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Jakarta Post
Economy

Powell era ends with rates on hold, Fed hawks on the rise

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell closed out eight years as head of the US central bank on Wednesday with interest rates on hold, rising concern about inflation, and an announcement that he would stay on as a Fed governor for now to defend the agency's independence from Trump administration "battering."

4 hours ago
Economy

UAE oil break exposes deepening Saudi rift as Gulf power shifts

Political analysts and regional experts said the move to leave the groups of oil-producing nations, announced on Tuesday, was more than just a dispute over OPEC oil output quotas that Gulf sources say Abu Dhabi sees as tilted against the UAE. ...

12 hours ago
Economy premium

Workers to press for new labor law, gig protections on May Day

Protesters are set to demand an end to outsourcing and low wages, arguing that current employment practices leave workers in prolonged contractual uncertainty. President Prabowo Subianto is set to attend Jakarta's main Labor Day commemoration on Friday. ...

18 hours ago

The Latest

Economy premium

Prabowo breaks ground on second batch of downstream projects worth $7.2b

Among the key downstream projects launched on Wednesday is the development of gasoline refinery facilities in Cilacap, Central Java, and Dumai, Riau, each with a processing capacity of 62,000 barrels per day (bpd).

1 day ago
Economy premium

Govt exempts LPG, plastic precursors import duties amid supply strains

The government has been scrambling since earlier this month to secure supplies of naphtha, a raw material used to produce plastic, from alternative sources such as African countries, India and the United States.

1 day ago
Economy premium

Bulog warns of tightening supply of subsidized cooking oil

State logistics agency Perum Bulog has warned of limited availability of subsidized cooking oil Minyakita in several regions, citing a lack of fresh supply from producers as a key constraint in getting the product to traditional markets.    

2 days ago
Economy premium

Govt eyes natural gas as LPG alternative amid supply strains

Compressed natural gas (CNG) feedstock, mainly methane and ethane, is more readily available domestically, potentially reducing reliance on costly imported fuels. 

2 days ago
Economy premium

Local pulp producer braces for mass layoffs after permit revocation

Up to 80 percent of Toba Pulp Lestari’s workforce of more than a thousand employees may be affected after the government revoked its forest concession permit over environmental violations.

3 days ago
Economy premium

Govt aims for 5.7 percent GDP growth in second quarter

The government believes it can push gross domestic product growth beyond the typical 5 percent rate in the second quarter despite unfavorable external conditions.

3 days ago
Economy premium

Danantara eyes $30b solar project on power exports to Singapore

The state asset fund is eyeing a US$30 billion renewable energy project that will export power to Singapore as well as supply the national grid, but licensing and funding issues related to a prior solar farm deal continues to cast a cloud of uncertainty among investors.

4 days ago
Economy

Forecast for strong El Nino fans worries about global crops as Iran war bites

"The last time we saw similar signals was during the severe 2015 to 2016 El Nino," a meteorologist has said.

5 days ago
Economy

EU, US sign critical minerals plan to counter China reliance

An action plan said that the EU and US would explore setting minimum prices on critical minerals, effectively preventing China or other outside powers from flooding the market with inexpensive exports.

5 days ago
Economy premium

Investment growth cools as global turmoil hurts investor appetite

Foreign direct investment (FDI) reached Rp 250 trillion in Q1 2026, rising 8.5 percent year-on-year, although it slightly declined compared with Rp 256 trillion in the previous quarter.

6 days ago
Economy

Batam investment surges 103% in Q1 2026, reinforcing role as Indonesia’s key growth hub

Badan Pengusahaan Batam (BP Batam) has reported an investment realization of Rp 17.4 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 102.85 percent increase year-on-year (YoY) and 68.92 percent growth quarter-on-quarter. The performance signals a strong start to the year and reinforces Batam’s position as one of Indonesia’s most dynamic investment centers.

6 days ago
Economy premium

Govt braces for shorter trips as airfare hike bites tourism

To capitalize on the potential shift, the government plans to accelerate the development of land connectivity to stimulate tourism flows.

6 days ago
Economy

Indonesia says Russia will supply 150 million barrels of oil

Prabowo met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin last week, where they discussed strengthening strategic partnerships, including in the energy sector, cabinet secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a statement.

6 days ago
Economy

No immediate downgrade if RI deficit tops 3% amid Iran war: Fitch

The credit rating agency noted that there was a risk the government might substantially relax its fiscal and monetary policies to achieve President Prabowo Subianto's ambitious ​8 percent growth target.

6 days ago
Economy

India, US trade talks remain constructive after visit, New Delhi says

Efforts to frame an interim trade pact, including a proposal to lower US tariffs on Indian goods to about 18 percent, have been clouded by uncertainty following a US Supreme Court ruling although negotiations are continuing.

6 days ago
Economy premium

Iran war, domestic strains push rupiah to new historic low

The rupiah was the worst-performing currency in the region, depreciating 0.61 percent by market close, followed by the Philippine peso and the Thai baht, which weakened by 0.6 percent and 0.55 percent, respectively.

1 week ago
Economy premium

Purbaya floats, then downplays Malacca Strait levy idea

The Foreign Ministry has issued a counterstatement emphasizing Indonesia's adherence to international law in all maritime policies after the finance minister's backtracked suggestion referring to Iran's transit levy in the Strait of Hormuz.

1 week ago
Economy premium

From machine tools to military tech: German industry dons fatigues

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has rattled NATO and led Berlin to pour huge amounts into rebuilding its armed forces, sparking a business bonanza for weapons makers and manufacturers of dual-use goods.

1 week ago
Economy premium

Local banks see uptick in loan growth in March

Credit growth rebounded to 9.49 percent year-on-year (yoy) last month from the 9.37 percent logged in February. The latest figure, however, is still lower than the 9.96 percent yoy growth recorded in January.   

1 week ago
Economy premium

BI holds rate steady to rein in rupiah's weakening

The central bank has decided to keep the BI-Rate unchanged at 4.75 percent to prevent the rupiah from spiraling ever downward amid the nearly two-month war in Iran as the currency hit a record low of Rp 17,193 per greenback on Wednesday, while experts pointed to a narrowing room for monetary policy in its aim to secure financial stability.

1 week ago
Economy premium

Indonesia turns to paper, glass packaging as plastic prices climb

Beyond conventional materials, the government is encouraging the development of bioplastics derived from natural resources such as cassava and seaweed. 

1 week ago
Economy premium

Govt eyes renminbi-denominated panda bonds issuance this year

Last year, the government also began issuing renminbi-denominated debt through so-called dim sum bonds, which are similar to panda bonds but are marketed mainly in Hong Kong.

1 week ago
Economy premium

MSCI extends final call on RI equities to June review

The uncertainty weighed on investor sentiment, with the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Composite Index slipping 0.46 percent on Tuesday, even as major Asian markets advanced on optimism that the Iran conflict may be nearing an end.

1 week ago
Economy premium

Pertamax price may rise if oil rally persists, minister says

State-owned energy firm Pertamina previously increased prices for three non-subsidized products, Pertamax Turbo, Dexlite and Pertamina Dex, by between 48 and 66 percent.

1 week ago
Economy premium

Reading the 2026 fuel adjustment: A middle-class story

With Pertalite access tightening and Pertamax prices moving at the same time, households need a predictable schedule to plan around when making decisions about vehicle choices, mobility patterns and monthly budgets.

1 week ago
Economy

Batam Powers Ahead as Southeast Asia’s Emerging Hyperscale Data Center Hub

Batam is rapidly transforming into a regional digital infrastructure hub, anchored by a landmark hyperscale data center expansion that underscores the island’s growing strategic relevance in Southeast Asia’s data economy.

1 week ago
Economy

Iran closes Hormuz Strait again, as Trump warns against 'blackmail'

Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, prompting ships to abandon attempts to transit the waterway and President Donald Trump to warn Tehran against trying to "blackmail" the United States.

1 week ago

Today's ePost

Thu, April 30, 2026

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