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File photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered perhaps his strongest remarks to date on Saturday over Israel's need to protect civilians in Gaza, calling them the center of gravity in Israel's war with Hamas and warning over the risks of their radicalization. "So I have repeatedly made clear to Israel's leaders that protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and strategic imperative." The United States has rushed military assistance to Israel, including air defenses and other munitions. "The United States will remain Israel's closest friend in the world.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Lloyd Austin, he's, Austin, Israel, Austin's, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, . Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Islamic State, United, Palestinian, Pentagon, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Gaza, Austin, Simi Valley , California, Israel, United States, U.S, Iran

☆ US Secretary of Defense Austin: US will 'stand with Ukraine'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin looks on as he attends the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv on Monday for a visit, he said on the X social media platform. "I'm here today to deliver an important message – the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future." The visit comes amid increasing division over Ukraine aid in the U.S. legislature. A joint Ukraine-U.S. military industry conference in Washington is due to take place next month.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Willy Kurniawan, Max Hunder, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Defense, ASEAN Defense Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Kyiv, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Washington

☆ US, China, Southeast Asia defence officials meet amid crises
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ministers and members of the delegates attend the opening session of the 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting - Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Defence ministers and officials from the United States, China, Russia and Southeast Asia gathered in Indonesia on Thursday for a meeting where they are expected to discuss geopolitical crises in and outside the region. Defence ministers in Southeast Asia's regional bloc ASEAN called on Wednesday for a ceasefire in Gaza and a durable solution in Myanmar, as conflicts are deepening there. "Indonesia is of the view that the region's multiple security issues, ranging from traditional and non-traditional threats, can only be solved by extensive open and inclusive global collaboration," Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's defence minister said in an opening speech on Thursday. Visiting Washington this week, Indonesian President Joko Widodo pressed Biden to do more to end Israel's war with Hamas.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Prabowo, Lloyd Austin, Alexander Fomin, Jing Jianfeng, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Joko Widodo, Biden, Stanley Widianto, Lincoln Organizations: 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, U.S . Defense, Joint Staff Department of, Central Military Commission, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, United States, China, Russia, Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia's, Gaza, Myanmar, Korean, Australia, New Zealand, San Francisco, Malaysia, Washington

☆ Indonesia expected to maintain Oct trade surplus at $3 billion: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO: A worker stands on a container at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File PhotoJAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia’s trade surplus is seen to narrow slightly in October to $3 billion from the previous month, as exports are still expected to weaken, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday. The poll, conducted with 19 economists between Nov. 8 and Nov. 14, showed trade surplus of $3 billion last month, compared with $3.42 billion in September. The largest economy in Southeast Asia has seen its trade surplus weakening in recent months due to falling commodity prices and a global economic slowdown that hurts demand. Exports were seen contracting 15.35% in October, compared with a sharper drop of 16.17% in the previous month.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan Organizations: REUTERS Locations: Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Southeast Asia

☆ Indonesia presidential front-runner Prabowo criticises EU on deforestation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Indonesia's defence minister and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto greets the supporters after registering himself for next year's presidential election, at the election commission headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Indonesia's presidential front-runner Prabowo Subianto on Monday criticised the European Union over its ban on palm oil imports and said Europeans during colonial times were also guilty of deforestation. The EU in April passed a law which would ban imports of commodities linked to forest destruction, including palm oil of which Indonesia is the world's biggest producer. Prabowo, who is leading opinion polls ahead of a presidential election next February, said Indonesia maintains "good" relations with Europe "although we have problems sometimes with the European Union". The EU, Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, have formed a task force to discuss the law.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Willy Kurniawan, Prabowo, Mercedes Benz, Stanley Widianto, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, EU, European, Volkswagen, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Union, Dutch East, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, European, Europe, EU, Dutch, Dutch East Indies, Malaysia

☆ Indonesia says Gaza hospital for Palestinians after Israel accusations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People take part in a rally supporting Palestinians in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 5, 2023. "Indonesia Hospital in Gaza is a facility built by Indonesians fully for humanitarian purposes and to serve the medical needs of Palestinians in Gaza," said the ministry said in a statement, adding the hospital is run by Palestinian authorities, helped by a few Indonesian volunteers. Sarbini Abdul Murad, the chairman of MER-C, a voluntary group which funded the Indonesia hospital, told Reuters on Tuesday the hospital had run out of fuel, and had "collapsed". On Monday, Sarbini denied Israel's accusations, adding that it was a "precondition so that they can attack the Indonesian hospital in Gaza". Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has called for an immediate ceasefire and has sent humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, military's, Sarbini Abdul Murad, Sarbini, Stanley Widianto, Miral Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Indonesia, Palestinian, Reuters, Health, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia says 200,000 hectares of palm plantations to be made forests
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of a palm oil plantation in Siak regency, Riau province, Indonesia, April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Some 200,000 hectares (494,210 acres) of oil palm plantations found in areas designated as forests in Indonesia are expected to be returned to the state to be converted back into forests, a government official said late on Tuesday. While 3.3 million hectares (8.1 million acres) of the country's nearly 17 million hectares of palm plantation have been found in forests, only owners of plantations with a combined size of 1.67 million hectares have been identified, forestry ministry secretary general Bambang Hendroyono told reporters. Indonesia's chief security minister Mahfud MD has threatened to pursue legal action against palm oil companies that use land illegally after the Thursday deadline passes. Indonesia has launched several programmes to improve governance in its massive palm oil industry, amid criticism by environmentalists of the crop's impact on deforestation.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Bambang Hendroyono, Bambang, Mahfud, Bernadette Christina, Gayatri Suroyo, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Officials, Thomson Locations: Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia says arrests militants suspected of plotting to disrupt election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An armed police officer stands guard following a blast at a district police station, that according to authorities was a suspected suicide bombing, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, December 7, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit has arrested 59 suspected militants including some loyalists of the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) suspected of planning to disrupt an upcoming election, a unit spokesperson said on Tuesday. Aswin Siregar, spokesperson for the Densus 88 counter-terrorism taskforce, said the JAD militants were suspected of plotting attacks to disrupt Feb. 14 presidential and legislative elections. It relates to their main goal which is to cancel the election," he added without giving any more detail of the suspected plotting. However, security analysts say the militant threat has diminished significantly in recent years, largely because of successful security force operations.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Ansharut, Aswin Siregar, Aswin, Ananda Teresia, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, Islamic State, JI, Thomson Locations: Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, al Qaeda, JAD, United States, Bali

☆ Once disgraced, Indonesian ex-general tipped for presidency after makeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto gestures while attending a meeting of his Gerindra Party, in Bogor, Indonesia August 12, 2022. "We are ready to move forward for Indonesia," Prabowo told a press conference. The former special forces commander has undergone a remarkable transformation since being appointed defence minister in 2019, cultivating a persona that is more charismatic statesman than fiery, pious nationalist, analysts say. An opinion poll published by Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) this month showed Prabowo ahead of his two opponents with 34% support. It's a change from previous campaigns where we've seen nationalist populist Prabowo, and pro-Islamist Prabowo," said Ross Tapsell, from the Australian National University.

Persons: Prabowo, Willy Kurniawan, Prabowo Subianto, Joko Widodo's, Suharto, Lembaga Survei, Ganjar Pranowo, LSI's Djayadi Hanan, Jokowi, Prabowo's, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Suharto's, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, we've, Ross Tapsell, Najwa Shihab, Shihab, Andreas Harsono, Ananda Teresia, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Indonesian Defence, Party, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, Pentagon, Australian National University ., Human Rights, Prabowo, Thomson Locations: Bogor, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Jordan, United States, Papua, East Timor, Lembaga Survei Indonesia, Europe, Middle, Paris, Beijing, Indonesian, Jakarta

Coal barges are pictured as they queue to be pulled along the Mahakam river in Samarinda, East Kalimantan province, Indonesia, August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia will seek China's help for renewable energy and infrastructure projects when President Joko Widodo attends the upcoming Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, a cabinet minister said. Erick declined to share JETP talk details, saying only: "We cannot wait...there hasn't been any funding as yet." "We want this to fit our grand plan, the Indonesia blueprint, not the blueprint of other countries," Erick said. Indonesia also discussed the plan with Chinese Premier Li Qiang when Li visited Jakarta in September.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Joko Widodo, Erick Thohir, Erick, JETP, hasn't, Xi Jinping, Jokowi, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Gayatri Suroyo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Forum, Indonesian, United, Premier, Thomson Locations: Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Beijing, China, U.S, United Nations, Jakarta, Jokowi, Surabaya

☆ More work to do in tackling non-bank risks, says FSB's Knot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Klaas Knot, chair of the Financial Stability Board, arrives for the G20 leaders' summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, November 15, 2022. "Why did we not see these pockets of hidden leverage? That, I think, is still the main target of our work in the NBFI space going forward," Knot said. "In general the massive change in the interest rate environment, so far so good, there has not been any systemic rippling of negative effects into the financial sector," Knot told the Institute of International Finance annual meeting. Meanwhile, AI could have tangible benefits and present some risks to the financial system, he said.

Persons: Klaas, Willy Kurniawan, Klaas Knot, Huw Jones, Alex Richardson, Alexander Smith, Jane Merriman Organizations: Board, REUTERS, UBS Group, Silicon Valley Bank, UBS, Swiss, Credit Suisse, European Central Bank, policymaker, Institute of International Finance, Bank of England, Authority, ECB, Thomson Locations: Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, Silicon, Dutch

☆ Toyota, Idemitsu join hands to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker cleans Toyota's Electric Vehicle bZ4X, that is displayed during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor (7203.T) and Idemitsu Kosan (5019.T) have joined hands to develop and mass-produce all-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, the companies said on Thursday. Idemitsu and Toyota said in a statement they would aim to commercialise the next-generation batteries in 2027-28, followed by full-scale mass production. Toyota President Koji Sato and Idemitsu President Shunichi Kito will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Thursday. Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than current liquid electrolyte batteries.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Idemitsu Kosan, Koji Sato, Shunichi Kito, Chang, Ran Kim, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Toyota, world's, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Tangerang, Jakarta

☆ Indonesia must be prudent with military spending, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A view of Indonesian Special Air Force personnel in action during a ceremony to mark the Indonesian Air Force's 77th Anniversary at the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Thursday emphasised the importance of military hardware modernisation but warned any spending should be done wisely as the state budget was limited. The archipelago nation of 270 million people, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, is seeking to modernise its military but has lagged its regional peers in recent years. "Spending for military hardware must be done wisely, in terms of the amount or allocation," Jokowi, as the president is known, said during an armed forces parade. Jokowi in July also warned his cabinet to maintain a "healthy" budget as he highlighted outsised spending by the security agencies, including the defence ministry.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Special Air Force, Indonesian Air Force's, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, Dassault Rafale, Turkish Aerospace, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Locations: Halim, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Southeast, Stockholm

☆ Kanjuruhan stadium disaster: One year on, families are still seeking answers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Families have criticized their prison sentences – of between one and two years – as being too light. “The Kanjuruhan tragedy was a gross human rights violation,” said Imam Hidayat, a spokesperson for the Kanjuruhan Tragedy Advocacy Team, who called on the Attorney General’s Office to form an independent team to investigate the tragedy. Also among the demonstrators was a man named Daniel, whose daughter Elvi Duali died at the stadium. “Even after a year, we (the victims’ families) still have not received justice.”Located in East Java, the Kanjuruhan Stadium was used mostly for soccer matches, with a supposed capacity of 38,000 spectators. A clash between a number of Arema FC fans and police prompted security forces to fire tear gas into enclosed areas of the stadium.

Persons: –, ”, Hidayat, Daniel, Elvi Duali, ” Daniel, “, Willy Kurniawan, Joko Widodo, Usman Hamid Organizations: CNN, CNN Indonesia, National Police Headquarters, Investigations, Attorney, Arema FC, Reuters Survivor, Amnesty International Locations: Indonesia, Jakarta, Malang Regency, Komnas HAM, East Java, Amnesty International Indonesia

☆ Indonesia spoils TikTok’s Southeast Asia party
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sandy Saputra, 19, who is one of TikTok's biggest Indonesian stars, uses his smartphone to record a video using the app in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 24, 2020. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan - RC2PMI9KGQ5Q Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 28 (Reuters Breakingviews) - June must now feel like an alternate reality to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. On Wednesday, though, President Joko Widodo’s administration banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms. Indonesia is key to TikTok’s hopes of growing its e-commerce sales in Southeast Asia. CONTEXT NEWSIndonesian authorities on Wednesday announced new regulations that bar social media companies from conducting direct e-commerce sales on their platforms.

Persons: Sandy Saputra, Willy Kurniawan, Shou Zi Chew, Joko, Zulkifli Hasan, TikTok, “, GoTo, Antony Currie, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Trade, HK, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights SINGAPORE, Southeast Asia, Singapore

[1/4] Bening Widayati, 40, sells clothes live on a social media platform inside her stall at the International Trade Center (ITC) mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 27, 2023. The government said the move, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at protecting offline merchants and marketplaces, adding that predatory pricing on social media platforms is threatening small and medium-sized enterprises. The move comes just three months after TikTok pledged to invest billion of dollars in Southeast Asia, mainly in Indonesia, over the next few years in a major push to build its e-commerce platform TikTok Shop. He warned of letting social media become an e-commerce platform, shop, and bank all at the same time. Indonesia Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga earlier this month named TikTok's live streaming features as an example of people selling goods on social media.

Persons: Widayati, Willy Kurniawan, TikTok, China's ByteDance, Zulkifli Hasan, Zulkifli, Jerry Sambuaga, Fahmi, Edri, Dewi Kurniawati, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska Nangoy, Stanley Widianto, Johan Purnomo, Kanupriya Kapoor, Alexandra Hudson, Miyoung Kim, Mark Porter Organizations: International Trade Center, REUTERS, Indonesia Trade, Wednesday, Reuters, Indonesia Deputy Trade, Research, BMI, HK, Lazada, Momentum Works, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, JAKARTA, Shop, TikTok, Europe, United States

☆ Indonesia may issue regulation on use of social media as e-commerce platform this week - president
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during a news conference after the closing of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Indonesia may on Tuesday issue a regulation on the use of social media to sell goods in the country, President Joko Widodo said, a move intended to quell threats to offline markets in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Ministers have repeatedly said that e-commerce sellers using predatory pricing on social media platforms are threatening offline markets in Indonesia, with some officials specifically citing the video platform TikTok as an example. "We just...decided on the use of social media for e-commerce. Tomorrow it will perhaps come out," the president, who is commonly known as Jokowi, said in a streamed video address on Monday.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Willy Kurniawan, Jokowi, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: 43rd ASEAN Summit, REUTERS, Rights, Ministers, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Asia's

☆ Indonesia's August trade surplus seen widening to $1.55 bln: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Workers are seen on a ship carrying containers at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Trade data due at 0200 GMT on Friday, Sept 15JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia's trade surplus in August likely widened slightly from a month earlier amid falling imports, even as exports were expected to remain weak, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday. The median forecast of 19 economists surveyed was for Southeast Asia's biggest economy to book a surplus of $1.55 billion, versus $1.31 billion in July. Indonesia's exports and trade surplus have been shrinking as prices of its top commodities, like coal and palm oil, fall and global demand weakens. Weak exports have also hit economic growth in the last quarter.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Josua Pardede, Veronica Khongwir, Susobhan Sarkar, Stefanno Sulaiman, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Southeast Asia's, Bank Permata, Thomson Locations: Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies PT Suralaya Indotenaga FollowSINGAPORE/JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Environmental groups have submitted a formal complaint to the World Bank for providing financial support for two coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, violating a pledge to stop backing fossil fuels. Plans to build two more would emit 250 million tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the groups said a letter to World Bank compliance ombudsman Janine Ferretti. The IFC, the World Bank and Hana Bank Indonesia did not immediately respond to requests to comment. According to the Global Energy Monitor think tank, Indonesia was one of 11 countries to commission new coal plants last year. The JETP compels Indonesia to impose a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, though there are exemptions for "captive" plants that serve other industrial facilities.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Janine Ferretti, CREA, David Stanway, Miral Organizations: Indonesia Power, Plant, REUTERS, World Bank, International Financial Corporation, IFC, Hana, Hana Bank Indonesia, Bank, Inclusive Development, Hana Bank, Research, Energy, Clean, PT, Raya, Global Energy Monitor, Thomson Locations: Suralaya, Banten province, Indonesia, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, Hana Bank, Asia, U.S, Hana Bank Indonesia, Helsinki, Jakarta, China, India

☆ Australian PM to visit China this year after 'progress' on ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese along with the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong smile during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Australia and China have made progress in returning to "unimpeded trade" but more progress is needed, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday as he met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a regional summit in Indonesia. "The progress we have made in resuming unimpeded trade is good for both countries and we want to see that progress continue," Albanese said in his opening comments at the meeting. Li said he welcomed Albanese to visit China this year, and Albanese said he would. "I look forward to visiting China later this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister Whitlam’s historic visit," Albanese said in a statement after the meeting, referring to the first visit to communist China by an Australian leader, then prime minister Gough Whitlam, in 1973.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong, Willy Kurniawan, Li Qiang, Albanese, Li, Whitlam’s, " Albanese, Gough Whitlam, Cheng Lei, Yang Hengjun, Kirsty Needham, Robert Birsel Organizations: Australian, Australian Foreign, ASEAN Summit, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Australia, China

☆ Indonesia proposes critical minerals trade deal with US
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ride on an escalator during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 6, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia has asked the United States to begin talks on a trade deal for critical minerals so that exports from the Southeast Asian country can be covered under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, an Indonesian ministry said on Thursday. Indonesia does not have a free trade agreement with the United States, but the resource-rich country has ambitions to become a major player in the manufacturing of EVs and their batteries, leveraging its vast nickel reserves. "Indonesia invites the U.S. to discuss the formation of the Critical Mineral Agreement," Jokowi added. Harris, during the opening speech of the bilateral meeting, said she would continue to work with Indonesia to build supply chains that included "critical minerals required to expand our clean energy economies" and to boost trade between the two countries through IPEF.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Kamala Harris, Willy Kurniawan, EVs, Jokowi, Luhut Pandjaitan, Harris, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: ASEAN Summit, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Economic, EV, IPEF, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, United States, Washington, North America, U.S, Indonesian, Japan

Bank Indonesia's logo is seen at its headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, January 17, 2019. Bank Indonesia (BI) plans to issue new rupiah-denominated securities, using its holdings of government bonds as the underlying asset, as a new monetary instrument aimed at attracting foreign portfolio capital flows, Governor Perry Warjiyo said. BI kept the benchmark 7-day reverse repurchase rate (IDCBRR=ECI) at 5.75% for its seventh straight monthly policy review, as widely expected by economists surveyed by Reuters. Guarding the rupiah "is our way to protect the domestic economy, inflation and growth from global spillovers," Warjiyo told reporters. Inflation slowed in July to 3.08%, roughly the midpoint of the central bank's 2% to 4% target range.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Perry Warjiyo, Warjiyo, Radhika Rao, Shivaan Tandon, Bank Danamon, Fransiska Nangoy, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Stefanno Sulaiman, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Martin Petty, Kim Coghill, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Bank Indonesia, BI, Reuters, Securities, U.S, Treasury, DBS Bank, Capital Economics, Bank, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Asia's, China

[1/2] A worker cleans an electric-powered car Neta V, that is displayed during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, August 10, 2023. Dody Hartono, a visitor at the auto show who plans to buy his first EV by 2024, said he wants a better deal. Indonesia has ambitious EV growth plans as it races Thailand and India to build out an EV industry as an alternative to China, the world's largest producer. CONFIDENCE ISSUESToyota (7203.T), its affiliate Daihatsu, and Honda (7267.T) account for two-thirds of auto sales in Indonesia but have been slow to pivot to EVs. Toyota has said it has no plans yet to build an EV in Indonesia.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Dody, EVs, Hartono, China's, Hendra Pratama, Hendra Budi, –, Johan Purnomo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Kevin Krolicki, Himani Organizations: REUTERS, Hyundai, HK, Air EV Lite, Daihatsu, Huawei, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi Motors, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Tangerang, Jakarta, Thailand, India, China, Southeast Asia

☆ Indonesia upper house speaker says 'important' to discuss means to delay elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker walks on the roof of Indonesian Parliament Building in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 5, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The speaker of Indonesia's upper house of parliament said on Wednesday it was important for the country to discuss the means to delay elections in times of natural disasters, wars, or pandemics. Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, must hold national elections every five years, with the next vote scheduled for Feb. 14. Indonesia currently has no framework to delay an election and some politicians have called for the constitution to be amended to allow a postponement. "How do we hold elections in the case of unexpected events occurring, like big natural disasters, wars, revolts, or pandemics," Bambang Soesatyo, the upper house speaker, said in an annual address ahead of Indonesia's Independence Day.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Bambang Soesatyo, Bambang, Joko Widodo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Gayatri Suroyo, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia gives automakers more time to qualify for EV credits in investment bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Stefanno Sulaiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A worker stands near a Mini Cooper Electric car, that is displayed during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanTANGERANG, Indonesia, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Indonesia said on Thursday it would give automakers two more years to qualify for electric vehicle incentives in Southeast Asia's largest auto market, a move followed by investment commitments by China's Neta EV brand and Mitsubishi Motors. The moves announced at the Jakarta auto show come as Indonesia races Thailand and India to build out an EV industry as an alternative to China, the world’s largest producer. Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest auto market and its second-largest production hub behind Thailand. Until now, only two manufacturers have shifted enough production to Indonesia to qualify for full incentives: Wuling Motors (0305.HK) and Hyundai (005380.KS).

Persons: Willy Kurniawan TANGERANG, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, ” Agus, Wuling, Hiroyuki Ueda, Stefanno Sulaiman, Kevin Krolicki, Conor Humphries Organizations: Cooper, REUTERS, China's, Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota, Daihatsu, Honda, Mitsubishi, New Energy Automobile, Wuling Motors, HK, Hyundai, Wuling, Air EV, Reuters, Gaikindo, Auto Show, Astra Motor, PT Astra International, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Tangerang, Jakarta, Thailand, India, China, Southeast, Neta, Gaikindo Indonesia

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