The government has launched a drive to increase productivity as Indonesia’s labor productivity remains among the lowest in Southeast Asia, threatening long-term growth. Experts warn that red tape, weak incentives and regional disparities undermine the competitiveness of local companies.

Private fuel retailers have rejected a new import policy, triggering supply shortages and tough negotiations with the government.

Businesses have previously raised concerns that the new policy could disrupt cash flow and ultimately hurt global competitiveness.  

President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed Arief Prasetyo Adi from his post at the helm of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) and appointed Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman as his replacement.

The mining giant has confirmed that smelting activity at its Gresik facility has been suspended for over a month after the copper concentrate supply was disrupted due to the operational shutdown at its Grasberg mine following the mudslide incident in September, which killed seven workers.

Asian stocks dived for cover on Monday after fresh broadsides in the US-China trade war spooked markets with already stretched valuations, though there were signs risk sentiment had steadied with Wall Street futures bouncing.

The government has promised strong gross domestic product growth for the remainder of this year and onward as it expects higher consumption, underpinned by increased private sector activity and government spending.

Experts say the move contradicts President Prabowo Subianto’s promise of greater regional autonomy and risks fueling political tensions if not carefully managed.

Kadin has pointed to carbon markets as one of four key areas, while BloombergNEF notes the country's potential to become a net exporter of forestry credits to offset carbon emissions.

The White House said Friday it had begun mass layoffs of federal workers as President Donald Trump sought to amp up pressure on opposition Democrats to end a government shutdown that has crippled public services.

China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, has historically played a key role in financing infrastructure projects across the Global South, committing over $472 billion through its policy banks, the China Development Bank and Export-Import Bank, between 2008 and 2024.

US President Donald Trump revived the trade war against Beijing on Friday, ending an uneasy truce between the two largest economies with promises to sharply hike tariffs in a reprisal against China curbing its critical mineral exports.

The government wants to send thousands of Indonesians to Japan for work experience under a program that promises mutual benefits but that critics say is not without economic risks.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has issued a landmark regulation legalizing the exploitation of community-owned wells.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has unveiled plans to transfer an additional Rp 70 trillion to local banks, including regional lenders such as Bank Jakarta and Bank Jatim.

The government is getting in gear to launch its B50 biofuel program as part of the wider energy and food agenda, reducing exports and potentially putting the country on a footing to dictate the global CPO market.

Asian equities staggered into the weekend Friday following a mixed week that saw a Middle East ceasefire and huge new AI investments play off against the US shutdown and concerns about a tech bubble.

Local administrations say meeting the strict waste-supply targets will be difficult to sustain over the long term.

Lawmakers say the new structure draws a clear line between regulator and operator, but Dony Oskaria’s appointment threatens to blur that boundary.

This aggressive stance comes as tax revenues have reached only 54.7 percent of the annual target in August and contracted 5.1 percent year-on-year.

Consumer views on their current income situation and plans to buy durable goods weakened, while perceptions of job availability dropped deeper into pessimistic territory.

The global economy is doing better than expected, even as it faces prolonged uncertainty and underwhelming medium-term growth prospects, the head of the IMF said Wednesday. 

Radioactive and carcinogenic contamination has prompted foreign buyers to become more cautious, tightening inspections or even delaying contracts with local suppliers, industry players claimed.

According to research from the World Bank, one out of seven young Indonesians may find themselves out of work.

Industrial production fell by 4.3 percent compared with the previous month, the federal statistics office said on Wednesday, the biggest fall since March 2022, just after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a 1.0 percent fall.

Recent indicators suggest that Indonesia's recent challenges are centered on declining purchasing power.

Governors have urged Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to reconsider sharp cuts to regional transfer funds, warning the move would strain local budgets and may stall infrastructure projects, with smaller, low-revenue regions being hit hardest.