauh dibawah Bank of Amerika. Selain itu, beda dengan Citigroup yang butuh suntikan dana yang besar dari pemerintah Amerika agar terus bisa beroperasi seperti biasa, Bank of America bukan hanya tidak membutuhkan suntikan tersebut tapi bahkan mendapatkan prioritas untuk mengakusisi perusahaan keuangan yang bagus seperti Merrill Lynch.

Berkat pencapaiannya, kota Charlotte pun mulai dilirik orang. Paling tidak orang mulai paham bahwa salah satu bank bagus dan besar Amerika berasal dari kota ini. Dan sekalipun tidak banyak perusahaan besar di North Carolina, tapi ternyata hal tersebut bukan merupakan hambatan bagi Bank of Amerika untuk tumbuh membesar.

Ini cukup menarik, kalau mengingat bahwa Amerika adalah negara yang unik. Dimana ada sejumlah perusahaan yang dikenal luas di seluruh dunia, tapi ternyata tidak memiliki presence yang bagus di negara sendiri. Maklum mereka tidak bisa bersaing dengan para pemain lokal yang ada di setiap negara bagian.

Kalau di Amerika, yang namanya raja lokal yang menasional dan mengglobal bisa datang dari berbagai negara bagian, maka Indonesia kini sedang dalam proses serupa. Hanya saja harus diakui jumlah raja lokal yang menasional itu masih terbatas. Salah satu kota yang banyak memproduksi raja lokal yang menasional adalah Surabaya.

Salah satu diantara mereka adalah PT Pakuwon Jati Tbk (PWON). Didirikan di tahun 1982 di Surabaya, perusahaan ini secara tidak langsung sudah menasional tanpa bergerak secara fisik ke lokasi lain. Maklum PWON ini punya proyek properti besar di Surabaya, berupa kawasan superblok yang sudah berjalan cukup bagus dan berada di tengah kota Surabaya, yang memiliki kompleks mall terbesar di Indonesia, serta dilengkapi pula dengan salah satu gedung perkantoran terkemuka di Surabaya dan hotel berbintang lima.

Selain itu, PWON juga punya proyek properti lainnya di Surabaya, terutama tempat tinggal baik, yang high rise building maupun yang bukan. Salah satunya adalah sebuah kawasan perumahan yang sangat luas di Timur Surabaya. Kawasan ini dipercaya banyak orang akan berkembang pesat setelah jembatan yang menghubungkan kota Surabaya dan Pulau Madura resmi digunakan.

Meski dari skala proyek dan aset yang dimiliki sudah merupakan salah satu property developer papan atas Indonesia, tapi PWON tidak mau hanya sekedar menjadi pemain lokal yang kuat tapi juga ingin punya presence yang kuat di wilayah lain. Yang menarik, PWON tidak ragu untuk mengulang apa yang membuatnya sukses di Surabaya dengan membangun kawasan mixed use di kota Jakarta, yang berada di kawasan Gandaria. Tapi berbeda dengan di Surabaya, superblock-nya di Jakarta tidak terletak di tengah kota dan tentu area komersialnya tidak punya catchment area yang sebagus di Surabaya.

Ini bisa dimaklumi, karena area yang masih bisa dibangun sebagai superblock di Jakarta semakin terbatas dan jauh dari pusat kota. Repotnya lagi, di Jakarta sudah banyak berdiri superblock, dan beberapa di antaranya berada di area yang tergolong sebagai golden triangle Jakarta, serta sudah berjalan bagus. Ini jelas merupakan tantangan tersendiri bagi pemain yang masuk Jakarta belakangan.

Meskipun demikian, PWON, dengan memiliki superblock yang sudah jadi di Surabaya, secara keuangan cukup solid. Meski menghadapi pemain baru, termasuk pemain dari Jakarta, posisi PWON sebagai the largest retail operator di Surabaya belum tergoyahkan dan membuatnya memiliki recurring income yang solid. Dan PWON, yang memiliki area komersial yang sudah menjadi landmark Surabaya, ternyata berusaha mempertahankan reputasi landmark tersebut dengan melakukan penyegaran di sana.

Dengan cara semacam itu, PWON bisa memperpanjang hubungan bisnis dengan para penyewa area komersial dan sekaligus mempertahankan kestabilan recurring income yang besar. Ditambah dengan keberhasilannya membangun kawasan hunian di sejumlah tempat di Surabaya, maka PWON juga punya basis pendapatan yang balanced antara development properties dan leasing properties. Dan karena pendapatan dari kedua sumber tersebut besar, maka PWON tak ubahnya a large and stable money maker in the property sector.

tollfreak

April 14th, 2009, 12:49 PM

Enam Perusahaan RI Masuk Daftar Perusahaan Terbesar Sedunia

SELASA, 14 APRIL 2009 | 11:24 WIB
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Sebanyak enam perusahaan Indonesia berhasil masuk dalam daftar 2.000 perusahaan terbesar di dunia versi Forbes, (Forbes Global 2000 List of the World's Biggest Companies), seperti yang dirilis majalah ini pekan lalu.

PT Telkom yang berada di urutan 675 menempati peringkat paling atas dibandingkan perusahaan asal Indonesia lainnya, dengan market value mencapai 10,60 miliar dollar AS, penjualan 6,30 miliar dollar AS, laba 17,41 miliar dollar AS, serta aset 797,77 miliar dollar AS.

Setelah itu, BCA menempati peringkat 930 dengan market value 4,79 miliar dollar AS, kemudian BRI di posisi 988 dengan market value 3,80 miliar dollar AS, Bank Mandiri pada 1.014 dengan 3,01 miliar dollar AS. Bumi Resources di urutan 1.809 dengan market value 1,25 miliar dollar AS, serta BNI menempati posisi 1.960 dengan market value 0,88 miliar dollar AS.

Menurut Forbes, data-data perusahaan yang masuk list ini merupakan data terkini dengan market value berdasarkan tanggal 27 Februari 2009.

Perusahaan-perusahaan yang masuk pada daftar ini berasal dari 62 negara. Amerika Serikat masih mendominasi dengan 551 perusahaan meski menyusut 200 anggota dibanding tahun 2004, pada saat daftar ini pertama kali dipublikasikan Forbes.

Tahun ini China memasukkan 91 perusahaan, Korea 61, dan India 47. Sementara negara-negara Timur Tengah seperti Kuwait, Arabi Saudi, dan Uni Emirat Arab setidaknya mempunyai 10 anggota.

Secara total, perusahaan-perusahaan yang masuk daftar Global 2000 ini mempunyai pendapatan hingga 32 triliun dollar AS, laba 1,6 triliun dollar AS, aset 125 triliun dollar AS, dan market value 20 triliun dollar AS.

lombok

April 15th, 2009, 09:25 AM

Is Jakarta a bad place to work? Say it ain’t so

Triwik Kurniasari and Andra Wisnu , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Wed, 04/15/2009 9:13 AM | Headlines

Jakarta is the second-worst place for expatriates to work in outside of the United States, Canada and Western Europe, according to a recent report published by Businessweek, dampening Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo’s rosy report of his administration’s progress.

The Businessweek report, compiled by New York-based human resource company ORC worldwide, ranked emerging markets that might be challenging to move into due to their level of pollution, disease, political violence and availability of goods and services.

The report ranked Jakarta second, just below Lagos in Nigeria and above Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, saying the threat of violence from extremists, in particular, was a serious drawback to living in Jakarta.

“Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim country and has suffered several high-profile attacks by terrorists targeting foreigners,” it said.

Bombings targeting foreign interests in Jakarta, such as the JW Marriott hotel bombing in 2003, have been repeated elsewhere in the city.

The report said despite problems common to many developing cities such as the risk of disease, poor sanitation and excessive pollution, “Indonesia can be an enticing location”.

In response, the Jakarta administration took the report positively, saying it could spur the administration to improve its performance.

“The administration is not the only one taking part in the development of the capital. We also need support from the government,” city secretary Muhayat said Tuesday.

He added crime had always been one of the main issues for a capital city like Jakarta.

“The survey might say Jakarta’s crime rate tends to be serious, but in reality, it is still safe walking at night in the city,” he said.

City Council deputy speaker Dani Anwar said the survey could serve as a lesson for the administration.

“The administration could improve its performance and the city’s public services,” he said.
Several expatriates said Jakarta did not deserve the poor rating.

“I’ve worked in Washington D.C., and I wouldn’t be so calm about walking the streets at 3 a.m. there. They have guns there,” said Sam Polk, a political analyst from Minnesota who has been working in Jakarta for the past year-and-a-half.

Australian Phil King, who has been in Indonesia for five years, much of it in Jakarta, also had a hard time believing the report.

“I have a problem with the noise pollution here… and I wish there was more information coming
into a government facility like immigration so I’d know what to do there, but I’ve worked in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and it's hard to believe that Jakarta is second-worst."

King said his main gripes about Jakarta were mostly related to traffic and bureaucracy.

“In Kuala Lumpur, I could probably get to five meetings, whereas in Jakarta, I’d be lucky to fit in two.”

10 worst cities to work in

1. Lagos, Nigeria 6. New Delhi, India
2. Jakarta, Indonesia 7. Nairobi, Kenya
3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 8. Bogota, Colombia
4. Almaty, Kazakhstan 9. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5. Mumbai, India 10. Chennai, India

Mimihitam

April 15th, 2009, 06:01 PM

Tuesday April 14, 2009
The emergence of Indonesia
CERITALAH
By KARIM RASLAN

Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stands poised to lead Indonesia to the forefront of global players alongside Brazil, China and India.

THE global financial crisis is spawning – and exacerbating – an equivalent set of political shocks.

Over the next year or two there will be winners and there will be losers both globally and regionally, and the recent G20 meeting in London was as much about determining which nations would emerge on the right side of history.

For us in South-East Asia, with our trade-dependant economies, the impact has been near disastrous.

Moreover, nations such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, with their rigid and inflexible political systems, are suffering an added whiplash as their respective peoples’ question the wisdom of age-old social contracts.

At the same time, the economic slowdown has laid bare deep-rooted divisions of class, race and geography that haunt our societies.

That this should be happening to the more stable nations within Asean is testament to the extent to which this crisis is upending the verities of global business.

This in turn is shaking the confidence of their respective elites – especially in Malaysia and Singapore – who’ve long proclaimed the wisdom of their model, namely, a combination of top-down, economic growth and limited civil liberties: in short “work damn hard and don’t ask questions, bro”.

As South-East Asia undergoes this painful transition, the centres of power and influence within our region are also shifting. Singapore will decline and Indonesia will emerge as the next power-house – witness the invitation list to the G20.

The city state’s economy with its extreme dependence on its neighbours’ weaknesses – in terms of regulatory frameworks, law and order and corruption – is undergoing considerable stress especially now, as Indonesia with Sri Mulyani as economic czar struggles to improve its internal governance and tax collection.

Moreover the global mood against off-shore financial havens is biting deep into the republic’s raison d’etre.

Geo-politics and economics are stress-testing the internal resilience of our nations. Countries that change with the times will prosper; those that won’t will get left behind.

In Malaysia, we’ve experienced an underwhelming transition followed by a set of by-elections that have reinforced March 2008’s political equation and the Barisan Nasional’s reversals.

Our new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is a smart, well-read man.

Still we have to ask the following questions: Can he curb the mounting racial exclusivism within Umno long enough to start winning back the non-Malay heartlands?

Or have PAS and PKR already supplanted Umno as the preferred guardians of minority rights?

Can he continue to keep west and east Malaysia on separate political trajectories – especially given Sarawak’s impending state elections?

Will an enthusiastic media championing his “One Malaysia” concept make any difference given the rakyat’s deep distrust of established authority?

Has the Malay elite (my class), like its Thai equivalent (my good friend Abhisit’s class), become so obsessed with retaining power that they (we) no longer see the manifest injustice of what they (we) are doing?

In Singapore, too, a Cabinet reshuffle has taken place but, again, one has to question whether this will improve the flagging fortunes of the ruling PAP.

No one denies that its new ministers, like incoming Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Huan, are capable individuals. Nonetheless, we have to ask: have the resources and ingenuity of the Lee dynasty finally met its match?

Will the city-state’s investment banker-obsessed elite follow Lehman Brothers into perdition? Can they cope with the seething resentment of ordinary people who want to know what has happened to their nation’s wealth.

The situation across the Causeway calls for a radical remaking of the entire politico-economic model. Likewise, the events in Thailand last weekend should be instructive.

The storming of the East Asia Summit by pro-Thaksin “Red Shirt” demonstrators is a fatal blow to Abhisit Vejjajiva’s fledging Government and to Thailand, which once had aspirations of regional leadership.

It also shows how little Asean means to the average South-East Asian.

Abhisit failed to manage the disastrous rural-urban divide in Thai society. Instead he hid behind the fading power of the Thai monarchy and military rather than face the people and seek a legitimate popular mandate.

The one bright spark, on the other hand, is Indonesia, long-despised as a morass of instability. The recently-concluded legislative elections there have been a triumph of democracy.

The vast archipelagic republic is also showing signs of surprising economic resilience buoyed up by the sheer scale of its gargantuan domestic market.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), whose party, the Democrats, look set to win the legislative polls and who is now poised for re-election as President, will inevitably consolidate power and authority.

Genuinely popular, he will have a historic opportunity to lead Indonesia to the forefront of global players alongside Brazil, China and India.

Nonetheless, we need to take a reality check. SBY’s nation still has a long way to go in many regards. Corruption, while on the retreat, remains rife and the emerging scandal over alleged electoral improprieties means that countless issues remain unresolved.

Nevertheless, the freeing of the public sphere via open debate and a free press, as well as the decentralisation of power to the provinces and districts has thrown open a world of possibilities.

Democracy hasn’t destabilised Indonesia, it has made it strong.

SBY may well become a latter-day Suharto, a dominant sultan-like figure towering over the landscape. However, his authority is derived from his popular mandate, and that can quickly be eroded.

Hence these several case-studies. The nations that have been bold in reforming themselves by empowering the people (and dis-empowering the elites) are on the rise.

The ones that cling to the past now stagnate. Like it or not, Indonesia is back on the global map. Jakarta may well become South-East Asia’s dominant centre of power and influence.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/14/focus/3686379&sec=focus

Mimihitam

April 15th, 2009, 06:02 PM

BRIICs, world leaders in trade openness and growth

http://www.thejakartapost.com/files/images/BRIICs.jpg

Riyadi Suparno , THE JAKARTA POST , PARIS | Fri, 03/20/2009 12:03 PM | Business

The world’s largest high-growth emerging economies are falling into the trap of protectionism amid the global crisis and they seem to forget that they have been prospering as a result of their relative openness to international trade and investment, according to an OECD report.

The report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released in Geneva Thursday focuses on the world’s largest high growth emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia, China and South Africa, which the organization calls the BRIICs.

The organization noted in the report that the mistaken notion that the current economic crisis was the result of free trade and market failure had led to an anti-market backlash and calls for protectionism, including among BRIIC countries.

Douglas Lippoldt, acting head of Development Division at the Trade and Agricultural Directorate at OECD, told reporters in Paris on Thursday that “times of crisis are also times of opportunities.”

“Trade protectionism is not the way to tackle the current crisis. All countries, including OECD members and BRIICs, should try more than ever to keep the international market open in order to improve economic prospects for all,” he said.

The report shows that all the six BRIIC countries were champions of free trade and market liberalization, but their openings to the market — except for China — have stalled.

In Indonesia, trade liberalization measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund following the financial crisis in 1997-98 have not been reversed, but there has been creeping protectionism in agriculture, textiles and steel, mainly through tariff barriers.

In Brazil, there was virtually no trade liberalization in the years since tariff reductions were introduced in the late 1980s and mid-1990s.

In South Africa, external trade liberalization has stalled since the 1990s and skepticism about liberalization has set in.

India is by far the most protected country among the BRIICs, with relatively higher average tariffs.

Russia is now in the process of accession to the WTO, but negotiations have been protracted and “stop-go” with no indications of being concluded in the near future.

OECD suggested that BRIICs pursue market openings through multilateral mechanisms under the WTO rather than through preferential free trade agreements because FTAs may only create complications for business and for the development of multilateral rules.

OECD also noted that these six BRIIC countries excelled in opening their borders to global trade, but were still struggling to liberalize their own domestic trade and investment, or what the OECD called the behind-border reforms.

Domestic reforms in service regulations, regulation of technical standards, intellectual property rights, public procurement rules, customs administration and competition rules are a key challenge in all the BRIIC countries.

In Indonesia, the biggest problems still include labor rigidity and impediments to investment, both domestic and foreign investment.

OECD picked these six emerging countries and made an update on them in this report on the BRIICs because of their growing and leading influence in the world economy.

The BRIIC concept is an extension of the idea of the original BRIC group. Goldman Sachs predicted that Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRICs) would become a larger force in the world economy over the next 50 years and could become larger than the G6 (US, Japan, UK, Germany, France and Italy).

OECD then included Indonesia and South Africa in recognition of their economic size, relative to other OECD members.

Leaving aside oil-rich Saudi Arabia and two other large emerging OECD economies (Mexico and Turkey), the BRIICs are by far the largest economies in the developing world in transition, and the only countries in this category with gross national incomes of over US$200 billion per annum.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/03/20/briics-world-leaders-trade-openness-and-growth.html

Mimihitam

April 15th, 2009, 06:10 PM

Fauzi Ichsan, Ekonom Stanchart
Saya Optimistis Masa Depan Indonesia
Bahkan, 20 tahun lagi ekonomi Indonesia bisa menjadi 10 top ten dunia.
Rabu, 15 April 2009, 15:19 WIB
Fauzi Ichsan, Ekonom Stanchart (Vibiznews.com)
BERITA TERKAIT

VIVAnews - Pemilihan umum calon legislatif telah digelar pada 9 April lalu. Kini, giliran Komisi Pemilihan Umum bekerja untuk menghitung perolehan suara. Namun, dari hasil quick count atau hitungan cepat sudah terlihat partai apa yang bakal menang.

Soal bagaimana lembaga survei melakukan quick count memang sulit dicerna. Namun, hasil quick count itu benar adanya. Yang jelas, dari hasil pemilu itu memang tidak ada yang mengejutkan. Partai peraih suara terbanyak tak jauh dari hasil survei-survei sebelumnya.

Bahwa dalam proses pemilu terjadi kecurangan memang tak terbantahkan. Namun, situasi pemilu sekarang sangat jauh berbeda dengan jaman Orde Baru. Kecurangan yang terjadi tidak separah jaman Orba. Marjin error-nya kecil. Bahkan, kalaupun pemilu diulang karena kecurangan itu, hasilnya tidak akan mengubah perolehan suara secara tajam.

Walaupun ada kecurangan di sana sini, bagi investor tentu bukan menjadi persoalan besar. Malah mereka menganggap positif. Buktinya, kurs rupiah sudah menguat, indeks harga saham gabungan (IHSG) menguat, pasar obligasi juga membaik.

Itu pertanda investor puas dengan proses pemilu yang berlangsung aman. Meski ada kelemahan, investor menilai proses demokratisasi di Indonesia jauh lebih baik dibandingkan negara tetangga seperti Thailand, Philipina atau Malaysia.

Indonesia yang dulu, pada 1998-2000 dikenal paling tidak stabil, sekarang justru dianggap paling stabil. Indonesia sudah terbiasa dengan pemilu, pilkada sehingga politik jauh lebih stabil. Sedangkan, politik Thailand akan terus menerus rusuh karena pemerintahan hasil pemilu diturunkan secara paksa.

Kenyamanan lain yang dirasakan investor adalah peta politik hasil pemilu. Bagi mereka, sepanjang yang menang adalah partai sekuler, maka mereka tidak akan khawatir. Investor baru merasa cemas membawa modal ke Indonesia, jika yang menang adalah partai garis keras, seperti Pakistan.

Faktanya, dari hasil pemilu ini terlihat yang memperoleh suara besar adalah partai-partai sekuler. Partai-partai itu adalah Demokrat, Golkar, PDIP, PAN, PKB, Gerindra dan Hanura. Jika digabung perolehan suara mereka sedikitnya mencapai 60 persen. Pelaku pasar beranggapan selama yang menang partai sekuler, maka ideologi ekonomi tak akan berubah, tetap pro pasar.

Kini, dengan hasil pemilu legislatif dan menjelang pemilu calon presiden, Indonesia akan melewati lima tahun babak akhir reformasi. Jika proses demokrasi 2009 berjalan sukses, ini akan membawa angin segar sebelum Indonesia memasuki era baru pada 2014.

Pemilu ini adalah masa transisi terakhir peralihan Indonesia dari proses restrukturisasi ekonomi dan politik secara besar-besaran yang berlangsung sejak 1998, saat krisis ekonomi menghantam Indonesia. Pada 2014 nanti, para pemimpin dan tokoh reformasi sudah harus menyingkir. Saat itu bukan lagi eranya bagi Megawati, Wiranto, Prabowo, Yudhoyono, Amien Rais dan lainnya.

Lima tahun lagi, Indonesia akan dipimpin oleh generasi baru. Saya tidak tahu siapa yang bakal memimpin. Namun, yang jelas ketokohan individu akan sangat berperan dalam pemilu 2014.

Karena itu, lima tahun ini menjadi bagian kritis bagi Republik Indonesia. Demokrasi yang telah menciptakan kestabilan politik adalah bekal besar bagi kelanjutan pelaksanaan reformasi ekonomi. Pemimpin baru hasil pemilu calon presiden 2009 akan sangat menentukan.

Siapapun yang akan terpilih sebagai Presiden tentu akan memiliki tugas besar. Dia harus melanjutkan reformasi ekonomi yang sudah berjalan. Reformasi institusi birokrasi yang sudah berlangsung di Ditjen Pajak, Ditjen Bea Cukai, harus diperluas ke institusi lainnya.

Stimulus fiskal jangan dihentikan untuk terus mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi. Tinggal bagaimana caranya, pemerintah membuat kebijakan agar pertumbuhan ekonomi lebih berkualitas sehingga bisa dinikmati oleh banyak kalangan.

Apalagi, pemerintah perlu membangun infrastruktur besar-besaran. Ini bukan saja untuk menyerap banyak tenaga kerja, tetapi juga untuk memperlancar pembangunan ekonomi. Bahkan, bantuan langsung tunai akan lebih baik jika dialihkan untuk membuka lapangan kerja lewat pembangunan infrastruktur.

Di negara manapun, yang memiliki jumlah penduduk padat, jalan tol sudah pasti ada. Karena itu, proyek jalan tol Trans Jawa sangat perlu diwujudkan. Begitupun dengan infrastruktur pembangkit listrik, pelabuhan, bandara, kereta api, termasuk jalur kereta dari bandara ke tengah kota.

Indonesia adalah negara dengan jumlah penduduk terbesar keempat di dunia. Indonesia juga merupakan pasar paling empuk di ASEAN. Ini adalah potensi besar yang harus terus dikembangkan oleh pemerintah dan dunia usaha.

Jangan lupa Indonesia adalah satu-satunya negara di ASEAN yang menjadi anggota G-20. Artinya, Indonesia merupakan salah satu dari 20 negara dengan kekuatan ekonomi terbesar di dunia. Bayangkan, anggota G20 mewakili 85 persen kekuatan ekonomi dunia dan 2/3 populasi global serta lebih dari 80 persen kepemilikan saham dari Bank Dunia dan IMF.

Jika proses reformasi terus berjalan mulus dan pertumbuhan ekonomi tinggi berlangsung secara berkesinambungan, maka saya berkeyakinan kue ekonomi akan terus membesar. Jangan heran jika lima atau 10 tahun lagi, ekonomi negara kita bakal menjadi 15 negara terbesar di dunia. Bahkan, 20 tahun lagi bisa menjadi 10 top ten di dunia. Saya sangat optimistis dengan masa depan Indonesia.

*****

Analisis ini disarikan dari hasil wawancara VIVAnews dengan Fauzi Ichsan. Dia adalah ekonom muda bergelar Master Studi Pembangunan dari Massachussets Institute of Technology. Mantan pialang di Singapura ini, juga pernah bekerja sebagai peneliti di tim Harvard Institute for International Development yang dipimpin oleh Widjojo Nitisastro. Kini, dia juga menjadi ekonom PDI Perjuangan.

Mimihitam

April 15th, 2009, 06:11 PM

6 Perusahaan Indonesia Bertahan di Daftar Forbes Global 2009

Jakarta - Enam perusahaan terbuka asal Indonesia berhasil mempertahankan posisinya dalam daftar Forbes Global 2000 untuk tahun 2009. Enam perusahaan RI yang masuk daftar tersebut mengalami kenakan peringkat dan dua lainnya rankingnya turun.

Keenam perusahaan itu adalah PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLKM), PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA), PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI), PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI), PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI) dan PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (BNI).

Seperti dilansir Forbes, Senin (13/4/2009) di tengah depresi ekonomi yang terjadi saat ini, masih ada peluang untuk mendapatkan uang kas dari perusahaan-perusahaan yang bertahan dari terpaan krisis.

AS masih mendominasi jumlah perusahaan yang masuk daftar Forbes Global 2000, dengan perwakilan sebanyak 551. Namun jumlah ini berkurang 200 perusahaan jika dibandingkan tahun 2004.

China menempatkan 91 perusahaannya dalam daftar Forbes, Korea 61 perusahaan dan India 47 perusahaan. Dalam daftar tahun ini juga mulai muncul perusahaan dari Kazakhstan.

Total 2000 perusahaan yang didata Forbes memiliki pendapatan US$ 32 triliun, keuntungan US$ 1,25 triliun, total aset US$ 125 triliun dan nilai kapitalisasi pasar US$ 20 triliun. Namun jika dibandingkan tahun lalu, laba kali ini mengalami penurunan 31% dan kapitalisasi pasar turun 49%.

Perusahaan global yangf masuk posisi 10 besar adalah:

1. General Electric (AS) dengan total aset US$ 797,77 miliar
2. Royal Dutch Shell (Belanda) dengan total aset US$ 278,44 miliar
3. Toyota Motor (Jepang) dengan total aset US$ 324,98 miliar
4. ExxonMobil (AS) dengan total aset US$ 228,05 miliar
5. BP (Inggris) dengan total aset US$ 228,24 miliar
6. HSBC Holdings (Inggris) dengan total aset US$ 2,520 triliun
7. AT&T (AS) dengan total aset US$ 265,25 miliar
8. Wal-Mart Stores (AS) dengan total aset US$ 163,43 miliar
9. Banco Santander (Spanyol) dengan total aset US$ 1,318 triliun
10. Chevron (AS) dengan total aset US$ 161,17 miliar

Berikut enam perusahaan Indonesia yang masuk Forbes Global 2000

1. Telkom di urutan 675 naik dari tahun lalu di posisi 729 dengan aset US$ 8,74 miliar
2. BCA di urutan 930 naik dari tahun lalu di posisi 1.001 dengan aset US$ 23,17 miliar
3. BRI di urutan 988, naik dari tahun lalu di posisi 1.035 dengan aset US$ 21,56 miliar.
4. Bank Mandiri di urutan 1.014 naik dari tahun lalu di posisi 1.132 dengan aset US$ 33,54 miliar
5. Bumi Resources di urutan 1.809, turun dari tahun lalu di posisi 1.633 dengan aset US$ 2,79 miliar.
6. BNI di urutan 1.960, turun dari posisi tahun lalu 1.862 dengan total aset US$ 19,44 miliar.

(ir/qom)

VRS

April 16th, 2009, 04:13 AM

Bumi Resources & BNI turun...??

tollfreak

April 20th, 2009, 12:26 PM

Investors see RI market as 3rd most optimistic

Ika Krismantari , THE JAKARTA POST , JAKARTA | Mon, 04/20/2009 9:38 AM | Business

The Indonesian capital market has retained its position as the third most optimistic market in the Asia-Pacific region in the first quarter of this year.

A survey released last week by the Dutch financial services giant ING, placed Indonesia after India and China, strengthening its position as one of the stronger capital markets in the region, amid the global economic crisis that has sent most bourses in the world into turmoil.

Last year, Indonesia also ranked third after China and India.

“The ongoing optimism is likely because investors felt that Indonesia’s economy was cushioned to an extent by high commodity prices and fuel prices correction,” ING Securities Indonesia president director Robert Scholten said in a text message.

He added the government’s quick response to the global crisis by managing the country’s economy well had also made investors more confident in Indonesia.

The survey measures and tracks investor sentiment and behavior every quarter from 13 Asia-Pacific markets, including China, Hong Kong, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting on investor confidence in the Indonesia capital market, Mandiri Asset Management head of equity Kenny Soejatman said Indonesia had become a safe haven for investors.

“The political situation is relatively stable, even after the elections, and the economy is still growing, so there is no reason for investors not to invest here,” he said.

The relatively peaceful legislative elections, coupled with early poll results that indicate the incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may likely be re-elected, have received positive responses from the market.

The Jakarta Composite Index jumped 11.8 percent in the last two weeks, while the rupiah gained 7.1 percent this month, making it Asia’s best-performing currency.

Despite the global crisis, the Indonesia economy is expected to keep growing by between 4 and 4.5 percent this year, relatively better than neighboring countries, where the economies may contract.

The Finance Ministry estimates the economy grew by between 4.3 percent and 4.8 percent in the first quarter of this year. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) will announce the official figure in May.

However, stock market analyst Felix Sindhunata suggested a touch of caution, warning it was still not clear who would run the administration for the next five years.

“We must wait at least until the presidential election in July.”

Despite the encouraging outlook on investor confidence in the Indonesian market, the ING survey also showed the investor sentiment index for Indonesia fell to 96 in the first quarter of this year from 109 in the fourth quarter last year, as investors were taking a conservative investment approach in the face of the worsening global economy.

“It’s not surprising to see Indonesian investors remain conservative in their investment approach. This is after all not the first crisis to hit Indonesia, and most investors have learned their lesson,” Scholten said.

Some of investors’ views:

* 56 percent of Indonesian investors take a balanced investment strategy and continue to look for medium- to long-term growth with stable return.
* 51 percent do not know what investment decision to take and 32 percent claim they will invest less and reserve more cash.
* 83 percent are worried about job security.

Source: ING

lombok

April 22nd, 2009, 11:40 AM

22/04/2009 14:29 wib - Ekonomi Aktual

2 Miliar Dolar Modal Asing Masuk Indonesia

Jakarta, CyberNews. Arus modal asing yang masuk Indonesia selama triwulan satu tahun ini mencapai sekira 2 miliar dolar AS, membuktikan bahwa kepercayaan investor terhadap negara ini mulai pulih.

"Kita lihat saat ini rupiah mulai menguat, indeks saham naik, sepanjang kuartal I 2009, pemerintah mencatat 2 billion dolar AS lebih capital inflow yang masuk. Karena itu pemerintah akan terus menjaga persepsi perekonomian Indonesia," kata Plt Menko Perekonomian/Menkeu Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Sri Mulyani menyampaikan data arus modal ke Indonesia itu dalam seminar perancanangan Rencana Kerja Pemerintah (RKP) 2010 bertemakan "Pemulihan Perekonomian Nasional dan Pemeliharaan Kesejahteraan Rakyat" di Jakarta, Rabu (22/4).

Menurut dia, pada saat krisis ekonomi global melanda saat ini, dana-dana di negara berkembang kembali ke asalnya sehingga arus modal di negara berkembang mengering.

"Arus modal ke negara berkembang saat ini turun dari biasanya mencapai miliar dolar AS menjadi hanya 170 miliar dolar AS, jadi drop-nya hampir 600 miliar dolar AS, dan ini pun masih diperebutkan oleh banyak negara, sehingga muncul kesulitan mendapatkan modal," katanya.

Namun saat ini Indonesia masih dianggap lebih stabil perekonomiannya dibandingkan negara-negara lain di dunia karena proyeksi pertumbuhan ekonominya di 2009 masih positif di kisaran 4,3 hingga 4,8 persen. "Karena itu kita akan dilihat positif oleh investor karena teruji perekonomiannya di tengah krisis ekonomi global yang menerpa," katanya.

tollfreak

April 22nd, 2009, 01:19 PM

04/22/09 14:24
Indonesia to export 10,000 tons of aromatic rice in May

Jakarta (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Indonesia will export 10,000 tons of aromatic rice to Singapore and Japan in May, president director of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Mustafa Abubakar said on Tuesday.

"Bulog targets to export 10,000 tons in May which is what we have asked for. The export period has been set just until June," he said. Based on the result of verification, exports would still be limited to a total of only 54,000 tons and only nine of 14 companies received recommendations to carry out the exports.

Mustafa said the rice to be exported was still limited to aromatic rice such as "Pandanwangi" and "Cianjur" because the price of medium quality rice such as IR64 was not competitive while organic rice production was not high enough yet.

bagak

April 23rd, 2009, 11:49 AM

dari thread sebelah:

pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia 2009, cukup menjanjikan untuk indonesia.

New forecasts by the IMF for 2009. I'm listing their forecasts for the 20 largest economies in the world.

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/index.htm

GDP growth forecast for 2009:
China: +6.5%
India: +4.5%
Indonesia: +2.5%
Poland: –0.7%
Brazil: –1.3%
world: –1.3%
Australia: –1.4%
Canada: –2.5%
US: –2.8%
France: –3.0%
Spain: –3.0%
Mexico: –3.7%
advanced economies: –3.8%
Belgium: –3.8%
Korea: –4.0%
UK: –4.1%
Italy: –4.4%
Netherlands : –4.8%
Turkey: –5.1%
Germany: –5.6%
Russia: –6.0%
Japan: –6.2%

AceN

April 24th, 2009, 09:58 PM

RI ‘the most confident country’ in facing crisis

The Jakarta Post , JAKARTA | Fri, 04/24/2009 11:09 AM | Business

Indonesia boasts the highest consumer confidence index in the world, a survey by the Nielsen Company shows, effectively brushing off any threat to economic activities here from the global economic crisis.

The survey, revealed Thursday, showed Indonesia topped Nielsen’s global consumer confidence index with 104 points, followed by Denmark (102 points) and India (99 points).

The lowest score goes to Korea and Portugal, with 31 and 48 index points, respectively.

“Indonesia is the most confident country in facing the global crisis,” the Nielsen executive director of customer research, Catherine Eddy, said during the announcement of the survey.

The latest biannual Nielsen Consumer Confidence survey, conducted between March 19 and April 2 and involving interviews with 25,140 regular Internet respondents from 50 countries, showed that global consumer confidence had plummeted to a new record low in the past six months.

The index fell 7 points, down from 84 to 77, according to the latest survey.

“We interviewed Internet users, whom most of whom are well-educated and have middle- to upper-income jobs,” Eddy said.

“We found most Indonesian respondents were highly optimistic in facing the crisis.”

She added 86 percent of 533 Indonesian respondents were very optimistic with local job prospects within the next 12 months, while only 9 percent felt uncertain with their job security.

“Indonesians also perceive they can keep buying the things they want and need, even during the global crisis,” Eddy said.

“Indonesians are also confident with their personal finances in the years ahead.”

The survey revealed 70 percent of Indonesians were optimistic with regard to financial stability.

Despite the optimism, the survey also showed that Indonesians tended to save their money rather than spend it during the crisis.

“Our survey discovered 67 percent of Indonesian respondents put their cash into savings,” Eddy pointed out.

She added the respondents were not holding back entirely from spending.

They also still spent their money for good bargains.

“They like to spend their money for certain materials, which would benefit some companies during the economic crisis,” she said.

The survey showed 29 percent of Indonesians liked to spend their money on new technology products, while 25 percent spent money on holidays

Twenty percent spent money on outdoor entertainment, 17 percent on house redecorating, and 44 percent on investment in shares or stocks.

“Actually there was a significant drop in the investment sector,” Eddy said.

“In the second half of 2008, 50 percent of the Indonesians interviewed invested their money in stock funds.”

She added the global crisis had already influenced Indonesians to be more careful in investing.
“Surprisingly, the demand to purchase new clothes is still similar to that in the second half of 2008 and first half of 2009,” she said.

“About 17 percent Indonesian respondents still like to buy clothes,” she added. (naf)

iForce

April 25th, 2009, 04:25 AM

Goodby Dolar Amerika

Pemerintah mulai menerapkan kebijakan tidak memakai dolar As dalam pelbagai transaksi

Koran Kontan. 25 April 2009
Yudi Widiyanto, Uji Agung Santosa.

JAKARTA. Akhirnya, Pemerintah sadar juga untuk melapaskan diri dari ketergantungan terhadap dolar Amerika Serikat (AS). Beberapa menteri mulai membuat peraturan yang mewajibkan penggunaan rupiah atau mata uang selain dolar AS untuk pelbagai transaksi di lingkup departemennya masing-masing.

Yang segera memberlakukan ketentuan ini adalah Departemen Perhubungan (Dephub). Tak lama lagi, Dephub akan menetapkan tarif batas atas dan bawah dalam mata uang rupiah di bagian pengiriman (lini dua) Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok, Jakarta. Pengelola lini dua adalah PT Pelindo II. "Bukan lagi dengan dolar AS karena transaksinya jelas di dalam negeri," kata Direktur Jenderal Perhubungan Laut Sunaryo, Jumat (24/4).

Selama ini, tarif lini dua Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok sebagian memakai dolar AS, Contohnya, biaya pengiriman (forwarder) yang terdiri dari komponen container freight charge (CFC) sebesar US$23 per meter3 per ton, delivery order (DO) US$34, fee keagenan US$45 per DO, dan administrasi pengiriman US$ per DO.

Saat ini, tim Direktorat Jenderal Perhubungan Laut sedang melakukan finalisasi untuk menentukan tarif batas dan bawah di lini dua Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok. Ini sekaligus untuk menyesuaikan dengan peraturan lainnya agar tidak bertentangan. "Penentuan tarif batas atas dan bawah ini juga untuk menhindari praktek kartel," Juru Bicara Dephub Bambang S. Ervan menegaskan.

Sekretaris Eksekutif Gabungan Forwarder dan Ekspedisi Seluruh Indonesia Jakarta Budi Wiyono, mengaku tidak berkeberatan dengan aturan wajib rupiah di lini dua Pelabuhan Tanjung Priok. Asal, Pemerintah konsisten. Ketua Umum Dewan Pemakai Jasa Angkutan Indonesia Toto Dirgantoro malah meminta Pemerintah segera menerbitkan wajibrupiah di Pelabuhan. "Negara-negara lain juga menggunakan mata uang lokal. Ini akan memudahkan transaksi," ujar Toto.

Selain Dephub, Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulyani juga menerapkan hal serupa. Kemarin, ia memerintahan PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) tak lagi menggunakan dolar AS saat membeli peralatan dari China. "Saya minta PLN duduk lagi dengan para kreditur terutama bank-bank China untuk melihat kemungkinan menukar rupiah dengan renmimbi (RMB), tanpa melakui dolar AS," katanya.

Perusahaan setrum negara bisa memanfaatkan fasilitas bilateral currency swap arrangement senial RMB 100 miliar yang sudah diteken INdonesia dan China. "Itu akan mengurangi tekanan ke rupiah secara sangat signifikan," kata Sri Mulyani.

Direktur Utama PLN Fahmi Mochtar mengaku peluang untuk mewujudkannya cukup besar. Di konsep awal, PLN memang menginginkan rupiah bisa langsung dipakai, tanpa harus menukar terlebih dulu dengan dolar AS. "Setelah ada perjanjian antara China dengan Indonesia, kita bisa langsung menukar ke renmimbi," ujarnya.

laba-laba

April 25th, 2009, 11:34 AM

Kadin Balikpapan Adopsi Kemajuan Kawasan Industri Medan

Medan, (Analisa)

Kamar Dagang dan Industri (Kadin) Kota Balikpapan Provinsi Kalimantan Timur sangat terkesan dengan kemajuan Kawasan Industri (KIM) Medan

, karenanya sangat berminat mengadopsinya.

Hal ini ditegaskan Ketua Kadin Kota Balikpapan Zulbachri kepada wartawan seusai acara jamuan makan dan malam silaturahmi yang digelar Kadin Medan di Medan Club, Kamis (23/4).

Menurut Zulbachri, pihaknya cukup tertarik untuk mengadopsi kemajuan KIM karena saat ini di Balikpapan juga sedang giat dilakukan dilakukan pembangunan kawasan industri dengan luas antara 500 hingga 600 hektar.

“Kami merasa berkepentingan berkunjung ke Medan karena selama ini banyak mendengar berbagai kemajuan industri yang dicapai daerah ini disamping juga memiliki prospek pariwisata cukup menjanjikan,” katanya seraya mengaku ini merupakan kunjungan pertama kalinya.

Mengingat pentingnya arti kunjungan ini, dalam rombongan Kadin Balikpapan juga turut Ketua DPRD setempat, Kepala Bappeda dan puluhan pengusaha.

Atas kedatangan rombongan Kadin Balikpapan ini, Ketua Kadin Medan Bayu Fadhlan SE menyatakan sangat gembira dan siap untuk berbagi pengalaman demi kemajuan industri kedua daerah.

Disebutkan, dalam kesempatan mendatang rombongan Kadin Medan juga berniat untuk berkunjung ke Balikpapan dalam upaya meningkatkan silaturahmi dan kerjasama menggali peluang usaha.

Raja Pengusaha

Ketua Kadin Sumut H.Irfan Mutyara yang turut hadir dalam kesempatan itu menyatakan di Sumut dan Medan khususnya cukup banyak raja-raja pengusaha, terutama yang bergerak di bidang perkebunan kelapa sawit.

Untuk itu, kunjungan rombongan Kadin Balikpapan ini cukup tepat digunakan sebagai kesempatan berbagi pengalaman dan kemajuan karena kedua daerah memiliki proses yang sama bagi pengembangan perkebunan kelapa sawit.

Sementara Sekdako Drs Dzulmi Eldin mewakili Walikota Medan mengungkapkan ada dunia kawasan industri yang menjadi kebanggaan di daerah ini, yakni Kawasan Industri Medan (KIM) dengan luas 1.700 hektar dan Kawasan Industri Baru (KIB) seluas 700 hektar.

Kedua kawasan industri ini diakui merupakan salah satu penunjang utama kemajuan Medan sebagai pusat pertumbuhan ekonomi dan dan perdagangan menuju kota metropolitan, madani dan religius. Kirara kunjungan rombongan Kadin Balikpapan ini menjadi studi banding yang cukup berarti bagi kedua daerah.

Acara yang dipandu Wakil Ketua Kadin Medan, Drs Khairul Mahalli juga dihadiri belasan pengusaha asal Nigeria yang cukup berminat untuk menjalin kerjasama atau berinvestasi pada pengembangan kelapa sawit di Sumut

Rombongan Kadin Balikpapan didampingi unsur Kadin Medan/Sumut serta pihak terkait lainnya, Jumat (24/4) meninjau KIM dan KIB seterusnya menuju Parapat dan Berastagi untuk mengumpulkan masukan bagi pengembangan kepariwisataan di daerahnya. (rama)

source : http://analisadaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13298:kadin-balikpapan-adopsi-kemajuan-kawasan-industri-medan&catid=31:umum&Itemid=143

---
bingung aku mo taruk news ini dimana ;p~

tollfreak

April 29th, 2009, 12:27 PM

State firms to spend more to support economy

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 04/28/2009 12:54 PM | Business

State companies will increase capital expenditure (capex) by 24 percent this year from a year earlier, to help support the country's economic growth which has been slowed down by the impact of the global economic crisis.

State Minister for State Enterprises Sofyan A. Djalil told a special hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday that state firms will spend this year up to Rp 152 trillion (about US$12.7 billion) in capital expenditure.

"Up to Rp 152 trillion has been set aside this year for capital expenditure for SOEs, as compared to Rp 128 trillion in 2008," he told the House's Commission VI in charge of state firms.

He said his office had approved this significant increase in capital spending as it was to help offset a downturn in the real economic sector and to bolster economic growth, which is forecast to slow down to between 4 and 5 percent this year down from 6.1 percent in 2008.

State companies operating in the electricity and gas sector would use about Rp 60.2 trillion, the biggest allocation from the amount available. Meanwhile, state transportation and telecommunications enterprises would also spend a total of Rp 40.86 trillion, according to the paper presented to the Commission by Soyan

There are 135 state enterprises (SOEs) in Indonesia, making for a significant sized state-owned sector.

While SOE capital spending is increasing, state firms expect lower profits this year, with slowing economic growth reducing earnings.

Sofyan forecast that in total, state companies should book this year about Rp 71 trillion in net profits.

Despite unfavorable economic conditions, Sofyan was confident most SOEs would perform relatively well this year, as they had grown stronger after significant improvements in the last three years.

"From 2006 to 2008 their performance improved impressively with total profits rising by 149 percent, total assets increasing by 122 percent and total dividends increasing by 136 percent," he said.

He said that 10 of the 135 SOEs had contributed good profits in 2008. Pertamina made a profit of Rp 30.2 trillion, Telkom Rp 10.3 trillion, BRI Rp 5.96 trillion, Bank Mandiri Rp 5.32 trillion, Semen Gresik Rp 2.52 trillion, PT PGN Rp 2.14 trillion, and PT Batubata Bukit Asam Rp 1.76 trillion.

Meanwhile PT Aneka Tambang, PT Timah and PT Pupuk Sriwijaya booked Rp 1.37 trillion, Rp 1,34 trillion and Rp 1.33 trillion in profits respectively. (naf)

RonnieR

April 30th, 2009, 09:13 AM

ADB triples capital to $165B to respond to crisis, boost poverty reduction efforts

By Associated Press
12:04 AM CDT, April 30, 2009

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Asian Development Bank said Thursday it is tripling its capital to $165 billion to provide the resources needed to respond to the global economic crisis and push its long-term goal of cutting poverty in the region.

The Manila-based bank's board of governors said an overwhelming majority of the ADB's 67 member countries voted to endorse the 200 percent increase to ADB's current $55 billion of capital.

"This substantial increase is a resounding vote of confidence from our shareholders for what we can achieve as a premier development partner in the region," ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda said. "We must do all we can to prevent the reversal of hard-won gains for our region in social and economic development, and in poverty reduction."

The decision comes just before the ADB's annual meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on May 2-5.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...0,787914.story

lombok

May 4th, 2009, 09:45 AM

Tak Hanya Reog dan Lagu, Investor pun Jadi Incaran

Sabtu, 2 Mei 2009 | 12:42 WIB
KOMPAS.com — Siapa bilang semua orang kaya di Indonesia terkapar menjadi korban krisis global? Di masa susah ini, orang Indonesia justru menjadi incaran para penjaja properti dari mancanegara. Para pengembang di Australia, Singapura, dan Malaysia menawarkan apartemen dan rumah ke sini.

Tengok saja pameran-pameran properti Malaysia yang belakangan marak digelar di Hotel Grand Hyatt Jakarta, saban akhir pekan. Hampir sepanjang hari karyawan pemasaran di sana sibuk melayani pembeli dan peminat. “Pasar Indonesia memang terbuka bagi properti di Malaysia,” cetus Emmy Cong, Manajer Yuk Tung Development Bhd, salah satu pengembang Malaysia yang sedang menawarkan properti hunian The Peak di Malaysia.

Yuk Tung tak sendirian. UEM Land Berhard yang membangun proyek hunian bertajuk Nusa Jaya East Ledang juga gencar menyasar orang Indonesia untuk membeli hunian di Malaysia. Sebab, ketimbang negara-negara tetangga lainnya, orang Indonesia gemar membeli hunian asing. “Banyak tujuannya. Mulai sekadar untuk investasi maupun untuk hunian karena anaknya sekolah di sana,” imbuh Maria Tan, agen penjual The Peak dari Knight Frank.

Krisis saat ini menyebabkan penjualan properti di Malaysia mengalami perlambatan. Hal ini juga sejalan dengan hasil riset konsultan properti Cushman Wakefield yang menyebut telah terjadi penurunan penjualan properti di Malaysia hingga 50 persen pada akhir 2008. Kondisi lesu itu diperkirakan akan terus berlanjut tahun ini lantaran hantaman krisis global.

Syaratnya mudah dan longgar
Bagi konsumen, jika tertarik memiliki, barangkali ini saat yang tepat. Soalnya, kebanyakan agen sedang menawarkan kemudahan. Baik soal kepemilikan, maupun kredit. Soal kepemilikan, misalnya, Emmy mengklaim pembelian properti di Malaysia lebih unggul ketimbang tawaran dari negara lain.

Setiap pembeli properti dalam bentuk apa pun di Malaysia memiliki status hak milik. Dengan begitu, pemilik bisa menjual langsung ke orang asing sekalipun dia sudah tak ingin tinggal di sana.

Tentunya ini berbeda dengan properti di Indonesia yang ditawarkan kepada orang asing. Di Indonesia orang asing tidak bisa mendapatkan hak milik. Paling banter, orang asing hanya berhak atas sistem sewa dalam jangka waktu tertentu.

Tak hanya itu. Saat ini di Malaysia juga sedang digelar program Malaysian Second Home. Maksudnya, orang asing boleh membawa keluarga inti mereka untuk tinggal di sana tanpa batas waktu asal punya rumah tinggal di sana.

Syarat lainnya, mereka harus mempunyai deposit sebesar RM 150.000 sampai RM 300.000 atau setara Rp 475,5 juta sampai Rp 951 juta dengan kurs 1 RM setara Rp 3.170. Pada tahun kedua, deposit itu bisa diambil dengan menyisakan sebesar RM 60.000 selama dia menetap di Malaysia. “Intinya, deposit itu semacam KTP yang berlaku sepuluh tahun,” ujar Emmy.

Anton Sitorus, Kepala Riset Jones Lang laSalle menambahkan, kebanyakan orang Indonesia memang lebih suka membeli hunian di Malaysia ketimbang di Singapura dan Australia.

Selain harganya sedikit lebih miring, orang Indonesia lebih suka rumah yang menjejak ke tanah alias landed houses. “Kalau di Singapura dan Australia, orang Indonesia membeli untuk tempat tinggal anak-anaknya yang sekolah di sana,” ujar Anton. Bentuk tawarannya pun kebanyakan apartemen.

Harga setera rumah di Pondok Indah
Tak ayal, kondisi ini pula yang membuat Emmy optimistis dagangannya akan laris manis. Lebih lagi, The Peak punya lokasi yang strategis, yakni berada di kawasan Bukit Prima Cheras. Lokasi ini dekat dengan Genting Island yang sudah tersohor sebagai tempat judi legal di Malaysia.

Berdiri di atas lahan seluas 24 hektar, harga tiap unit rumah di sana dibanderol sekitar Rp 4 miliar. Dari 20 unit yang ditawarkan, ada tiga tipe yang ditawarkan. Pertama, rumah dengan luas tanah 297 m² dan luas bangunan 406 m². Kedua, rumah dengan luas tanah 334 m² dan luas bangunan 429 m². Ketiga rumah dengan luas tanah 297 m² dan bangunan 335 m². Ketiganya merupakan bangunan tiga lantai yang menantang langit.

Selama tiga hari pameran yang berlangsung minggu lalu, sudah ada sepuluh peminat yang tertarik membelinya. “Kami optimistis dagangan akan ludes terserap pasar Indonesia,” imbuh Maria. Lebih lagi, ini adalah salah satu proyek terbesar yang digarap HR United, induk perusahaan Yuk Tung Development Bhd.

Tak hanya cocok sebagai tempat tinggal, kata Maria, The Peak juga cocok sebagai sarana investasi lantaran harga tanah di sana bisa melonjak sampai 15 persen per tahun.

Tak mau kalah, UEM Land Berhard yang mengembangkan Nusajaya East Ledang juga yakin bahwa banyak orang Indonesia yang berminat untuk membungkus hunian di Malaysia. “Ketimbang di Singapura, harga rumah di Malaysia jauh lebih murah,” ujar Zamry Ibrahim, General Manager Marketing & Sales UEM Land Berhad. Harga rumah di Singapura lebih mahal 10 kali ketimbang di Malaysia.

Sebagai kawasan baru di Johor Malaysia, Nusajaya mencuil area bekas perkebunan seluas 400 ha milik kerajaan Johor, Nilai investasi atas proyek ini berkisar Rp 6 triliun. Di sana akan dibangun 861 unit rumah hunian dan satu menara apartemen bernama Ujana Executive berkapasitas 173 unit.

Proyek rumah hunian ini dibangun bertahap. Tahap pertama pada April nanti. Pada tahap ini pengembang akan mendapat dukungan dana dari Pemerintah Malaysia untuk membangun 139 rumah. Jumlah ini terdiri dari 62 rumah tidak bertingkat dan 77 rumah bertingkat atau twin villas. “Targetnya bisa selesai pada 2010,” kata Zamry.

Tahap selanjutnya pembangunan 112 rumah tipe twin villas dan 28 resort bungalow dengan harga Rp 3,5 miliar untuk twin villas, sedang tipe resort bungalows dipatok minimal RM 2 juta atau sekitar Rp 6 miliar. “Harganya tidak jauh beda dengan rumah di kawasan Pondok Indah Jakarta,” kata Zamry.

Mahal? Mungkin, tetapi nyatanya banyak orang Indonesia telah membayar uang muka 10 persen, menyambut tawaran itu. (Adi Wikanto, Epung Saepudin, M. Fasabeni/KONTAN)

lombok

May 5th, 2009, 09:19 AM

Kemang Akan Ganti Wajah

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

PRO DAN KONTRA nasib kawasan Kemang, Jakarta Selatan, bakal segera berakhir. April ini hasil pengkajian perubahan peruntukan kawasan Kemang bakal rampung disusun Pemerintah Provinsi (Pemprov) DKI Jakarta. Di sana, suratan nasib Kawasan Kemang bakal ketahuan.

Biarpun hasil pasti belum ada, setelah membaca gelagat para pejabat DKI, banyak orang yakin Kemang akan berubah wajah. Apalagi Dinas Tata Ruang Pemprov DKI sudah menyerah dan memilih untuk melegalkan kawasan tersebut sebagai kawasan komersial.

Sejak bertahun-tahun silam kawasan ini memang sudah bersolek jauh dari peruntukannya sebagai kawasan hunian. Mulai awal 1980-an, posisi yang strategis mejadikan kawasan ini lokasi incaran orang-orang asing yang bertempat tinggal di Jakarta. Dalam catatan DKI, saat ini setidaknya 4.000 orang asing tinggal di Kemang.

Penduduk dan para pengusaha memanfaatkan kecenderungan itu untuk mengeduk untung. Beramai-ramai, para penduduk Kemang menyewakan rumah mereka. Para pebisnis menangkap peluang dengan menyediakan kebutuhan sehari-hari para warga asing itu. Makanya, kini di Kemang berserakan tempat makan, butik, distro, kafe, dan tempat hangout lain.

Jumat sore (28/3) lalu, ketika matahari mulai letih bersinar, ratusan kendaraan padat merayap menuju kawasan ini. Para pegawai kafe dan karyawan restoran bersiap-siap menyambut kedatangan pengunjung. Beberapa kafe dan tempat makan malah sudah mulai dijejali pengunjung.

Tanah basah akibat hujan deras yang mengguyur tak menghalangi para pecinta Kemang datang bersantap, sekaligus menyambut malam. Pemandangan seperti itu lumrah tampak di Kemang, terutama menjelang libur akhir pekan. Tak pelak, kemacetan langsung menyergap begitu melewati Jalan Raya Kemang yang hanya berlebar 4 meter ini.

Catatan terbaru Dinas Tata Ruang DKI menyebut, sampai akhir 2008 sekitar 73% lahan dan permukiman di Kemang berubah fungsi menjadi kawasan komersial. Padahal, seharusnya hanya 1,5% dari kawasan ini yang boleh dimanfaatkan untuk membuka toko, pusat bisnis, atau perkantoran.

“Karena status sesungguhnya kawasan ini adalah permukiman, kami tidak bisa memungut retribusi,” ujar Wiriyatmoko, Kepala Tata Ruang Pemprov DKI Jakarta. Dengan kata lain, triliunan rupiah yang seharusnya masuk ke kas Pemrov DKI dalam bentuk retribusi lenyap begitu saja selama bertahun-tahun.

Itulah sebabnya, kini DKI mantap ingin melegalkan Kemang menjadi kawasan komersial. Namun, tak seluruh kawasan bisa berubah status. Hanya permukiman penduduk yang ada di pinggir-pinggir jalan yang bisa berganti baju peruntukan.

Tak hanya sebatas itu. Sebagai kawasan komersial, Kemang kelak akan mengusung konsep kampung modern Ibukota seperti kawasan Kuta, Bali. Beberapa patokan bagi pebisnis di sana kelak akan diterapkan. Sayang, Wiriyatmoko masih enggan berbagi konsep tersebut. “Yang jelas, kami akan menyosialisasikan lebih dulu ke penduduk dan pebisnis di sana,” ujar dia, main rahasia.

Untuk mendukung rencana tersebut, dalam waktu dekat Pemprov DKI akan menggelar pemutihan di kawasan Kemang. Para pengusaha atau pemilik lahan masih tetap boleh terus beroperasi secara komersial, asalkan memenuhi beberapa persyaratan. Antara lain, mengurus berbagai perizinan serta membayar denda atas perubahan penggunaan lahan dan penggunaannya. Mereka harus membayar denda sekali, setelah itu bakal terkena retribusi rutin sesuai jenis usaha.Syarat ini sesuai Peraturan Daerah Nomor 1 Tahun 2006 mengenai Retribusi Daerah.

Gambaran gampangnya sebagai berikut. Sebut saja Agus, bukan nama sebenarnya, memiliki tanah seluas 700 m² di Kemang yang selama ini dia gunakan sebagai tempat usaha. Jika Agus ingin meneruskan usaha, dia harus membayar denda sebesar 700 x 0,3 x Rp 1,5 juta = Rp 31,5 juta.

Angka 0,3 adalah indeks yang digunakan Dinas Tata Ruang untuk menghitung denda perubahan status dari perumahan menjadi murni tempat usaha. Angka indeks bakal lebih rendah, yakni menjadi 0,2, apabila tempat usaha tersebut sekaligus menjadi tempat tinggal.

Adapun nilai Rp 1,5 juta merupakan harga zonasi yang ditetapkan dalam Perda Nomor 1 Tahun 2006. Dalam beleid itu, wilayah Jakarta terbagi atas empat zonasi dengan patokan harga dari Rp 500.000 hingga “Rp 4 juta per meter persegi (m²). Nah, Kawasan Kemang berada pada nilai Rp 1,5 juta per m2. “Kalau mereka tidak mau membayar denda ini, silakan mengubah kembali tempat usahanya menjadi hunian,” tandas Wiriyatmoko.

Pemrov Jakarta tampaknya benar-benar tak ragu menjadikan Kawasan Kemang sebagai kawasan komersial. Berdasarkan kajian awal dari tim penasihat penataan ruang yang beranggotakan tim penilaian tata kota, tim penilai arsitek kota, dan tim penilai bangunan, mustahil menjadikan Kawasan Kemang kembali sebagai hunian.

Membongkar dan mengembalikan Kawasan Kemang justru akan menambah persoalan baru. Maklum, di sana sudah ada berbagai aktivitas ekonomi. “Yang terjadi malah akan menciptakan pengangguran,” ujar Wiriyatmoko.

Lebih lagi, banyak pengusaha yang mendukung rencana ini. Mereka juga rela membayar denda. “Asal DKI juga konsisten memperbaiki infrastruktur di kawasan ini,” ujar Julian Prima, Manajer Pemasaran dan Promosi Kemang Food Festival. Selain jalan yang sempit, tata saluran air di kawasan ini terbilang buruk.

Saat hujan datang, banyak ruas di sepanjang Jalan Kemang Raya berubah menjadi genangan air. Tak jauh dari Kemang Festival yang menampung 40 penyewa lapak makanan, misalnya, ada lokasi yang langsung berubah menjadi kubangan air sedalam setengah meter jika hujan mengguyur satu sampai dua jam. “Jika ini terus terjadi, konsumen juga pasti ogah datang,” ujar dia.

Itulah sebabnya, pebisnis dan warga di sini meminta pemda segera membenahi infrastruktur jika ingin menarik denda.

Anton Sitorus, Kepala Riset Jones Lang laSalle, menambahkan perubahan status Kawasan Kemang tanpa dukungan infrastruktur akan menciptakan polemik baru di kemudian hari.

Salah satunya soal jalan. Jalan-jalan yang ada di Kemang didesain untuk hunian. Jika dipaksakan, “Jalan ini tak akan sanggup menampung aktivitas bisnis Kemang kelak,” ujar Anton. Kecuali, DKI punya konsep berbeda dari kelaziman.

Warga juga berharap, perubahan dan penataan kawasan Kemang tak akan menyulap kawasan ini berubah wajah terlalu ekstrem (baca boks: Protes Kuta di Kemang). Tempat usaha sebaiknya tetap berbentuk bangunan-bangunan kecil, bukan gedung-gedung tinggi menjulang. “Karena sebagian masih kawasan permukiman, bisnis yang ada sebaiknya dalam skala kecil,” ucap Abdul Somad, Lurah Bangka, salah satu keluarahn di kawasan ini.

Namun, Yayat Supriatna, pengamat perkotaan dari Universitas Trisakti, tetap berkukuh bahwa perubahan Kawasan Kemang menjadi kawasan komersial tak sesuai Rencana Tata Ruang dan Wilayah (RTRW) DKI hingga 2010. “Dalam RTRW, Kemang merupakan kawasan permukiman,” tandas dia.

Yayat yakin rencana ini lebih didorong oleh kebutuhan Pemprov DKI mengejar setoran. Dengan kata lain, perubahan ini menjadi bukti buruk pemerintah tak konsisten dalam menata ruang. “Pemerintah didikte pengusaha,” ujar Yayat.

Seharusnya, modal yang datang ke kawasan Kemang tetap harus mengikuti aturan yang berlaku. Bukan sebaliknya.(Epung Saepudin, M. Fasabeni, Roy Franedya/KONTAN)

Nenek Genit

May 5th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Alvin

May 6th, 2009, 09:06 AM

kemarin ada temen gw cerita kalo dia ditugaskan menjalankan program dari ADB. Dia cerita kalo pemerintah dipaksa utang oleh ADB krn kalo gak ada yg utang gak dpt pendapatan tuh ADB. Padahal kegiatan yg dijalanin temen gw bnr2 sangat mubazir.
Mungkinkah pemerintah menerima pinjaman yg mencekik dari negara donor/bank/lembaga keuangan karena tekanan?

kegiatan apa yang di jalanin temen mu? setau gw sih kalo pinjeman dari ADB di pake untuk pembangunan, misalnya jalan, sekolah, dan fasilitas2 lain. Dan pinjaman itu ya voluntary, kalo pemerintah nggak mau pinjem juga nggak ada yang maksa...cuma masalahnya memang indonesia kurang dana karena nggak banyak investor yang berminat untuk membiayai proyek pembangunan seperti itu, makanya ada lembaga2 seperti ADB yang bantu..

Nenek Genit

May 6th, 2009, 09:42 AM

lombok

May 6th, 2009, 11:42 AM

Rich Indonesians spend big on overseas medical expenses

Tifa Asrianti , The Jakarta Post , Singapore | Mon, 05/04/2009 2:58 PM |

Every year, rich Indonesians spend far more than US$1 billion for their medical expenses overseas, which means a big potential loss for the domestic healthcare business, with Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the US being the main destinations.

Indonesians in total shell out $12 billion per year for healthcare, with more and more higher-income people seeking the convenience of better healthcare services at top hospitals in neighboring countries, research and consulting firm Frost and Sullivan said in a major healthcare business forum in Singapore in April.

The figures confirm earlier statements by Fahmi Idris, chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), suggesting at least 1 million Indonesians every year go abroad seeking health services, spending well over $1 billion.

According to Frost and Sullivan, in Singapore and Malaysia alone, Indonesians spend S$800 million ($593.56 million) and RM160 million ($44.32 million), per year respectively, in the past three years.

Pawel Swinski, senior consultant at Frost and Sullivan, said that while in terms of value Singapore gained far more than Malaysia, the later had of late gained ground in terms of growth in the number of Indonesian patients.

"Indonesian medical tourists going to Malaysia comprise around 70 percent of its total international patients, while those going to Singapore only reach around 65 percent," he said.

In 2008, Malaysian hospitals treated 288,000 Indonesian patients with RM182.16 million in revenue, an increase from the 221,538 patients and RM157.03 million earned in 2007. In 2006, Malaysian hospitals treated 170,414 Indonesian patients with RM135.37 million in revenue.

In 2006, Indonesian patients coming to Malaysia reached 65 to 70 percent, followed by Japan (5 to 6 percent), Europe (5 percent) and India (3 percent).

In 2007, Singapore hospitals treated 226,200 Indonesian patients and generated S$1.10 billion in revenue. The number of patients dropped from the 266,500 recorded in 2006, but the 2007 revenue was higher than the S$850 million recorded in 2006.

Swinski said Malaysia had managed to develop its healthcare industry over its main competitors in the region because of its price competitiveness relative to Singapore, and political and security stability relative to Thailand.

Major Malaysian private hospital providers have also set up referral systems and international customer departments specifically catering for admission and support of international patients, tied up with several renowned travel agencies and hotels to provide comprehensive tourism packages in conjunction with healthcare services, as well as representative or referral offices in Indonesia, its biggest source of medical tourists.

Simranjit Singh, associate director of healthcare for the Asia Pacific at Frost and Sullivan, said Indonesians sought medical treatment abroad because the domestic healthcare industry could not cater to the demands of the middle class searching for better service.

"Indonesia has huge potential because it has a huge population and spending power. But since Indonesia cannot meet the demand, they seek it abroad. You need to meet the expectations," he said on the sidelines of Hospital Build Asia seminar, held earlier this month.

He added several factors could boost the growth of the healthcare industry in a country. The first is connectivity, because hospitals should be located near main roads, airports and other transportation hubs.

"The second is accreditation, of doctors, nurses and hospital. You need to have quality doctors. You also need it for cross-arbitraging comparatively to the West, as the patients can be from the Middle East, America, East Asia," Singh said.

tollfreak

May 6th, 2009, 11:47 AM

RI gains, while China loses

Mustaqim Adamrah , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 05/06/2009 10:34 AM | Business
The Indonesian textile industry may benefit from the global crisis as buyers from US, EU and Japan relocate US$648 million of orders from China.

Indonesian Textile Association (API) deputy chairman Ade Sudrajat said Tuesday that relocated orders could amount to a total of US$648 million -- equivalent to about 6 percent of RI’s $10.8 billion total textile exports in 2008.

“This relocation of orders is partly triggered by social instability with crime figures in China increasing due to the impact of the [global economic] crisis, which has caused big manufacturers to collapse and massive unemployment,” Ade told reporters Tuesday, saying “Trade and investment are sensitive to security.”

Ade said that the more stable social and economic conditions in Indonesia had attracted buyers to relocate their orders to this country.

Relocated orders would help to rapidly stimulate the textile industry and related activities, he said.

“The industry’s utilized capacity will soon increase from the current 67 percent … and exports are [now]expected to exceed $11 billion this year,” he said.

Another positive effect of the transferred orders would be to reduce pending dismissals, while laid-off workers could be re-employed.

Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said that as many as 100,000 workers had been laid off in the textile and garment industry during the first months of 2009 up to the first week of March. However the Apindo estimate was higher than the figures given by government.

According to figures from the Manpower and Transmigration Industry, overall temporary and permanent layoffs for all economic sectors between January and April 17 topped 44,757 and 21,043, respectively. This would indicate that the private sector figures were more pessimistic, and perhaps more realistic, but also possibly based on different statistical criteria.

Ade also said Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand – three big textile and garment exporters in Southeast Asia region -- planned to establish an ASEAN trade service alliance by the end of this year to boost the regional textile and garment trade and to provide a better service for buyers from outside the region.

He said the planned trade service alliance, would start with denim products and cut costs for buyers.

“The alliance will [create a system that] integrate orders from upstream to downstream products for buyers,” Ade said, “The new system is on trial at the moment.”

With the integrated system, buyers will no longer need to have offices in countries where their orders are made, as is the current practice.

“We cannot immediately involve all [ASEAN] countries because we need garment and textile manufacturers and buyers to voluntarily try out this new system,” said Ade.

“With the establishment of the alliance, Indonesia is targeting to raise its share of the inter-regional textile and garment trade from 7 percent last year to 12 percent next year and 20 percent to 25 percent the following year,” said Ade.

According to Ade, total textile and garment exports from the region stood at over $30 billion last year, including $10.8 billion from Indonesia, $9.3 billion from Vietnam, about $8 billion from Thailand and $2.5 billion from Cambodia.

tollfreak

May 6th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Indonesia Bakal Ekspor Beras ke Filipina

RABU, 6 MEI 2009 | 10:21 WIB
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Pemerintah Indonesia sedang merancang nota kesepahaman (MoU) dengan Filipina mengenai pengadaan beras. Dalam MoU ini, Indonesia akan menyanggupi permintaan ekspor beras ke Filipina dalam payung hubungan bilateral.

Saat ini, nota kesepahaman itu masih dalam proses pematangan konsep antara Departemen Perdagangan, Perusahaan Umum (Perum) Bulog, dan Departemen Pertanian (Deptan). Direktur Utama Perum Bulog Mustafa Abubakar menyatakan, pihaknya belum tahu kapan MoU ini selesai. Namun, ia berharap pertengahan tahun ini MoU di antara kedua negara tersebut bisa ditandatangani.

"Isinya akan sama dengan MoU dengan Vietnam," kata Mustafa. Hal yang sama juga dikatakan Direktur Pasar Domestik Deptan Garjita Budi kepada Kontan beberapa hari lalu. "Nanti kalau ada kelebihan produksi di Indonesia, maka bisa dijual ke Filipina," kata Budi.

Menurut Budi, mekanisme hubungannya adalah hubungan bilateral, yaitu G (government) to G biasa. Nantinya impor beras ke Filipina itu adalah beras jenis medium. Namun, Budi menyatakan, pemerintah baru bisa mengekspor beras tersebut jika stok beras untuk masyarakat sudah aman dan terjadi surplus beras. "Nantinya kalau mereka (Filipina) minta ekspor, tapi pasokan untuk dalam negeri belum aman, ya tidak kita layani," kata Budi.

Nantinya yang akan mengekspor beras ke Filipina hanya Bulog atas penugasan pemerintah. Mustafa menegaskan, kita tidak bisa mengimpor beras dari Filipina. "Itu karena Filipina merupakan negara pengimpor beras terbesar," kata Mustafa. Namun, hal tersebut disanggah Budi yang semula mengatakan kalau Indonesia bisa saja minta impor beras dari Filipina. (Anna Suci Perwitasari/Kontan)

lombok

May 12th, 2009, 09:33 AM

Volkswagen To Build a Plant in Indonesia

Tuesday, 12 May, 2009 | 11:42 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:German car producer, Volkswagen AG, will build an assembly plant in Indonesia, which will be the basis for market development in Southeast Asia. Volkswagen Passenger Car Council member, Christian Klingler, said the world market tendency showed the importance of sustainable market development in developing countries. “The only way to save global development and labor is by focusing on the market in the future,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

According to Klingler, this project is a collaboration with Indomobil Group to expand the market in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KADIN) deputy in charge of industry, Gunadi Sindhuwinata, said Volkswagen’s plan will raise the image of Indonesia as a strategic partner in developing the automotive world. “They see Indonesia as a good place. This is a very positive development,” he said.

Gunadi said European cars represent just two percent of the domestic market and five percent in all of Asia. Meanwhile, Japanese products control 96 percent of the total market. According to Gunadi, this condition opens the chance for European cars to develop their market. “They have a big and very strategic potential,” he said.

Volkswagen plans to invest around 35 million Euros to build its plant in Indonesia. Its production capacity exceeding 400.00 units per year and the plant is scheduled to operate by 2010. The total number of human resources to be absorbed is 2.000 – 4.000 workers.

ALI | VENNIE

David-80

May 18th, 2009, 01:09 PM

Russia, Indonesia Upgrade at JPMorgan; China Cut (Update2)

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Russian and Indonesian stocks were upgraded at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a recovery in the global economy and investors’ risk appetite drives further gains in emerging market equities. The brokerage downgraded China.

Russia was raised to “neutral” while Indonesia was upgraded to “overweight” within JPMorgan’s global emerging- market portfolio, said analysts led by Adrian Mowat. They cut China to “neutral” after a 20 percent gain this year and lowered South Africa and Malaysia to “underweight.”

JPMorgan last month said the MSCI Emerging Markets Index will rise to 900, the highest level since September, when Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.’s bankruptcy sparked an exodus from emerging-market assets. The measure has rallied 25 percent this year to 709.38 and developing markets make up all 10 of the best performers in 2009, with Peru, Russia and China leading gains.

“The world has turned on its head and the emerging markets are looking decidedly more sound than the developed markets,” Arjuna Mahendran, Singapore-based chief investment strategist for Asia at HSBC Private Bank, which oversees $494 billion in assets, said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. “I would buy all emerging markets going forward.”

Russian stocks, previously rated “underweight” at JPMorgan, are benefiting from the government’s growth policies, a contracting risk premium and the increasing likelihood of earnings upgrades by analysts, the brokerage said in the note.

Russia, Indonesia

The RTS Index has jumped 48 percent this year, the second- best performer among the 92 global stock indexes tracked by Bloomberg. The ruble-denominated Micex Index has surged 62 percent in 2009.

Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index has climbed 28 percent during the same period. The market was upgraded from “neutral” because of the improving commodities and currency outlook, JPMorgan wrote.

Gross domestic product expanded 4.4 percent in the three months to March 31 from a year earlier as local spending accelerated, Indonesia’s statistics bureau said May 15. That’s the fastest pace in Southeast Asia.

Still, JPMorgan has turned less optimistic about China, lowering its rating on the market from “overweight.” The MSCI China Index has gained 20 percent this year and this month touched the highest level since September, just before Lehman’s bankruptcy. The Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks mainland- listed shares, has added 43 percent, the world’s third-largest advance.

Reallocating Capital

“As China discounts its economic recovery, we are reallocating capital to other North Asian economies that are later in the recovery phase,” the JPMorgan analysts wrote.

The brokerage is also downgrading stocks in South Africa and Malaysia from a previous recommendation of “neutral,” citing the “low beta” in the two countries, which may indicate that they fluctuate less when global markets rise and fall.

Templeton Asset Management Ltd.’s Mark Mobius has also predicted a rebound in emerging market shares.

Stocks in developing countries may “break out” into a bull market at the end of the year as falling interest rates and easing inflation make equities more attractive, Mobius, who helps oversee $20 billion in emerging-market assets, said in a May 4 interview.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chen Shiyin in Singapore at schen37@bloomberg.net

tollfreak

May 18th, 2009, 01:28 PM

46 companies in C. Jakarta lay off workers

Andra Wisnu , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 05/18/2009 1:53 PM | Jakarta

The global financial crisis rears its ugly head again as 46 companies based in Central Jakarta have reported that they would lay off more than a hundred workers, an official said Monday.

"According to our data, there have been 46 companies that reported lay offs as of April 2009," Daulat Sinaraya, head of the Central Jakarta Manpower Agency, said Monday.

"The number of lay offs amounted to 114 people," he added.

The data worsens the concerning state of the city's unemployment level, which the Central Statistics Agency had reported to affect about 8,000 Jakartans.

Furthermore, the number is relatively close to the lay off level last year, which affected 120 companies with 187 people losing their jobs then.

Daulat further warned that the condition might get worse because Central Jakarta has been known as home for several major companies, which are likely to have several other affiliates in other municipalities.

"And there's nothing we can do to ease this situation because our budget is only Rp 1 billion," he said.

tollfreak

May 19th, 2009, 01:16 PM

Kalla: Economy to grow by 8 percent in 2011

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 05/18/2009 5:51 PM | Business

Presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla has targeted that economic growth should accelerate to eight percent per annum by 2011 if he wins the upcoming presidential elections.

"We can grow by 8 percent easily by 2011. We are able to deliver that because state spending decreases, world economy improves and demand rises," he told businessmen grouped at the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Kalla is the first presidential candidate to speak to Kadin. Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is schedule to speak to the businesspeople on Wednesday. Candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, however, has not yet given her confirmation to speak at the forum.

Kall said he wanted more equity in economic growth, with benefits spreading to more people, especially the poor. Equity could also be pursued through progressive tax system.

He further said that next year, the country's fuel subsidies would decrease because of the current government's kerosene-to-gas conversion program, which he had initiated and promoted, as well as the construction of more coal-powered power plants.

"Many infrastructure projects will be ready by 2011, and we will continue to improve administrative procedures," he said.

Kopassus

May 19th, 2009, 04:52 PM

RI, Qatar agree to boost economic, investment ties
Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 05/19/2009 5:29 PM | National

Indonesia and Qatar have agreed to boost their economic and investment ties, with more deals reached during the visit of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to Jakarta.

Hamad, who arrived in Jakarta on Monday night, paid a courtesy call to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka State Palace on Tuesday, after which they witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on economic and technical cooperation by Qatari International Cooperation Minister and the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the cooperation comprised multiple sectors, including trade, industry, energy, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure and tourism.

"(The MoU) also covers exchanges of science and technological data, and of expert staff, technicians and trainers," Dino told the press after the meeting.

The two leaders have also agreed to immediately finalize the establishment of a joint investment company between Indonesia and Qatar using a total funds of US$1 billion; 85 percent of which will be provided by the latter and the remaining 15 percent by the former.

Yudhoyono has suggested that the funds be used to finance projects managed by Indonesian state enterprises, such as electricity projects for rural areas, Dino said.

The Qatari Emir expressed in his brief visit an interest to order CN235 aircrafts from Indonesia's state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
Responding to Yudhoyono's request, the Emir also agreed to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries, saying Qataris had in fact a big interest in the archipelago, especially with its status as the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Qatar is currently home to about 27,000 Indonesian migrant workers, most of who are skilled labors employed in hotel, aviation, and oil and gas industries.

Yudhoyono has asked the Qatari Emir to open more work opportunities for Indonesians in his country.

Dino said the economic agreement with Qatar was part of Indonesia's efforts to explore new markets outside its traditional ones (such as the US, Japan and Europe), which are badly hit by the global economic crisis.

He said Yudhoyono had expressed his thanks to the Qatari Emir for the country's increasing investment in Indonesia, including that in telecommunication company PT Indosat.

"We can assure that this is part of bigger current of investments in Indonesia because usually when one of those countries has felt the benefit of investing here, its counterparts will see it as a model and follow suit. So we expect that more investors from Qatar, and Arabian and Middle East countries will come to Indonesia," Dino said.

He added that the Qatari Emir hailed Indonesia for posing one of the strongest economic immunity compared with other countries not just in Southeast Asia, but also in the entire Asia.

Indonesia's main export products to Qatar include paper, stationery and plywood. Qatar's export products to Indonesia have been dominated by gas.

According to data from Indonesian Trade Ministry, two-way trade volumes between the two countries had continually increased from 2003 to 2007, with Indonesia enjoying the surplus.

In 2008, however, as the value of two-way trades again increased, by 85 percent to US$348.56 million from $188.21 million in 2007; Indonesia experienced deficit, with its total export value sliding by 41 percent to $85.92 million from $146.36 million.

This was prompted by declines in exports of the main products.

kaki_langit

May 21st, 2009, 06:19 AM

kegiatan apa yang di jalanin temen mu? setau gw sih kalo pinjeman dari ADB di pake untuk pembangunan, misalnya jalan, sekolah, dan fasilitas2 lain. Dan pinjaman itu ya voluntary, kalo pemerintah nggak mau pinjem juga nggak ada yang maksa...cuma masalahnya memang indonesia kurang dana karena nggak banyak investor yang berminat untuk membiayai proyek pembangunan seperti itu, makanya ada lembaga2 seperti ADB yang bantu..

Setuju ... lebih baik Indonesia pinjam dari ADB, World Bank, Islamic Bank atau yang lainnya yang jelas-jelas nggak komersial.. tapi implikasi politisnya yang bikin pemerintah sekarang nggak populer di mata rakyat..

Nah kalo yang ini SUN (Surat Utang Negara) jelas-jelas Bom Waktu bagi Indonesia ... Akhir tahun 2009 diperkirakan total outstanding SUN kita akan mencapai minimal Rp 1,500 trillion ... Hehehehe

Gue jadi ingat nasabah gue dulu (PT Great River Industries Tbk) yang punya pola seperti negara kita (Tarik utang dengan menerbitkan kredit sindikasi dengan jangka waktu 4 tahun .. kemudian terbitkan sindikasi kredit baru yang lebih besar untuk refinancing + modal kerja. Tapi pas krisis 1998 .. bubar jalan karena nggak ada yang mau kasih pinjaman ke mereka karena laporan keuangan yang di audit oleh Arthur Andersen pada saat itu ketahuan penuh dengan segala rekayasa + situasi krisis moneter saat itu.)

Mudah-mudahan Indonesia nggak bernasib seperti itu ... Jatuh Terjerembab karena Ulahnya Sendiri ... Hehehehe

Bom Waktu SUN
MI online, Rabu, 17 September 2008 14:26 WIB.

Pemerintahan Yudhoyono yang berada di bawah tekanan keras dari publik dan juga dari Mahkamah Konstitusi, akhirnya membuat komitmen untuk mengalokasikan 20% APBN 2009 untuk anggaran pendidikan sesuai ketentuan Pasal 31 ayat (4) Undang-Undang Dasar l945. Komitmen tersebut dinyatakan presiden dalam pidato kenegaraannya di Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat beberapa waktu lalu dalam menyambut HUT ke-63 Republik Indonesia. Para wakil rakyat yang hadir kontan memberikan aplaus. Di luar Gedung DPR/MPR, para pendidik dan mereka yang berkecimpung dalam dunia pendidikan pasti juga menyambut berita itu dengan penuh suka cita.

Namun, tidak banyak orang yang bertanya-tanya, bagaimana pemerintah mampu menganggarkan 20% belanjanya untuk sektor pendidikan? Dari mana uangnya? Sehari sebelumnya, Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulani Indrawati menjawab pertanyaan wartawan dengan wajah masam, ia mengatakan bahwa konsekuensi dari 20% anggaran pendidikan adalah anggaran untuk sektor-sektor lain harus dipotong atau dananya dari penghematan dan tambah utang. Pokoknya harus dicari jalan keluarnya. Berbeda dengan jawaban menteri keuangan, Presiden dalam pidatonya mengemukakan, "Dengan perubahan asumsi (harga minyak) itu, anggaran subsidi bahan bakar minyak dan listrik juga mengalami penurunan sehingga akhirnya, alhamdulillah, anggaran pendidikan sebesar 20 % dapat dipenuhi, meskipun defisit anggaran harus dinaikkan sebesar Rp20 triliun atau menjadi 1,9% persen dari produk domestik bruto (PDB)."

Sekadar Anda ketahui, defisit APBN pada masa pemerintahan Yudhoyono dari tahun ke tahun mengalami kenaikan signifikan. Dalam APBN 2005 (anggaran tahun pertama Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu), defisit tercatat hanya 0,7% dari PDB atau sekitar Rp16,5 triliun. Setahun kemudian defisit jadi double 1,5%. Ketika RAPBN 2007 disusun, defisit diperkirakan turun menjadi 1,1% dengan nilai absolut Rp40,6 triliun. Namun, angka itu kemudian 'disesuaikan' menjadi 1,5% atau sama dengan defisit APBN 2006. Namun, nilai absolutnya meroket menjadi Rp58 triliun. Angka defisit anggaran belanja 2008 pun mengalami beberapa kali perubahan, akibat fluktuasi harga minyak di tingkat internasional yang benar-benar di luar perkiraan. Maka, dari APBN 2008, kita kenal APBN-P (Perubahan) 2008, dan APBN P-P (Perubahan atas Perubahan) 2008. Defisit akhirnya ditetapkan sekitar Rp110 triliun atau sekitar 2% dari PBD.

Defsit anggaran semakin membengkak karena 2 (dua) faktor utama. Pertama, pengeluaran terus meningkat tajam (sebagian akibat korupsi yang menggurita di semua strata). Kedua, penerimaan negara yang tersendat-sendat. Alhasil negara Indonesia, ibarat rumah tangga atau perusahaan dagang, sebenarnya dalam kondisi amat tidak sehat. Sebab, dari mana menutup defisit anggaran? Sebetulnya, banyak sumber bisa diupayakan. Sayangnya, para pemimpin (baca: menteri) Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu (KIB) hanya memiliki satu solusi, yaitu dari utang! Beda rezim sekarang dengan rezim Soeharto. Kalau dulu defisit ditutup dengan utang luar negeri (khususnya IGGI dan Bank Dunia), kini Menteri Keuangan mencari solusinya dengan (1) mencetak surat utang negara (SUN) sebanyak-banyaknya, (2) privatisasi BUMN, dan (3) penjualan aset PPA (lembaga pengganti BPPN). Solusi kedua memang bukan gagasan orisinil pemerintah Yudhoyono. Penjualan BUMN kepada swasta asing sudah dilakukan sejak era pemerintahan Gus Dur dan mencapai puncaknya pada era Megawati. Penerbitan SUN pun sudah ada sejak era awal reformasi. Namun, pada pemerintahan SBY, instrumen SUN mencapai dinamika paling tinggi dengan 'inovasi' memukau dan jumlah yang amat memprihatinkan!

Induk daripada surat utang dinamakan surat berharga negara (SBN). SBN terdiri atas (a) SUN, (b) obligasi negara ritel (ORI), (c) surat perbendaharaan negara (SPN), (d) surat berharga syariah negara (SBSN) alias SUKUK. SUN sendiri dibagi dalam dua kategori, denominasi rupiah dan dolar. Kecuali dijual di dalam negeri dengan sasaran pembeli pihak perbankan, asuransi, dan lembaga keuangan lainnya, pemerintah juga mengejar investor asing dengan jualan langsung ke negara target. Pada awal 2007, misalnya, pemerintah berhasil menjual INDO-37 senilai US$1,5 miliar dengan tingkat bunga 8,75% dan tenggang waktu 30 tahun. Pertengahan Juni yang baru lalu, Menteri Keuangan Sri Mulani memimpin delegasi pemerintah RI ke New York untuk jualan. Hasilnya US$2,2 miliar melalui instrumen Indo-14 sebesar US$300 juta, Indo-18 US$900 juta, dan Indo-38 US$1 miliar. Direktur Jenderal Pengelolaan Utang Departemen Keuangan Rahmat Waluyanto menyatakan, keberhasilan kita melepas 'Indo-Indo' senilai US$2,2 miliar mencerminkan kepercayaan luar negeri terhadap perekonomian Indonesia.

Jelas ini berita yang sedikit menyesatkan. Asing berminat pada obligasi kita karena suku bunga yang tinggi dan mencekik. Indo-18 dan Indo-38 semula masing-masing dipatok dengan suku bunga 6,95% dan 7,74%. Kenapa akhirnya kita lepas dengan suku bunga 7,27% dan 8,154%? Karena, kita takluk pada tekanan si pembeli. Pada era Soeharto, tidak pernah utang pemerintah RI (G-to-G) dipatok dengan suku bunga demikian mencekik.

Bagaimana dengan SUN Rupiah?

Pada awal kepresidenan Yudhoyono, total utang Indonesia tercatat Rp1.282 triliun, terdiri atas utang rupiah Rp658 triliun, dan utang valuta asing Rp624 triliun. Pemerintah, secara teoritis, menyatakan tekadnya untuk mengurangi ketergantungan pada bantuan luar negeri. Bahkan sisa utang kepada IMF sebesar US$2 miliar pun akhirnya dilunaskan. Namun, di sisi lain, utang dalam negeri terus digenjot. Menurut catatan Chief Economist BNI Tony Prasetiantono, sampai akhir 2008 SUN akan tembus Rp939 triliun. Hal itu berarti dalam tempo empat tahun, pemerintahan Yudhoyono sudah berutang (dalam negeri) sebesar Rp281 triliun, atau sekitar US$31 miliar. Luar biasa!

Bayangkan, untuk menutup defisit an