Bank Indonesia has been under pressure to support Prabowo's big-growth agenda, even as the rupiah slid to an historic low in June amid concern over Indonesia's fiscal management and central bank independence.

Cost is the major challenge facing the government's hydrogen vehicle ambition, primarily stemming from a need to develop systems that can produce cheap green hydrogen and the stark affordability of battery electric vehicles today.

The tobacco industry is up in arms over a new set of rules that could cover everything from packaging and tar and nicotine content to additives, not least because of a lack of clarity from the government for the past two years until its issuance deadline on Sunday.

MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman said that classifying online ride-hailing drivers as micro and small businesses would expand their access to government support programs.

Bank Indonesia (BI) has kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged in its latest monetary policy meeting as it resorts to an alternative strategy to buttress the rupiah by incentivizing capital inflows.

The finance minister is taking the precaution to verify local administrations' claims about a funding squeeze as regional transfers fell 11.2 percent yoy to Rp 357.4 trillion (US$20 billion) as of end June.

Coal dependency, lack of basic infrastructure and a funding shortfall are just a few of the hurdles standing in the way of Indonesia's solar expansion goals.

Analysts say that Indonesia International Financial Center (PFII) law's fast-tracked deliberation without much public discussion could jeopardize the goal of attracting global funds as investors require legal certainty and clear regulations.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the financial center, known as PFII, is expected to draw foreign investment and help accelerate the country's growth.

A procurement of fans for tens of thousands of cooperatives under the government’s Red and White Cooperatives (KDMP) program would amount to roughly Rp 2.56 trillion, significantly more than the Rp 1.8 trillion figure that sparked uproar last week.

Indonesia has for a long time sought to develop ​its financial sector and hopes to provide wealth management services to rival ​neighboring Singapore, where many rich Indonesian families choose to invest.

Experts noted that the risk of banks getting too reliant on the funds “is real” and a dependency cycle might materialize as banks grow accustomed to the idea that the funds are a “permanent source of liquidity”.

The decision comes as several major tourist destinations have raised visa fees this year, including Japan, which introduced its first visa fee increase in nearly 50 years.

The government's proposal to reclassify ride-hailing drivers as microbusiness owners has drawn mixed reactions, with labor unions pushing for employee status, some drivers preferring to remain partners with stronger legal protections and platform operators backing the government’s initiative.  

Since the program’s launch in July last year, President Prabowo Subianto’s administration has added multiple tasks and broadened the cooperatives’ scope of work from grocery stores to managing community oil wells.

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has proposed implementing universal banking in the planned Indonesia International Financial Center (PFII) to streamline business licensing and boost the country’s investment appeal.  

Very generous tax rules are among the incentives the government is considering to lure global investors to take part in developing the country's inaugural financial hub.

Experts warn that without the intensive mentoring long associated with microfinance, an area in which the Red and White Cooperatives still lag, the loans risk turning into bad debt.

The Finance Ministry has announced that the capacity of the Coretax platform will be expanded gradually this month to handle all tax-related matters, in an aim to enable better oversight, data accuracy and administrative effectiveness, as well as to increase taxpayer confidence.

To make the scheme financially viable, the government has set a domestic reference price for nonsubsidized diesel at Rp 18,600 per liter, based on average production costs. 

Producers say this year's additional demand is manageable, but stagnant yields, lower exports and shrinking biodiesel funds could challenge the mandate.

Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat said the regulation would require around 10,000 large manufacturers to allocate funds for waste management through independent organizations known as packaging recovery organizations (PROs).

An inherent supply-demand gap in the HGBT policy and a disconnect in the domestic supply chain are just a couple of issues that the government must address to ensure sustainability in the long term, says a forum for industrial LPG customers.

The planned Indonesia International Financial Center (PFII) will attract massive foreign capital inflows, the government has claimed, but economists view that as a long-term aspiration rather than a realistic near-term goal, pointing to the challenges of taking on global hubs with long-term track records.

The National Press Club urged the Justice Department to "immediately" withdraw the subpoenas.

Indonesia officially launched its latest biodiesel blending mandate on Thursday, requiring a fuel blend of half palm-based diesel and ​conventional diesel known as B50, as President Prabowo Subianto pushes to cut fuel imports and achieve energy self-sufficiency. The rollout of the new blend will raise domestic palm oil demand.  

A policy brief released on Thursday has warned against the “illusion of cheap coal-fired power” created by the domestic price cap and the continued reliance on fossil fuels threatens to derail the country's energy transition goals.

The finance minister has rejected state-owned banks' call to extend the liquidity injection scheme, citing a need for flexibility while noting that the central bank would step in if necessary to maintain a stable money supply.

Industry association, experts call for transparent, fair law enforcement to ensure legal certainty, market confidence and sustainable electricity in Indonesia.

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has rolled out new rules for credit scoring through its Financial Information Services System (SLIK) in a bid to boost lending in productive sectors, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and for homebuyers.