Economy

3 November 2025
Two people were killed when a shophouse on the banks of the Badung River in Denpasar, the capital of Bali province, collapsed during flash floods in September. The deadly floods were a wake-up call for Bali to manage its overtourism and uncontrolled development problems, experts say. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
ASEAN leaders welcome East Timor's accession to the group in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, some 14 years after the nation of 1.4 million people submitted its application, aiming to use membership to open up trading opportunities.
Policy Asia

Dream or mirage? East Timor starts life in ASEAN as trade clouds gather

Infrastructure, law, jobs concerns remain; diversification urged as oil fund drains

31 October 2025
Prices in Indonesia rose by 2.65% in September, up from 2.31% in August but within the central bank's target range of 1.5% to 3.5%.
Markets

Bank Indonesia keeps its policy rate unchanged for first time in 4 months

Decision comes amid growing concerns over the central bank's independence

22 October 2025
Prabowo Subianto greets supporters after being sworn-in as Indonesia's eighth president in Jakarta on Oct. 20, 2024. A year on, he faces a plethora of domestic and external tests. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Politics

Indonesia's Prabowo reins free as he marks one year in office: 5 key points

Analysts say president's myriad populist programs threaten fiscal discipline, macro guardrails

20 October 2025
For Tatsuo Yasunaga, chairman of the Japan Foreign Trade Council and chair of Mitsui & Co., it's important for Asia to show where it can contribute to what the U.S. president wants -- the revitalization of the American economy.  (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yuki Kohara)
Big in Asia

Japan's trading houses to Asia: We'll help you grow in era of Trump turmoil

Chairman of industry group touts diversified business model as partnership solution

18 October 2025
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto announces economic stimulus measures during a press conference in Jakarta on Oct. 17. (Indonesia's Presidential Secretariat)
Economy

Indonesia injects $1.8bn into cash aid to spur Q4 growth

Additional package to benefit 35 million households, minister says

17 October 2025
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto speaks at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23. He will mark his first year as president on Oct. 20 and has plans to generate capital inflows from sales of carbon offsets to foreign buyers.
Climate Change

Indonesia allows resumption of international carbon trade after four years

Presidential decree aims to attract foreign investment for climate initiatives

15 October 2025
Hot slag flows into a dumping site at an Indonesian nickel processing plant in 2023. The nation is tapping its deposits of the metal as part of its drive to become a global battery hot spot.
Opinion

Indonesia must look beyond nickel to unleash its global potential

The metal may be the starting point, but should not be the destination.

14 October 2025
Two women walk past a damaged house after a strong earthquake in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Oct. 10. 
Natural disasters

Philippines and Indonesia issue tsunami warnings after 7.4 magnitude quake

Pacific warning center says parts of Indonesia, Palau could see waves up to 1 meter

10 October 2025
Workers at a wooden furniture factory in Muar, Johor State, Malaysia. The industry has been plunged into uncertainty this week after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed heavy tariffs on the sector.
Trump tariffs

Asia's wooden furniture industry feels brunt of new US tariffs

Fresh levies unsettle manufacturers in sector with already tight margins

3 October 2025
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3 October 2025
Students receive treatment at a makeshift clinic in Indonesia's Bandung on Sept. 25. They are among thousands who suffered from food poisoning after eating government-financed free school meals.
Politics

Indonesia's Prabowo plows on with free meal program despite public backlash

President says poisoning has affected only a tiny proportion of 1bn servings

3 October 2025
Indonesia is the eighth-largest producer of gold in the world.
Commodities

Indonesia's Merdeka starts operation at gold mine with 200 tons in reserves

Precious metal has become an investment of choice in the country amid economic uncertainties

2 October 2025
Indonesia is home to one of the world's largest smoking populations. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
Trading Asia

Indonesia's cigarette stocks struggle as demand wanes and tax burden mounts

Unemployment cripples purchasing power, putting industry in 'existential squeeze'

29 September 2025
Students receive treatment at a makeshift clinic in Bandung, West Java province, after coming down with food poisoning from government-sponsored free school meals.
26 September 2025
A sign for Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara is seen in front of its headquarters in Jakarta on Feb. 28, 2025.
Opinion

An investor cheat sheet for Indonesia's Danantara sovereign wealth fund

Prabowo's flagship fund targets 7.5% returns, but governance not yet tested

26 September 2025
Indonesia's new finance minister, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, left, and central bank governor Perry Warjiyo, are taking a more pro-growth approach to policymaking. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Economy

Indonesia's new finance minister rolls out pro-growth policies

Rupiah the biggest casualty as Sadewa and central bank change tack

25 September 2025
Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for the economy, left, and European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic signed a "substantive conclusion" on the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the EU in Bali on Sept. 23.
Trade

Indonesia hopeful of export boost as EU trade deal finalized

Four-fifths of Southeast Asian nation's exports to Europe to enjoy zero tariffs, Jakarta says

23 September 2025
Scandals triggered by governance failures at TaniHub and eFishery have plunged Indonesia's startup ecosystem into a funding drought. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
ASEAN Money

Indonesian startups face funding fallout from corruption scandals

Experts urge better governance and more hands-on investor oversight to revive ecosystem

23 September 2025
A shop in Jakarta that deals in gold jewelry sees a steady flow of customers. (Photo by Tomoyoshi Oshikiri)
Commodities

Gold bug bites Indonesia as flight to safety goes mainstream

Precious metal emerges as alternative haven asset to US dollar for individuals

21 September 2025
Indonesia’s local markets had been roiled by two weeks of protests across the country from late August due to public frustration over economic hardships.
Economy

Bank Indonesia delivers another surprise rate cut to boost economy

Central bank lowers its benchmark rate by a quarter point to 4.75%

17 September 2025
University students rally outside the House of Representatives in Jakarta over various demands, including release of hundreds of people still being detained after recent nationwide protests, on Sept. 9.  
Politics

Indonesians' discontent persists despite Prabowo's cabinet shakeup

Protesters plan more rallies, accuse the government of ignoring '17+8 Demands'

12 September 2025
People carry their belongings through flooded streets on Sept. 10 following heavy overnight rains in Legian, a popular tourist area on Indonesia's resort island of Bali.
Natural disasters

Floods kill 13 in Indonesia's Bali and East Nusa Tenggara

Tourist hotspots among areas submerged on popular resort island

10 September 2025
Benny Prawira, center, and two other ethnic Chinese take part in a protest near the presidential palace in Jakarta: Chinese Indonesians these days say they feel less targeted. (Benny Prawira)
Politics

Ethnic Chinese Indonesians hail new era after escaping unrest

Oft-targeted community says it is no longer seen as 'common enemy'

10 September 2025
Indonesia's newly appointed Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa waves to journalists following his inauguration in Jakarta on Sept. 8.
Economy

Indonesia's new finance minister faces fiscal, political tests

Sadewa will need to restore public trust while satisfying president and markets

9 September 2025
Two women look at a real estate development model at a property exhibition in Jakarta. Indonesia's weak mortgage market makes it harder for people to obtain affordable financing to buy homes.
ASEAN Money

Indonesia's anemic mortgage market crimps housing sector development

Conservative lending practices and government subsidies stall loan growth

9 September 2025
Then Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati speaks at an event earlier this year. The former World Bank managing director, who had held the finance minister's post since 2016, was fired in a cabinet reshuffle on Sept. 8.
Politics

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati fired in reshuffle

Rupiah, stocks weaken as technocrat replaced by Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation head

8 September 2025
Demonstrators clash with riot police clash outside the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta on Aug. 28, as protestors decry what they say are exorbitant allowances for Indonesian lawmakers. 
Policy Asia

Indonesia protests expose economic divide threatening Prabowo programs

President urged to reduce spending on defense and free meals, prioritize cash transfers to the poor

5 September 2025
BYD has carved out a majority of the Indonesian EV market for itself. (Photo by Rezha Hadyan)
Electric vehicles

Indonesia on road to scrapping EV tariff exemption at year-end

Fears of coming crisis mount as in-country plants go underutilized

4 September 2025
University students shout slogans during a protest against legislators’ extra pay and housing allowances outside the House of Representatives in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 1. 
Politics

Prabowo's quick fixes not enough to calm Indonesia unrest, analysts warn

Anger at police, lawmakers could shift to president with economic woes ignored

2 September 2025