President to inaugurate Indonesia’s first defense university
The Jakarta Post
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to inaugurate
the Defense University of Indonesia, the first of its kind in
the country, on March 11, 2009.
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said in Jakarta on Thursday
the idea to establish the university was first raised by the
defense ministry in January 2007 to meet the urgent need to
improve the state's strategic defense capability.
"The institute will transform Indonesia's military and defense
education with the long-term objective of developing a modern
TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) military culture," the minister
said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Changes of national, regional and global scopes had created new
challenges to the country's strategic defense capability, he
said.
Citing an example, Sudarsono said Indonesian territorial waters
which were being used as maritime routes for 40 percent of the
world's trade, needed more than security measures in the
traditional sense. They needed a TNI capable of making more
modern political, economic, social and cultural approaches, he
said.
Therefore, Indonesia was now trying to meet that need by
establishing an education institute capable of producing leaders
with military and civilian backgrounds who had strategic defense
capabilities and competence as well as wide perspectives and the
ability to adapt to global conditions, he said.
Meanwhile, Major General Syarifuddin Tippe, the defense
ministry's director general of defense strategy, said 47 other
countries already had a defense university.
In ASEAN, Singapore had established a defense university in 2005
and Malaysia in 2007.
"In the current era, there is a need for thinkers among military
officers, who not only have combat or military operation skills
but also have perspectives and master scientific disciplines
needed to comprehend the security environment and the rapidly
changing world," he said.
The inauguration of Indonesia's Defense University would also be
marked by a seminar themed "Indonesia 2025: Geopolitical and
Defense Challenges" to be attended also by world-class defense
strategy experts.
Thai Military Deny Secret US Jail
ReplyDeleteThailand's army commander has denied allegations that Washington
had a secret jail in Thailand where al-Qaeda suspects were
interrogated.
It follows confirmation by the Central intelligence Agency that
it destroyed 92 tapes of interviews with suspects.
The tapes - destroyed four years ago - were held in a safe in
Thailand.
The footage is believed to have documented the interrogation and
mistreatment of two leading al-Qaeda suspects at a Thai military
base.
Allegations that Thailand was used to detain and torture
al-Qaeda suspects have been around for years and they have
always been emphatically denied, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in
Bangkok.
But the campaign by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
against the CIA to expose the treatment of those suspects has
put Thailand back in the spotlight.
Strained relations
As the ACLU's case proceeds against the CIA, more details of
Thailand's involvement in its so-called extraordinary rendition
programme are likely to emerge, our correspondent says.
The Thai army commander, Gen Anupong Paochinda, has responded by
stating that there are no secret interrogation centres in Udon
Thani - an airbase from the Vietnam War era thought to have been
used by the CIA.
But our Bangkok correspondent says there are other bases that
could also have been used.
Another senior military officer told the BBC he could neither
confirm nor deny the existence of the centres.
Thailand offered the use of its bases to the US in its campaign
against al-Qaeda following the 9/11 attacks in New York.
In 2003 it helped capture Hambali, the head of al-Qaeda's
regional affiliate, and was rewarded with the status of a major
non-Nato ally.
But relations have been strained since the military coup in 2006
and friction over trade, says our correspondent.
If the allegations that al-Qaeda suspects were tortured here are
confirmed, that will surely test that traditionally robust
alliance, he adds.
------------------------------------------
Officials Ask US to Keep Hambali
ReplyDeleteIndonesian government officials have requested that the Obama
administration continue to detain Indonesian-born Al Qaeda
terror suspect Riduan “Hambali” Isamuddin after the United
States closes the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.
A well-placed government official confirmed the request, telling
the Jakarta Globe that there was widespread consensus at all
levels of government, including the law enforcement,
counterterrorism, military and intelligence communities, that
Hambali should remain in US custody.
“We don’t want him back,” the official said, speaking on
condition of anonymity. “If he comes back here, he’ll start
using his mobile phone to reconnect with his old network. This
would be contradictory to our security interests.”
The official said there were concerns that Hambali, who also is
believed to be a senior member of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist
network, would attempt to “re-energize his old movement” if he
was returned to Indonesia.
The government also wants to avoid a repeat of the media
circuses that surrounded the release of Abu Bakar Bashir, the
reputed leader of JI, from prison in 2006, and the execution of
the three Bali bombers last November.
“Bringing him back would not serve any purpose,” the official
said, noting that the country was facing an economic crisis and
had other pressing domestic issues.
While the US hasn’t yet responded to the government’s request,
the official said “they don’t want to send him back and we don’t
want him here.”
Two Indonesian officials made the request in person in early
February during a meeting in Washington, DC, with members of the
US State Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, a
national security official in Jakarta said.
Around the same time, an Indonesian government team traveled to
Guantanamo Bay and were given access to Hambali for the first
time since his capture in Thailand in 2003.
Hambali, 42, from West Java Province, is considered to be a
“high value” detainee, and US intelligence officials have linked
him to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the 2002 Bali bombings
and other planned operations in Asia and the United States.
Aside from being the only non-Arab member of Osama bin Laden’s
inner circle, Hambali was believed to be the operations chief
for JI. The Bush administration had rebuffed numerous earlier
requests by the Indonesian government to interrogate him or send
him home due to his importance in unraveling future attacks.
However, in the wake of Obama’s presidential order shortly after
taking office to close Guantanamo within a year, Indonesian
authorities also agreed there was scant evidence to ensure
Hambali’s conviction for Bali or any terrorist attacks here if
the US sent him home, the national security official told the
Globe.
“If you ask them, there’s no case. And if he comes back to
Indonesia, he’s a hero,” the official said. “He served in
Guantanamo. He’ll be a rock star. That’s why it’s preferable for
the government that he be kept in the United States.”
The prospect of Hambali walking free after landing in Jakarta,
or on the other hand being put on trial, is particularly
sensitive in an election year. Hambali’s prosecution or release
would be a rallying point for extremist groups and could be used
as political ammunition against President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, said a Jakarta-based Western security analyst.
“It’s possible some hard-line elements and political parties
could criticize Yudhoyono and say he’s kowtowing to the West
during an election year,” the analyst said.
Added Sidney Jones, a leading authority on Jemaah Islamiyah: “If
you think Abu Bakar Bashir was treated as a celebrity, multiply
that by a factor of 10 for Hambali.”
Government and private terrorism analysts say the best case for
prosecuting Hambali here would be for murder charges over the
2000 Christmas Eve bombings that killed 18 nationwide.
But the case would rest solely on testimony from JI members Ali
Imron and Mubarok, both of whom were involved in the first Bali
bombing.
They said Hambali couldn’t be prosecuted retroactively under the
2002 terrorism law, and no physical or forensic evidence linked
him to other terrorist plots.
Hambali was sentenced to death in absentia in Cambodia for
financing radical Islamic groups, and is wanted in the
Philippines in connection with a train bombing and planning
other operations.
Australia and South Korea announce security pact
ReplyDeleteCanberra
Australia and South Korea have a new joint security cooperation
pact - as North Korea moves ahead with reported plans to
test-fire a long-range missile.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd announced the new statement on closer
defense and security relations on Thursday in a joint press
conference in the national capital, Canberra.
Last month, South Korea's Defense Ministry said North Korea had
recently deployed a new type of medium-range ballistic missile
capable of reaching northern Australia and the U.S. territory of
Guam.
The report comes amid speculation that the isolated regime also
is preparing to test-fire another, longer-range missile capable
of hitting Alaska.
China to boost defence spending by 14.9%
ReplyDeleteBEIJING, March 5 - China announced its latest double-digit rise in defence spending on Wednesday but sought to soothe concerns in Asia and the United States by insisting its
expanding military posed no threat.
The defence budget will grow 14.9 percent for 2009, maintaining a string of double-figure annual increases, despite a punishing slowdown in the Chinese economy as worldwide demand for its exports sags.
The defence budget has been set at 480.7 billion yuan (70.2 billion dollars), up 62.5 billion yuan from the previous year.
Although the rise is slightly smaller than last year's increaseof 17.9 percent, it marks a doubling of the Chinese government 's stated defence spending since 2006.
The United States, Japan and their allies have long expressedconcern about China's military build-up and what they see as alack of transparency about the intent behind the expansion.
Many experts also say China's official figure vastly downplays actual spending.
The Pentagon in recent years has raised concerns about China'sdevelopment of cruise and ballistic missiles, its 2007 test of a
satellite-killing weapon, an apparent rise in cyber-espionage by China's military, and other issues.
The general in charge of China's strategic missile force saidlast month China would accelerate the build-up of its nuclear
and conventional arsenal to form a credible deterrent capable of "winning a war."
The declaration by Jing Zhiyuan appeared in an article published in a Communist Party journal.
18 Indonesian Business updates (Courtesy of Joyo News)
ReplyDelete- Garuda's Unaudited 08 Net Pft IDR683B Vs IDR259B - Official
- Indonesia says to buy Thai sugar, delay cut in import duty
- JG: Matahari to Issue $42m of Bonds
- Bank Negara Indonesia Postpones Issuing $300 Mln Bond
- Indofood Names Six Underwriters For $90 Mln Bond
- Al Baraka Banking Group Postpones Investment Plan In Indonesia
- ICD Allocates $50 Mln For SME Development In Indonesia
- Indonesia Hopes For Increased Trade Among OIC Member Countries
- Indonesian Aircraft Co To Complete 3 Super Pumas For Air Force
- Russia's Reshetnev To Build Satellite For Indonesian Telco
- Russian Entrepreneurs Keen To Invest In Indonesia
- Indonesia's Exports Of Manufactured Products Down 35%
- Indonesia's Plywood Industry Exports To Shrink Further This
Year
- Indonesian Toy Imports Begin To Decline After New Measure
- Indonesia Attracts More Visitors In January
- Number Of Air Passengers In Indonesia Down In January
- Indonesia's Soybean Production Estimated To Reach 850,230 Tons
- Indonesia's 2009 Unhusked Rice Production Estimated At 61 Mln
Tons
---
Garuda's Unaudited 08 Net Pft IDR683B Vs IDR259B - Official
JAKARTA, March 3 (Dow Jones)--PT Garuda Indonesia's unaudited
net profit surged to IDR683 billion in 2008 from IDR259 billion
the previous year as a result of various efforts the flag
carrier has been taking to improve its performance, its
spokesman Pudjobroto said Tuesday.
The company is projecting a 15% growth in net profit this year
as the effects of ongoing route restructuring, operations of new
aircraft and energy conservation are expected to linger this
year, said Pudjobroto, speaking on the sidelines of a business
event.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic passengers is expected to
increase ahead of legislative and presidential elections later
this year, Pudjobroto said.
Pudjobroto said that Garuda's revenue rose to IDR18 trillion in
2008 from IDR13 trillion in 2007 as the number of passengers
increased to 10.1 million from 9.2 million.
The unlisted state-owned company will likely report its audited
2008 results next month, he said.
------------------------------
Indonesia says to buy Thai sugar, delay cut in import duty
JAKARTA, March 3 (Reuters) - Indonesia's purchases of Thai sugar
will be in the same range as in the previous three years, a
trade ministry official said on Tuesday, but did not give the
actual amounts involved.
The intention to buy Thai sugar is part of an agreement signed
by the two countries on Feb. 28, in Bangkok, said Gusamardi
Bustami, director general for international trade cooperation at
the ministry.
As part of that agreement he said Indonesia will postpone a cut
in the sugar import duty from 2010 to 2014, when the tariff will
be reduced from 30 percent to 5-10 percent.
Indonesia has traditionally been one of Asia's biggest sugar
importers, but is scaling back in the face of a glut arising
from the combination of a bumper cane crop and a build-up in
stocks. (Reporting by Yayat Supriatna, Writing by Aloysius Bhui;
Editing by Sara Webb)
---------------------------
The Jakarta Globe
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Matahari to Issue $42m of Bonds
Aditya Wikrama
PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk, the nation’s largest retailer, said
on Tuesday it would issue Rp 500 billion ($42 million) in bonds
on April 15 with yields of 15 percent to 17 percent at the end
of March to refinance existing bonds worth Rp 450 billion plus
interest.
The new bonds will be issued in two tranches with terms of three
and five years. The yields on the existing bonds are 15.2
percent and 16.25 percent above the benchmark FR 023 government
bond, against a yield of 16.12 percent to 17.37 percent above
the benchmark government FR 051 bond, Matahari said.
It also has $150 million of bonds due to mature in September.
Danny Kojongian, Matahari’s director, said the company would not
struggle to make the payment. “We had cash of about Rp 2.8 to
2.9 trillion at the end of last year,” Kojongian said on Tuesday.
The company has yet to disclose its 2008 financial results, but
Hendra Sidin, Matahari’s finance director, said gross revenue
had grown by more than 20 percent to Rp 11.977 trillion by
December.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or
EBITDA, reached more than Rp 1 trillion, up by 8.2 percent from
2007.
Matahari plans to limit its expansion plans to its core
department-store and hypermarket businesses, Kojongian said,
adding that it would add up to four department stores, seven
hypermarkets and 30 new Times Bookstores this year. It now
operates 82 department stores, 39 hypermarkets and eight Times
Bookstores.
Seto Wardono, an analyst at PT Indo Premier Securities, said
several local firms have issued bonds in the domestic market,
which has thus far been relatively isolated from the impact of
the global economic slump.
Four firms, including Matahari, have announced plans to issue
bonds worth Rp 1.9 trillion this year.
Several others said they would issue bonds totaling another Rp 3
trillion later this year.
---------------------------
Bank Negara Indonesia Postpones Issuing $300 Mln Bond
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)
indicated it has decided to postpone issuing a US$300 million
bond this year on high interest rate demanded by the market.
A BNI Director Bien Subiantoro, said the state lender will be
burdened with high interest rate on the bond if it is to be
issued this year.
Based on the prevailing condition in the market, BNI has to
offer higher rate than 11 per cent on state bond issued
recently, Bien was quoted as saying by the newspaper Bisnis
Indonesia.
The bank has decided to rely only on its internal fund for
credit expansion, he said.
The bank planned to issue the bond to finance its credit
expansion and maintain a safe level for its capital adequacy
ratio (CAR) now at 14 per cent.
----------------------------
Indofood Names Six Underwriters For $90 Mln Bond
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's PT Indofood Suklses
Makmur (JSX:INDF) has named six underwriters for a bond valued
at Rp1 trillion (US$90 million) to be issued by the food giant.
The six underwriters include PT DBS Vickers Securities
Indonesia, PT Danareksa Sekuritas, PT ING Securities, PT Mandiri
Sekuritas and PT OSK Nusadana Securities Indonesia.
Corporate secretary Werianty Setiawan said the company need the
bond funds to repay a debt in bond issued in 2004 maturing and
debts to banks and for working capital.
Earlier the largest producer of instant noodle in this region
indicated it had a debt of Rp976 billion (US$81 million) in bond
maturing in July this year, the newspaper Investor Daily said.
The company has also said it was seeking bank loans to finance
its acquisition of a milk processing company PT Indolakto from
Dryaton Pte in December, 2008.
----------------------------
Al Baraka Banking Group Postpones Investment Plan In Indonesia
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Al Baraka Banking Group has
decided to shelve plan for investment in Indonesia until the
third quarter of 2009 on global financial woes.
The Middle East bank was earlier reported planning to acquire a
small bank, Bank Kesawan, to be converted into sharia bank.
Al Baraka is recalculating the plan to avoid repeating the same
investment mistake it has made in the United States and Europe,
a bank Indonesia official said.
Al Baraka has suffered heavily in its investment in the United
States and European banks as a result of the global financial
crisis, sharia banking director Ramzi A Zuhdi said.
Albarakah earlier pledged to invest around US$5 billion in
various projects in the country including in sharia banking, and
trading investment.
----------------------------
ICD Allocates $50 Mln For SME Development In Indonesia
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - The Islamic Corporation for
Development of the Private Sector (ICD) has allocated US$50
million in funds for the development of small-and medium-scale
enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia.
The funds were part of the global funds of ICD for the private
sector in various countries, ICD's CEO and general manager,
Khaleed Al-Aboodi, said after signing an agreement on financing
the SME Program with Mandala Finance on the sidelines of the
World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here on Tuesday.
The purpose of the cooperation between ICD, an arm of the
Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and several other
countries, was to introduce the Islamic financial system to ICD
member countries, including Indonesia, he said.
"Indonesia is one of the important markets, where the government
supports and continues to strengthen the infrastructure of
Islamic economic principles," he said.
Islamic economic principles had received a positive response
from the private sector amid the current financial economic
crisis, including from private business circles in non-Muslim
countries, such as Russia, France and the United States,
according to Al-Aboodi.
However, in Indonesia, he said, the percentage of Islamic banks'
assets was still relatively small compared to those in Malaysia
and Middle Eastern countries. ICD was also conducting a
financial study on programs to be offered to selected companies
in Indonesia with projects worth a total of US$82 million, he
said.
The ICD was also exploring cooperation with state-owned Bank BNI
to set up a sharia-based bank in Indonesia with a capital outlay
of US$500 million. Al-Aboodi, accompanied by IDB (Islamic
Development Bank) Group President Ahmad Mohammed Ali, on the
occasion signed an agreement on a project worth US$8 million
with Mandala Finance for SME program and a capital asset hike.
He hoped that the cooperation between ICD and private companies
in Indonesia would help stimulate investment in the country.
The WIEF taking place in Jakarta from March 2 to 3, 2009, is
being attended by around 1,500 participants from 135 countries.
------------------------------
Indonesia Hopes For Increased Trade Among OIC Member Countries
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia expressed hope here on
Monday that trade among members of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) could be increased in 2010.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono voiced the wish
during a meeting with OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
at the palace, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
He said President Yudhoyono had emphasized the importance of
trade among OIC members with regard to facing the current global
economic challenges.
President Yudhoyono also emphasized the importance for the OIC
to conduct institutional reform, he said.
"The President said the move was important with regard to
continuing the implementation of the 10-year Action Plan that
had been agreed upon in Senegal," he said.
President Yudhoyono at the meeting also suggested the use of
soft power so that the organization's role would remain relevant.
Ekmeleddin meanwhile expressed his appreciation to President
Yudhoyono for his active role in efforts to reform the OIC.
He hoped Indonesia as the world's largest Moslem populated
country continued to play a role in the organization.
"The OIC secretary general praised Indonesia for its important
role in developing Islam and democracy in the country," Djalal
said.
President Yudhoyono on the occasion also expressed the country's
gratitude for the OIC's role in assisting orphan children of
tsunami victims in Aceh.
Djalal said the OIC remained committed to continuing the program
and was now seeking donors for it.
In the meeting that lasted 30 minutes Ekmeleddin also asked
Indonesia to continue playing a role in helping settle the
conflict between the Philippine government and the MLNF in Moro.
Ekemeleddin was here to attend the World Islamic Economic Forum
which was opened by President Yudhoyono and the visit was the
second for him.
President Yudhoyono also received Morrocan Prime Minister Abbas
El Fassi and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
-------------------------------
Indonesian Aircraft Co To Complete 3 Super Pumas For Air Force
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's state-owned aircraft
manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) will soon complete
production of three Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air
Force, a spokesman said.
PT DI had previously finished the production of seven out of 16
Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air Force, said Budi
Santoso, PT DI president director, here Monday.
"Of the remaining nine units, three are in the process of
completion, one is 90 per cent completed and is expected to fly
in the next two months, and two units are 60-70 per cent
completed," Santoso said.
The orders for 16 Super Puma NAS 332 helicopters and their
spareparts were formlaized in purchase contract No. 1010 made in
1998. The completed seven helicopters had been delivered to the
Air Force but production of the remaining nine units had been
hampered by a shortage of funds.
With the planned completion of three Super Puma NAS 332
helicopters, the Indonesian Air Force would get 10 units of its
16 orders. "The remaining (6 helicopters), will be modified into
Super Puma II or Cougars which have newer technologies," the PT
DI chief said.
The modifications, to be made in cooperation with Eurocopter of
France, would enable the Super Puma II to dominate the military
helicopter market in the Asian region, he said.
-------------------------------
Russia's Reshetnev To Build Satellite For Indonesian Telco
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's largest
telecommunication company PT Telkom (JSX:TLKM) has signed a
US$200 million contract with Russia's ISS-Reshetnev for the
procurement of a telecommunication satellite.
Under the contract signed here yesterday, ISS Reshetnev will
build Telkom 3 telecommunication satellite, provide satellite
control equipment and training and internship for Telkom
technicians.
The satellite, which will have 42 transponders, is expected to
be ready for the launch in August 2011, Rinaldi Firmansyah, the
president of the state company said.
Around 45 per cent of the transponders will be leased out
commercially and the rest will be used by the Telkom Group. The
of the state company, Rinaldi was quoted as saying by the
newspaper Investor Daily.
--------------------------------
Russian Entrepreneurs Keen To Invest In Indonesia
LONDON, March 3 Asia Pulse - Russian entrepreneurs were reported
to have an interest to invest in the sector of infrastructure,
real estate and production of health instrument in Indonesia.
The report on this was exactly the conclusion of a visit by some
Russian entrepreneurs grouping in the Russian Academy of
Business to Indonesia on February 20 to March 2, a spokesman of
the Indonesian embassy in Moscow, M. Aji Surya, told Indonesian
correspondent in London on Monday.
I Oleg Gorbulin, the Director of the Russian National Investment
Board who acted as the leader of Russian delegation, said his
side would be serious to learn the possibility to invest in the
sector of infrastructures as already offered by the Indonesian
coordinating investment board.
"It will not be on the right track if the Indonesian offer is to
be ignored," he said.
Largest and medium scale Russian businessmen were reported to be
currently pondering the line of business or investment they had
to invest in Indonesia, said Sergey Evdokimov, the manager of
medical instruments making company "MedEng" especially in the
sector of medical instrument.
In the meantime, Elena Chepelnikova, the president of Russian
Petrobuild holding company, had the interest to make cooperation
with his Indonesian partners in the sector of real-estate.
During their visit to Indonesia, the delegation of Russian
Academy of Business had a series of meetings with the Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the Indonesian
Businesswomen Association (IWAPI), the Indonesian Coordinating
Investment Board, the Artha Graha Network, Riau Islands Governor
and the Batam Industrial Development Authority.
For most of Russian delegates, this year's visit is the second
one to Indonesia, thus posing a follow up of the last year's.
The results of the visit are very satisfactory. Even the world
is still grappling with the financial crisis, Indonesia is
proven to be able to attract Russian investors, as this world
largest archipelagic country can expectedly come up as the
center of Russian investment in the future, A. Agus Sriyono, the
Indonesian Vice Ambassador in Moscow, said.
According to a plan, in April of this year, the delegation of
Russian Academy of Business will reportedly visit Indonesia to
further discuss more concrete step of cooperation, thus
indicating that how big the interest of Russian businessmen to
invest in Indonesia is.
--------------------------------
Indonesia's Exports Of Manufactured Products Down 35%
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's exports of
manufactured goods shrank 35.52 per cent to US$4.9 billion in
January from US$7.6 billion in the same period last year.
The country's total exports plunged 36.06 per cent year-on-year
to US$7.15 billion in January but the sharpest fall was recorded
for manufactured goods, data at the Central Bureau of Statistics
said.
The exports of agricultural commodities declined by 8.24 per
cent and those of mining products down 1.24 per cent, the agency
said.
Exports of a number of the country's major commodities have
declined on weak demand and falling prices in the world market,
the newspaper Investor Daily said.
------------------------------
Indonesia's Plywood Industry Exports To Shrink Further This Year
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's exports of plywood are
forecast to shrink further to US$600 million this year from
US$1.5 billion last year.
A chairman of the Indonesian association of wood panel Abbas
Adhar said the decline in exports was caused not only by weak
demand in traditional markets such as the United States, Europe
and Japan, but was also caused by low competitiveness.
Indonesian plywood is not competitive facing products from
Brazil, China and Malaysia, Abbas said.
He said last year the country produced 3 million cubic meters of
plywood and this year the production is feared to fall.
In its heyday early 1990s, the country's plywood industry
produced up to 10 million cubic feet with export averaging 9
million cubic meters annually, the newspaper Bisnis Indonesia
said.
---------------------------------
Indonesian Toy Imports Begin To Decline After New Measure
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - An Indonesian government measure
imposing non-tariff barriers on the imports of a number of
commodities already produced in the country has begun to take
its effects.
Imports of toys began to decline after the restrictive
regulation was imposed on February 1, this year including on
toys, footwear, electronic goods, finished wear and manufacture
food products.
The government will audit surveyor companies to prevent illegal
practices such as fraud involving officials of the surveyor
companies, Customs and Excise Director General Anwar Supriyadi
said.
The association of toys producers said imports are forecast to
shrink 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year from the
same period last year.
The association said 40 per cent of its 25 member companies have
collapsed as a result of large imports of toys earlier
especially from China.
--------------------------------
Indonesia Attracts More Visitors In January
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Amid an ailing global economy, the
number of foreign visitors to Indonesia rose 8.04 per cent to
473,200 in January, 2009 from 438,000 in the same period last
year.
Diyak Mulahela, the director of the tourism information agency,
said Indonesia has succeeded in convincing foreign visitors that
the security has improved in the country.
The US government has lifted warning for its citizens that it
was not safe to travel to Indonesia, Diyak cited.
The recent visit to the country of US Foreign Secretary Hillary
Clinton also contributed to improving the image of the country,
he said.
Meanwhile, the occupancy rate of start rated hotels in January
averaged 45.1 per cent down from 49.69 per cent in December,
2008 but length of stay rose slightly to 2.22 days, the
newspaper Investor Daily said.
-------------------------------
Number Of Air Passengers In Indonesia Down In January
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - The number of international air
passengers to and from Indonesia shrank 12.11 per cent to
544,200 in January, 2009 from the previous month.
The sharpest fall of 51.85 per cent was recorded by the
Hasanuddin airport of Makassar, followed by Polonia airport of
Medan by 31.43 per cent, Soekarno Hatta airport of Jakarta by 22
per cent and Juanda airport of Surabaya by 18.91 per cent.
Almost all major airports recorded a decline with the exception
of Ngurah Rai airport of Bali, which posted a 23.35 per cent
increase to 189,100 passengers, the Central Bureau of Statistics
said.
The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association attributed the
decline to increase in departure tax and falling value of rupiah
making cost of travel abroad more expensive, the newspaper
Bisnis Indonesia said.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic passengers totaled 2.72
million in January or down 3.76 per cent from December, 2008 and
by 5.59 per cent from the same period last year.
------------------------------
Indonesia's Soybean Production Estimated To Reach 850,230 Tons
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesia's dried soybean
production is estimated to reach 850,230 tons this year, the
Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said.
"It rose by 73,740 tons from the 2008 production according to
temporary figures," BPS Chief Rusman Heriawan said here on
Monday.
He said the rise was 9.5 per cent from the previous year's
production, caused by increasing harvests that reached 46,200
hectares of land or 7.81 per cent and also productivity that
rose by 0.2 quintals per hectare or 1.52 per cent.
He said the production rise was expected in several regions
mainly Aceh, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi,
Banten, South Sumatra and Lampung.
He said according to initial figures dried soybean production in
2008 reached 776,490 tons.
Compared to that of 2007 the production in 2008 rose by 183,960
tons or 31.05 per cent. The hike in production was attributed to
increasing fields for harvest covering 132,780 hectares or 28.92
per cent.
The increasing harvests also made productivity to rise by 0.21
quintals per hectare or 1.63 per cent.
The rise in soybean production occurred in Central Java, West
Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Aceh, West Java, South Sulawesi and
North Sumatra.
-------------------------------
Indonesia's 2009 Unhusked Rice Production Estimated At 61 Mln
Tons
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - The Central Bureau of Statistics
(BPS) has predicted that Indonesia's unhulled rice production
this year will reach 60.93 million tons.
"Our estimate on the country's unhusked rice production this
year is about 60.93 million tons," BPS head Rusman Heriawan said
here on Monday.
He said compared with last year, production this year would
increase by 1.13 per cent or 0.68 million tons. "Therefore, the
government's plan to export rice is still feasible ," he added.
Heriawan said increases in the country's rice production would
take place in several provinces, including in West Java, West
Sumatra, South Sumatra, Central Java, North Sumatra and Riau.
BPS had also put the provisional figure for the country's rice
production in 2008 at 60.25 million tons or an increase of about
5.41 per cent from the previous year.
The increase in rice production was made possible due to an
increase in the total area of rice fields harvested by 1.33 per
cent to 161,520 hectares. This increased production by 190 kg
per hectare or about 4.04 per cent.
He further said the increase in rice production in 2008 took
place in the provinces of East Java, Central Java, South
Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sumatra, West Java and
Central Sulawesi.
------------------------------------------
4 Indonesian Oil, Gas & Mining Reports
ReplyDelete(Courtesy Joyo News Service)
- Indonesia 2008 Net Oil Imports Dn To 106M Bbls From 131M Bbls
- Indonesia Balongan refinery runs at 95 pct capacity
- Indonesia's Pertamina Signs Mou With Star Petro Energy, Itochu
- Singapore Firm to Put $100m Into Jatropha
---
Indonesia 2008 Net Oil Imports Dn To 106M Bbls From 131M Bbls
JAKARTA, March 3 (Dow Jones)--Indonesia's net oil imports in
2008 fell to 106 million barrels from 131 million barrels a year
earlier.
A government data seen by Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday showed
that the Southeast Asian country exported 135 million barrels of
crude oil in 2008, unchanged from a year earlier.
At the same time, Indonesia imported 86 million barrels of crude
oil last year, down from 116 million barrels in 2007.
The data showed that Indonesia's net imports of oil products
increased to 155 million barrels in 2008 from 150 million
barrels a year earlier.
Indonesia voluntarily suspended its OPEC membership this year as
it became a net oil importer since 2003 with output from its
aging fields declining.
A government official told Dow Jones Newswires that Indonesia
crude oil output dropped 10,000 barrels per day in February to
841,280 barrels a day from January due to a maintenance shutdown
at a field operated by Total S.A.
-----------------------------
Indonesia Balongan refinery runs at 95 pct capacity
JAKARTA, March 3 (Reuters) - Indonesian state oil firm
Pertamina's 125,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Balongan refinery is
now running at 95 percent capacity after crude oil supplies
returned to normal, a company official said on Tuesday.
The Balongan refinery had run at about 70 percent of its
capacity since Feb. 20, following problems at its single buoy
mooring (SBM), which is used to offload crude feedstocks from
tankers.
The SBM was not in operation since Feb. 13 and the refinery has
used crude from its own tanks since then.
"The refinery now runs at 95 percent of capacity. RFCC unit is
also working normally," said Anang Noor, Pertamina's spokesman.
Balongan has a 83,000 bpd residual fluid catalytic cracker
(RFCC), or gasoline-making unit.
Indonesia is Asia's biggest importer of oil products. Pertamina
has nine refineries scattered around the archipelago with a
combined capacity of around 1 million barrels per day (bpd). But
it only supplies 70 percent of domestic oil product consumption
and 30 percent comes from imports. (Reporting by Muklis Ali;
Editing by Sara Webb)
----------------------------
Indonesia's Pertamina Signs Mou With Star Petro Energy, Itochu
JAKARTA, March 3 Asia Pulse - Indonesian state-owned oil company
Pertamina here Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with
Star Petro Energy (ETA Group) and Itochu Corp (TSE:8001) to
improve its refinery in Balikpapan.
"Cooperating with world-class companies is important in our
efforts to improve ourselves as soon as possible in order to
increase the performance of our refineries," the company's
president director, Karen Agustiawan, said.
She said she was glad her company was given an opportunity to
explore a partnership with Star Petro Energy and Itochu and
hoped negotiations could be concluded soon so that the project
could be started on time.
State Enterprise Minister Sofyan Djalil meanwhile said on the
occasion that the cooperation was worth up to US$1.7 billion.
"It is still a tentative figure. We still have to explore the
actual price," he said.
The minister said the cooperation was expected to result in the
improved performance of the refinery in Balikpapan especially in
the processing of its residual materials.
So far 30 per cent of the total volume of oil processed by the
refinery became residue which was sold very cheap. The minister
hoped the residue could be reprocessed to become oil so that 100
per cent of the oil processed would be useable.
-----------------------------
The Jakarta Globe
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Singapore Firm to Put $100m Into Jatropha
Reva Sasistiya
Singapore-based Mother Earth Plantations Pte. Ltd., through its
Indonesian subsidiary PT Buana Ibunda, will invest $100 million
to develop jatropha plantations and a refinery in West Timor,
East Nusa Tenggara Province, which it says will be able to
produce up to 21 million barrels of biodiesel a year by 2013.
Speaking on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 5th World Islamic
Economic Forum in Jakarta, Roland A. Jansen, Mother Earth’s
president, said the investment would take place over four years,
and include the construction of a refinery with a processing
capacity of 100,000 tons of jatropha seeds per annum by the end
of this year.
Jansen said the company would eventually be able to produce some
3 million tons of Jatropha curcas seeds on the marginal land in
Kupang that is to be planted as part of the project.
Jatropha curcas, known locally as jarak pagar , is an inedible
oil crop primarily used to produce biodiesel. It is estimated
that Indonesia has the capacity to produce 2.9 million
kiloliters of biodiesel a year and 215,000 kiloliters of
bioethanol per year.
However, Paulus Tjakrawan, the secretary-general of the
Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association, or Aprobi, said he was
no longer so sure about the potential of jatropha-based biofuel,
saying it was now unattractive to buyers. Biofuel producers have
repeatedly complained that they suffer losses of an average of
Rp 610 a liter on sales of biodiesel and bioethanol to Pertamina
as the prices are set based on the crude oil price, which
collapsed last year.
The government started pushing jatropha oil as an alternative
energy source four years ago, with President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono issuing a decree on the subject in 2006. Under the
scheme, three state firms were to buy the jatropha seeds for
processing from farmers, who were encouraged to set aside vast
areas for growing the feedstock. But the companies never did
make the anticipated purchases, mainly because they had their
own jatropha plantations, the output of which already exceeded
the production capacity of the existing refineries. The jatropha
project has now ground to a halt, although the government has
yet to admit as much.
The energy mix is currently dominated by petroleum, accounting
for 51.6 percent of the energy consumed in Indonesia.
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