Though ASEAN member states have vowed better collaboration on issues from food security to geopolitical risks, experts say technical difficulties and a lack of political will often threw a wrench into such efforts.

Pertamina CEO Nicke Widyawati also proposed widening the scope of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to include decarbonization initiatives on the way to cleaner power supply.

The government has allayed concerns about domestic food security amid declining crops in Asia and commodity export restrictions imposed by several countries.

The Transportation Ministry stated that it has not yet had a specific date for the high-speed railway's inauguration, but the earliest possible date is Oct. 1.  

State-owned electricity utility PLN should focus on boosting renewable energy projects in its revised electricity procurement plan (RUPTL) to seize funding opportunities from the landmark Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal.

Leaders of ASEAN countries have signed documents in which they promise to work together closely on food security and the digital economy for years to come.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that Russia was open to discussions about the Black Sea grain deal, an agreement that helped get Ukraine's grain to market and thus ease a global food crisis.

Pertamina is examining the possibility of mixing more of its gasoline products with ethanol, in a bid to produce fuel with lower emissions, but experts warn the benefits are unlikely to outweigh the risks and challenges.

The five-year visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while for the 10 years visa, a $5 million investment is required.

The operator of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) said it has yet to acquire an operating permit from the government despite President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's intention of inaugurating the flagship project in less than a week.

Indonesia is keeping open the possibility of exporting opium-like plant Mitragyna speciose to the United States amid ongoing legal debate as to whether the plant should be classed as an illegal narcotic.

ASEAN needs to devise a coordinated strategy on critical minerals if the member states are serious about helping each other develop their respective downstream industries, experts say.  

State-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina will replace its Pertalite RON 90 gasoline with "Pertamax Green 92", which contains a ethanol, in hopes of reducing air pollution.

The US expanded the restriction of exports of sophisticated Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices artificial-intelligence chips beyond China to other regions including some countries in the Middle East.

Every national identity card (KTP) holder is now eligible to purchase one electric two-wheeler at a government-subsidized price, part of an effort to increase the country’s uptake of electric vehicles (EVs).

An eagerly awaited road map meant to guide ASEAN’s efforts to integrate power grids across the region has been pushed back.

"During Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 the Managing Director will be visiting China to engage in bilateral discussions with China's senior leadership team," they said. 

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said the government was reviewing whether it would subsidize Pertamax, state-owned oil firm Pertamina’s RON 92 gasoline, in its latest effort to curb pollution.

ASEAN countries are seeking to promote the digital economy framework agreement (DEFA), which will allow the region to greatly increase its digital economy potential, but Indonesia's current protectionist policies may stand in the way of reaching that goal.

The Fed has raised rates by 5.25 percentage points since March 2022, and inflation by the Fed's preferred gauge has moved down to 3.3 percent from its peak of 7 percent last summer.

The rule is part of a broader push by Congress and regulatory authorities to crack down on crypto users who may be failing to pay their taxes.

The AFMGM event also saw the inclusion of Vietnam into a pact on regional payment integration.

Japan exported about $600 million worth of aquatic products to China in 2022, making it the biggest market for Japanese exports, with Hong Kong second.

The government is set to launch a new regulation on carbon capture and storage (CCS) by year-end in an effort to expedite investment on the technology and bring down emissions from hard-to-abate industries.

Indonesia may lack the necessary funding to complete the energy transition, putting the country at risk of missing its emission reduction targets, especially those of the next seven years.

At its latest monthly monetary meeting, which ended on Thursday, Bank Indonesia (BI) decided to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the seventh consecutive month because of global uncertainties.

In 2016, India imposed a 20 percent tax on sugar exports to curb overseas sales.

Negotiations between Australia and the 450-million-person bloc stalled in July, partly over the issue of greater market access for Australian farm products like beef.

Newly built captive power plants fueled with coal may be a stumbling block for Indonesia’s effort to cap power sector carbon emissions and get international financial support for its energy transition.

The adjustment, which was also implemented during the pandemic, could cause slower economic growth and lower productivity, according to private businesses.