The government has for may years imposed a ban on secondary clothing import on the grounds of protecting local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). But the implementation of this policy is questionable, given that the real problem lies in corruption, a vast network of smugglers and domestic productivity.

The measure would "immediately halt the exodus of deposits from smaller banks, stabilize the banking sector and greatly reduce chances of more bank failures," the Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America (MBCA) argued in a letter to authorities, according the report.

Workers are threatening mass protests and a lawsuit over the new regulation, while employers say without it, there would be layoffs.

The central bank governor says Indonesia’s banking sector has sufficient liquidity, but a negative perception of global investors may become a risk.

The announcement comes despite the government having brought 500,000 tonnes of rice into the country since December.

President Jokowi said that the war in Ukraine with the attendant economic sanctions imposed by the United States could create problems as economic tools, including payment systems, could be used against countries perceived to have any involvement in the conflict.

The National Food Agency (NFA) announced on Wednesday that the government had decided to increase the price ceiling (HET) of rice to allow for higher production costs.

In anticipation of higher interest rates in the second half of this year, the government has brought forward the planned issuance of bonds.

Indonesian electric two-wheeler producers are gearing up for rising sales thanks to government subsidies aimed at boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the country.

Rice, one of the most tightly regulated commodities in the country, increased in price throughout 2022, which has industry experts asking whether the protective measures themselves could be driving inflation.

Tax exemptions and other deal sweeteners are designed to lure investors to the megaproject for Indonesia’s new capital, but a critic says the "fire sale" of incentives reflects panic in the administration.

The government's move to revise existing regulations is seen by the industry as a step back to Indonesia’s struggle to push for rooftop solar panel adoption.

Korean firms say Indonesia’s many import regulations are keeping potential foreign investment out of the country.

The Industry Ministry also proposed incentives for the purchase of 35,900 new electric cars and 138 electric buses between March 20 and the end of the year.

China's central bank will adjust monetary policy in a timely and appropriate manner, and cutting banks' reserve requirements to release long-term liquidity will still be an effective tool to support the economy, top bank officials said on Friday.

The SOEs minister is worried that a delay in procuring new rolling stock may result in fare hikes or leave passengers stranded due to capacity constraints.

The coordinating economic minister says getting at least 30 percent of exporters' earnings into the country will help strengthen the rupiah against external factors.

“This is too hasty. If [the government] is serious about it, it should’ve been carefully planned since the incumbent [president]’s first term,” said one civil servant.

India is unlikely to sign a deal with richer nations this year for a just energy transition, as international funding rests on India committing to a timeline to phase out coal, an "unviable" proposition for the country, energy analysts said.

Indonesia is nearing the completion of a national carbon-trading mechanism, but for the measure to be effective, the country needs to begin tightening emissions quotas for coal-fired power plants, an expert says.

Economists agree that the nomination of the central bank governor for a second term in office signals predictability in Indonesia’s monetary policy as next year’s elections draw closer, but some consider him too obedient to the government.

The Batang Toru hydropower plant has caused a global controversy for threatening the habitat of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan, raising concerns over the likelihood of its extinction.

After two years of delay, China’s state-owned SDIC, through its subsidiary SDIC Power, has led a group of big companies to revive the ailing hydropower plant project in North Sumatra.

Indonesia may start implementing an incentive scheme for the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) in March, a minister has said, in a bid to slash fuel oil imports and boost EV adoption at home.

The Batang Toru hydropower plant project sounds like a good plan, but deep down it is plagued with poor oversight and a lack of transparency that may hurt PLN.

The government is in danger of selling more subsidized motor fuel than it intends this year, as a delay in purchase restrictions allows unfettered access to cheaper fuel brands to continue.

The government is exploring opportunities for narrowly focused trade and investment in lithium, an important mineral for the production of electric vehicles.

Media firms are pushing for a rule to give more responsibility to tech platforms to help safeguard the quality and well-being of the industry.

Several changes, from the establishment of OJK and LPS-like bodies to criminal sanctions would be added to the revised cooperative law. 

The world's top two largest palm oil producers plan to send a joint mission to state their case against the EU's latest policy blocking sales of the commodity.