Building on its decades-old role as a major cacao producer, Indonesia wants to push into the global chocolate market with a comprehensive supply chain from plantations via processing facilities to factories, but some key hurdles lie in the way.

The push follows the launch of an expansive exploration program on Nov. 25, which offers 75 potential oil and gas blocks for the 2025-2027 period.

The association had earlier expected domestic new car sales to approach 800,000 units by year-end, but the latest data point to a weaker market.

Small businesses in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra have watched as the recent flooding swept away their incomes along with roads, utilities and other essentials, including access to food.

The envisioned Kilat Pajajaran railway project threatens to cut into the market for the existing high-speed Whoosh service connecting the same two cities.  

The OECD assessment sees Indonesia’s inflation declining to 1.9 percent this year, and then picking up to 3.1 percent and 3.2 percent in successive years.

Quantum Luminous Indonesia president director Walter Grieves said the plan was to commence the semiconductor project at the start of 2026.

The macroeconomic dominance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is not reflected in their financial health or in the banking credit market.

The senior economy minister has called on Kadin to help the government tackle unemployment by boosting jobs in the private sector, including by easing entry-level requirements so around 1.5 million fresh graduates can get a foot in the door each year.

The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report published by S&P Global on Monday shows the index rising to 53.3 in November, up from 51.2 the preceding month.

Consumer prices rose only 0.17 percent in the month of November, driven by prices of gold jewelry and airfare, according to data published by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) on Monday.

Exports slipped to US$24.24 billion in October, down 2.31 percent year-on-year (yoy), weighed heavily by a steep 33.6 percent plunge in oil and gas shipments.  

The Trade Ministry is still considering its next steps in disputes concerning steel and biodiesel, where World Trade Organization rulings in Indonesia’s favor cannot be enforced because of the European Union appeals.

Inflation is projected to remain within the current target range of 1.5 to 3.5 percent for the next two years, while loan growth is expected to reach 8 to 12 percent in 2026.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the archipelago’s food and beverage exports to Australia jumped to US$333.3 million last year, up 44.6 percent from around $230 million in the previous two years.

For many workers, one income stream is not enough to cover rising living costs and ensure financial stability.

Following a year of high-stakes diplomacy and regional recalibration, Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship has provided fresh momentum for economic integration and strategic partnerships – reinforcing the bloc as a center of gravity in the increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.

National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said on Friday that all kitchens, formally called nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPG), are recommended to diversify their menu while considering the availability of the food in the local markets and to support farmers.  

The government has secured investment commitments from China for 16 projects valued at a total of Rp 36.4 trillion (US$2.2 billion) under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) linked to the “Two Countries, Two Parks” initiative.

Business players say the 80-hectare infrastructure project aimed at Indonesian pilgrims could transform Indonesia’s haj-umrah economy, but only if the government secures a prime location.

Swathes of Indonesian cacao plantations need replanting to boost production, but a shortage of seeds could jeopardize the effort to replace old, unproductive trees.

The consequences of illegal imports for domestic manufacturing are profound, ranging from the disruption of fair competition to workforce layoffs.

The European Union appealed Monday a World Trade Organization ruling faulting it for mistakes in setting tariffs on Indonesia stainless steel products, according to a Geneva-based trade official.

Disappointing data on bank lending raises questions about the effectiveness of the Finance Ministry’s Rp 200 trillion (US$12 billion) liquidity injection conducted in early September to jump-start economic activity, with economists pointing to a lack of credit demand.

Despite not attending the summit, US President Donald Trump's presence loomed large at the event, the first summit of the group of major economies to be held in Africa, after producing a surprise unilateral plan to end the war in Ukraine largely in line with Russia's goals.

Foreign direct investment long accounted for half or slightly more than half of total investment in Indonesia, but the balance flipped this year.

According to the latest budget figures presented by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the state budget deficit remains well below the full-year ceiling with just two months left in the calendar year, which the minister attributes to fiscal discipline.

Malaysia’s leadership during its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship has elevated the bloc’s global standing and reinforced its centrality through strong diplomacy, coordinated policy moves and high-level engagement, say analysts.

Aid and development financing has been cut by many developed economies in favor of defense spending.

Canberra has been pushing firms to engage in high-growth markets in the region through a policy framework called “Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040”.