https://www.scmp.com/rss/513575/feed Amy joined the SCMP in 2022, having previously worked at Agence France-Presse and contributing to CNN and NBC News. Originally from India, Amy grew up in Indonesia and spent a few years studying in New Zealand. She holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Amy Sood Amy Sood https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315138/indonesian-fintech-firm-bridging-funding-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3315138/indonesian-fintech-firm-bridging-funding-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Across Indonesia’s vast archipelago, millions of women running small businesses in rural areas remain locked out of traditional banking – a gap increasingly filled by fintech firms offering microloans as economic pressures mount. One of the most prominent players in this space is Amartha, a Jakarta-based lending platform that connects borrowers in remote communities with financial institutions. Founded in 2010, it now counts about 3 million active borrowers – 99 per cent of them women operating... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3313949/how-indonesian-fintech-firm-bridging-funding-gaps-women-entrepreneurs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3313949/how-indonesian-fintech-firm-bridging-funding-gaps-women-entrepreneurs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indonesia is reviving plans to extend its Chinese-backed high-speed rail network, with ambitions to connect Jakarta with Surabaya, the nation’s second-largest city. But analysts say familiar complications could stall the project, from regulatory hurdles to the mounting debt owed to China. The proposed extension would build on Whoosh – Southeast Asia’s first high speed rail line – a US$7.3 billion project connecting capital Jakarta to Bandung in West Java province. The 142km (88-mile) railway,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3312518/indonesia-eyes-high-speed-rail-surabaya-china-debt-barriers-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3312518/indonesia-eyes-high-speed-rail-surabaya-china-debt-barriers-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:09 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Members of the Asean bloc have laid out an ambitious plan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045, but analysts warn the region must first overcome deep-rooted trade barriers, domestic implementation woes and a shifting global trade order. Released on Tuesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, the five-year strategy to achieve the economic goal aims to boost regional integration and better address complex issues. “Carrying on with business as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312204/aseans-ambitious-2045-plan-faces-trump-tariffs-and-implementation-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3312204/aseans-ambitious-2045-plan-faces-trump-tariffs-and-implementation-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 03:00:08 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indonesia must bolster support for informal and rural businesses if it is to revive its slowing economy and meet President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious goal of raising annual growth to 8 per cent by the end of his term, according to former officials and economists. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for more than 60 per cent of Indonesia’s gross domestic product and employ nearly 117 million people – or 97 per cent of the total workforce – according to government data. Yet most... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3311638/indonesia-faces-calls-boost-economy-through-more-support-small-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3311638/indonesia-faces-calls-boost-economy-through-more-support-small-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 May 2025 04:00:19 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood India has emerged as the top stock market pick in Asia by wealth fund managers, who view the country as a potential beneficiary of global supply chain shifts driven by US-China trade tensions, despite its unresolved trade talks with Washington and ongoing frictions with Pakistan. About 42 per cent of fund managers have an overweight position on Indian equities, ahead of Japan at 39 per cent and China at just 6 per cent, according to a survey released by Bank of America Securities on May 13. The... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3311114/indias-stock-market-rated-above-japan-and-china-more-fund-managers-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3311114/indias-stock-market-rated-above-japan-and-china-more-fund-managers-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 13:00:33 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood As speculation mounts over a potential acquisition of Indonesian consumer tech giant GoTo by Singapore-based Grab, analysts warn the deal could face opposition in Indonesia over foreign ownership concerns and the regional clout of the potential owner. The reported deal would value GoTo at around US$7 billion, according to a Reuters report on May 7, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The proposal reportedly involves Grab acquiring GoTo’s international unit and most of its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310858/grabs-goto-takeover-bid-step-too-far-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310858/grabs-goto-takeover-bid-step-too-far-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 May 2025 05:00:07 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indian manufacturers are sounding the alarm over a growing influx of low-cost Chinese goods, from yarn and steel to toys and electronics, warning that they are being priced out of their own markets as Beijing redirects more exports away from the United States. Despite the US and China agreeing to steep tariff reductions last week, analysts warn that years of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies have already led to a flood of cheap Chinese goods in India and markets elsewhere,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310689/indias-manufacturers-fear-influx-cheap-chinese-imports-amid-us-china-trade-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310689/indias-manufacturers-fear-influx-cheap-chinese-imports-amid-us-china-trade-war-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indonesia plans to slash fuel imports from Singapore and pivot to supplies from the United States and the Middle East, in a move that analysts see as a bid to reduce its dependence on the neighbouring city state and gain a strategic advantage in trade talks with Washington. The oil-producing nation could redirect up to 60 per cent of its fuel imports away from Singapore over the next six months as part of a broader diversification strategy, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310690/indonesia-slams-singapores-shameful-fuel-prices-plans-pivot-us-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3310690/indonesia-slams-singapores-shameful-fuel-prices-plans-pivot-us-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indonesia’s move to raise royalties on lucrative commodities offers an opportunity for the global nickel powerhouse to boost state revenue and fund President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious flagship programmes. But it is facing resistance from mining groups. The new royalty structure, implemented at the end of April, affects minerals including nickel, copper, tin, gold and bauxite. Nickel royalties, for example, have risen from a flat rate of 10 per cent to a range of 14 to 19 per cent. Mining... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309785/indonesia-nickel-miners-warn-mass-lay-offs-royalty-rise-threatens-profits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309785/indonesia-nickel-miners-warn-mass-lay-offs-royalty-rise-threatens-profits?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 04:00:18 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood India’s heavily protected agricultural sector is emerging as a flashpoint in trade talks with the United States, with analysts warning that opening the market to American food imports could endanger small Indian farmers and New Delhi’s long-standing food security policies. Recent reports suggest that India has offered to US President Donald Trump, who previously labelled the country as “tariff king”, to eliminate levies on steel, auto components and pharmaceuticals on a reciprocal basis, up to a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309838/fears-among-indias-farmers-rise-over-us-food-imports-crossing-red-line?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309838/fears-among-indias-farmers-rise-over-us-food-imports-crossing-red-line?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 May 2025 09:00:13 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Indonesia’s economy posted its slowest growth rate in over three years, with analysts warning that fiscal pressures, sluggish consumer spending, and the ripple effects of American tariffs could further dampen the country’s economic outlook this year. According to official data released by Statistics Indonesia on Monday, the economy grew by 4.87 per cent year on year in the January to March period, down from 5.02 per cent the previous quarter. The slowdown could challenge President Prabowo... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309445/indonesias-economy-slows-us-tariffs-fiscal-pressures-challenge-prabowos-growth-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3309445/indonesias-economy-slows-us-tariffs-fiscal-pressures-challenge-prabowos-growth-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 May 2025 11:17:06 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood Sky-high US tariffs on Chinese solar firms with factories in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia are prompting some of these companies to consider relocating to Indonesia – a rare bright spot in the region that analysts say may not remain shielded for long. US President Donald Trump’s administration in late April imposed punitive duties of up to 3,500 per cent on solar components exported from the four Southeast Asian countries, targeting Chinese firms accused of routing shipments through... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3308888/indonesia-emerges-new-hub-chinese-solar-firms-amid-trumps-tariffs-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3308888/indonesia-emerges-new-hub-chinese-solar-firms-amid-trumps-tariffs-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 11:44:40 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood President Prabowo Subianto’s ambitious plan to boost Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency is fuelling a major expansion of agricultural projects into regions such as Papua – a strategy viewed by some as a path to greater national resilience, but which has also raised concerns among environmental organisations and advocates for Indigenous rights. During his inaugural presidential speech in October, Prabowo said he wanted Indonesia to become a “global food estate” – a sentiment he reiterated last... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308768/indonesias-food-estate-push-targets-self-sufficiency-amid-growing-concerns-papua?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3308768/indonesias-food-estate-push-targets-self-sufficiency-amid-growing-concerns-papua?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 04:30:09 +0000 Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has expressed great admiration for Africa, describing the continent as “close to my heart” and vowing to make it a strategic partner during his tenure. In a June 2024 opinion piece, published shortly after his election victory, Prabowo hailed Africa as a “land of opportunity” with untapped potential akin to Indonesia’s own. “We can support each other, sharing our experiences and by building synergies and partnerships, work to transform our countries,” he... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3307101/indonesia-destined-be-footnote-africas-growth-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3307101/indonesia-destined-be-footnote-africas-growth-story?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:20 +0000 In April 1955, a city in West Java became the unassuming stage for a revolution in diplomacy. Leaders from 29 nations across Asia and Africa, most newly independent, converged in Bandung, Indonesia, to chart a path free from the Cold War’s suffocating binaries. Seven decades later, the legacy of that gathering – known as the Bandung Conference – still lingers, though the world it sought to reshape has transformed beyond recognition. Now, with multipolarity re-emerging as a driving geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307099/bandung-brics-indonesias-evolving-quest-global-south-autonomy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3307099/bandung-brics-indonesias-evolving-quest-global-south-autonomy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Indonesia has pledged to increase its imports from the United States by up to US$19 billion, including US$10 billion in energy purchases and make other trade concessions, as part of a broader strategy to stave off looming tariffs from Washington. Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto outlined the plan to reporters on Friday morning, following high-level bilateral trade talks in Washington, where he and other senior Indonesian officials met their US counterparts. He said the proposed imports... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3307096/move-avert-trumps-tariff-indonesia-raise-us-imports-us19-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3307096/move-avert-trumps-tariff-indonesia-raise-us-imports-us19-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:00:12 +0000 A surge in Chinese exports into Southeast Asia is testing the region’s industrial resilience, as manufacturers face mounting pressure from cheap imports that could intensify amid Washington’s escalating trade war. Analysts stress that Asean governments must urgently bolster domestic competitiveness and move up the value chain to maximise the benefits from growing Chinese investment while shielding their economies from an influx of low-cost goods. Chinese manufacturers are turning to Southeast... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306974/can-southeast-asia-shield-industries-surge-chinas-exports-post-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3306974/can-southeast-asia-shield-industries-surge-chinas-exports-post-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Apr 2025 08:00:11 +0000 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has sought to tamp down growing public unease over his administration’s direction, insisting in a rare media interview that recent defence reforms are misunderstood – but civil society groups say his comments have done little to allay fears of democratic backsliding. In a round-table session held at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor, on April 6, the president fielded questions from senior editors at seven of Indonesia’s top news outlets. First Deputy... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306472/indonesias-prabowo-opens-did-interview-help-allay-fears-democratic-regression?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306472/indonesias-prabowo-opens-did-interview-help-allay-fears-democratic-regression?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:50:31 +0000 As Asean looks to present a united front in response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, there is growing consensus among analysts that the region should diversify its trade and boost regional integration to deal with growing uncertainties in the global economy. Countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are among the hardest hit by the reciprocal tariffs announced by the Trump administration last week. Vietnam and Cambodia were hit with steep tariffs of 46 per cent and 49 per... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305706/trumps-tariffs-asean-urged-explore-trade-diversification-tap-ftas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305706/trumps-tariffs-asean-urged-explore-trade-diversification-tap-ftas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:55:13 +0000 Indonesia’s decision to force coal exporters to adopt a government-set benchmark price has rattled Chinese firms – its biggest customers – and triggered warnings that the move could erode Jakarta’s edge in the global market. The regulation went into effect in March, after Indonesian Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that coal exporters would need to start using the government’s benchmark price, known as Harga Batubara Acuan (HBA). Bahlil said using the HBA would ensure that Indonesian... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305277/indonesias-new-coal-pricing-rule-sparks-uncertainty-resistance-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305277/indonesias-new-coal-pricing-rule-sparks-uncertainty-resistance-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 11:03:43 +0000 Singapore’s state investment fund, Temasek, has added another company to its growing India portfolio by acquiring a stake in Haldiram Snacks Food, a leading player in the South Asian nation’s food industry. The deal follows investments by Temasek in Indian companies in sectors ranging from healthcare to financial services, in line with its bullish outlook on India’s long-term growth. While the financial terms of the agreement with Haldiram’s have not been publicly disclosed, sources told Reuters... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3304990/singapores-temasek-invests-snack-firm-haldirams-india-remains-key-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3304990/singapores-temasek-invests-snack-firm-haldirams-india-remains-key-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Amy Sood Amy Sood The head of Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has struck an optimistic tone about its prospects, brushing aside concerns over transparency and political interference – and the market turbulence that followed its launch. Unveiled in February by Prabowo Subianto, Danantara boasts an initial commitment of US$20 billion and is central to the Indonesian president’s ambitious target of 8 per cent economic growth. But the fund’s debut coincided with a sharp decline in the benchmark... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3304508/indonesias-danantara-seeks-silence-doubters-super-transparent-fund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3304508/indonesias-danantara-seeks-silence-doubters-super-transparent-fund?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:00:17 +0000 Nationwide protests have erupted across Indonesia in response to parliament’s approval of a revised military law that broadens the armed forces’ role in civilian institutions, with students and rights groups warning of democratic backsliding. The revision’s swift passage has been widely viewed as a sign of President Prabowo Subianto’s political dominance, with critics saying it reflects his intent to reassert the military’s role in civilian life and roll back reforms that once separated defence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3304020/indonesia-military-law-protests-signal-deep-fears-democratic-erosion-under-prabowo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3304020/indonesia-military-law-protests-signal-deep-fears-democratic-erosion-under-prabowo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:36 +0000 Indonesia is set to lift a decade-long ban on sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia, following assurances of enhanced labour protections even as rights groups say critical safeguards and cases of mistreatment remain unaddressed. A memorandum of understanding to facilitate the legal placement of migrant workers was scheduled to be signed by ministers from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia later this month in Jeddah, said Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding in Jakarta. “After... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3303665/indonesia-set-allow-domestic-helpers-saudi-arabia-after-10-year-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3303665/indonesia-set-allow-domestic-helpers-saudi-arabia-after-10-year-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Mar 2025 11:28:26 +0000 After years of stalled negotiations, New Zealand and India are racing to finalise a free-trade agreement, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon vowing to secure a deal within 60 days. The renewed push reflects New Delhi’s growing appetite for global trade partnerships in response to geopolitical challenges, analysts say. India is simultaneously pursuing agreements with the UK and the EU, driven by its export-led growth ambitions and concerns over US trade policies. Luxon announced on Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3303382/amid-indias-trade-blitz-new-zealand-joins-race-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3303382/amid-indias-trade-blitz-new-zealand-joins-race-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Mar 2025 07:00:09 +0000 The shocking suspension of the Indonesian stock market on Tuesday for the first time since 2020 after stocks tumbled heavily and triggered a 30-minute trading halt has fuelled concerns over President Prabowo Subianto’s economic agenda. The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) fell more than 7 per cent around midday on Tuesday but recovered after the halt to decline by 3.8 per cent to 6,223.39 at the end of the trading day, its lowest mark since September 2011. The index is one of the world’s worst... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3302995/indonesias-stock-market-turmoil-fuels-fears-over-prabowos-economic-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3302995/indonesias-stock-market-turmoil-fuels-fears-over-prabowos-economic-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:37:06 +0000 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shed light on New Delhi’s delicate balancing act between China and the United States during a rare interview, indicating a thaw in relations with Beijing while reaffirming his strong personal ties with US President Donald Trump. Modi acknowledged that ongoing border disputes between India and China had caused tensions, but expressed optimism that the relationship was improving following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. “It is true that... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302869/indias-modi-signals-thaw-china-ties-reaffirms-strong-bond-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302869/indias-modi-signals-thaw-china-ties-reaffirms-strong-bond-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:58:17 +0000 The Middle East could prove a ripe ground for Indonesia to diversify from traditional partners such as China and the United States, according to analysts who have pointed to Jakarta’s non-aligned approach to foreign policy. Last week, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono met Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during an official visit to Doha, where both sides agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation. Qatar also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302470/indonesia-eyes-strategic-middle-east-pivot-diversify-china-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3302470/indonesia-eyes-strategic-middle-east-pivot-diversify-china-and-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:07:45 +0000 The United States’ withdrawal from a multibillion-dollar plan designed to support Indonesia’s shift away from coal is likely to undermine the country’s energy-transition goals, analysts have said, particularly given Jakarta’s weak political will to meet its climate commitments. Washington confirmed its exit from the programme, known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), on March 6. The plan was first unveiled at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3302271/indonesias-energy-transition-doubt-us-pulls-out-us20-billion-coal-phase-out-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3302271/indonesias-energy-transition-doubt-us-pulls-out-us20-billion-coal-phase-out-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:00:17 +0000 Indonesia’s stringent local content regulations have helped it secure a US$300 million investment from Apple, reopening the door for iPhone 16 sales in the country, but analysts have warned it may also deter other tech giants wary of navigating regulatory challenges. Last October, Jakarta banned the sale of the new iPhone 16, citing Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements that mandated a certain percentage of components or production processes originate within Indonesia. In response,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3302005/indonesia-vs-apple-victory-double-edged-sword?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3302005/indonesia-vs-apple-victory-double-edged-sword?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Indonesia is on a fast track to establishing itself as a global electric-vehicle powerhouse, banking on its vast nickel reserves and an aggressive downstreaming strategy to create an all-encompassing domestic EV and battery supply chain. But despite government incentives and rising sales, the country’s EV ambitions face a number of roadblocks, with high costs, insufficient charging infrastructure and the rapid evolution of battery technology all threatening to stall progress. With an eye on the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301552/indonesias-electric-dream-race-ev-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301552/indonesias-electric-dream-race-ev-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Mar 2025 08:00:19 +0000 As student-led protests against austerity measures swept across Indonesia last month, President Prabowo Subianto hit back at critics of his policies by declaring that the country was on track to surpass many of the world’s most advanced economies by mid-century. “Indonesia will be ahead of Japan, ahead of the United Kingdom, ahead of France,” he proclaimed at a coalition party ceremony on February 26. “Why then is Indonesia in the dark?” The president’s remarks were doubtless a response to the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301549/prabowos-golden-dream-and-indonesias-dark-realities-collide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3301549/prabowos-golden-dream-and-indonesias-dark-realities-collide?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Indonesia has launched a new sovereign wealth fund with an initial US$20 billion commitment that could potentially boost its economy or falter if its management falls short of international standards. Daya Anagata Nusantara, or Danantara, launched last week by President Prabowo Subianto, will be an investment vehicle and a holding company for Indonesia’s powerful state-owned sector. Major Indonesian conglomerates such as state lender Bank Mandiri, oil and gas giant Pertamina, and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3300597/indonesias-danantara-fund-sparks-questions-over-economic-impact-transparency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3300597/indonesias-danantara-fund-sparks-questions-over-economic-impact-transparency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:30:08 +0000 Nationwide student-led protests in Indonesia against austerity measures have emerged as the first major political challenge for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, with analysts warning that public discontent could escalate if economic conditions deteriorate. Thousands of students in cities across the country took to the streets last week to take part in what has been dubbed the Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) protests, culminating in a mass demonstration outside the presidential... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300172/will-dark-indonesia-protests-against-prabowos-austerity-cuts-escalate-further?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300172/will-dark-indonesia-protests-against-prabowos-austerity-cuts-escalate-further?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:15 +0000 An area of forest more than three times the size of Singapore vanished in Indonesia last year, alarming environmental groups, who have cautioned that deforestation could worsen because of increased mining operations and the government’s focus on food and energy self-sufficiency. Indonesia lost 261,575 hectares, or 2,615 sq km (1,010 square miles), of primary and secondary forests in 2024, according to a new report from NGO Auriga Nusantara – exceeding the previous year’s losses by more than... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3297832/deforestation-rising-indonesia-missing-forest-trees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3297832/deforestation-rising-indonesia-missing-forest-trees?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2025 04:00:08 +0000 US President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke electric vehicle incentives has raised concerns over its impact on Indonesia’s vital nickel sector and China’s dominance widening in the Southeast country’s EV supply chain. Trump targeted EVs immediately after he was sworn in on January 20, annulling a 2021 executive order by former president Joe Biden that called for half of all new vehicles sold in the United States to be electric by 2030. While Biden’s policy was not legally binding, it prompted... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3297442/indonesias-nickel-sector-faces-headwinds-trumps-electric-vehicle-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3297442/indonesias-nickel-sector-faces-headwinds-trumps-electric-vehicle-curbs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:33:17 +0000 A new survey suggests a growing sense of gloom has swept through India, with citizens fearing high prices and stubborn unemployment will darken prospects for the world’s fastest-growing major economy. More than 37 per cent of the respondents indicated they expected the overall quality of life for ordinary people to deteriorate over the next year, the highest percentage since 2013, according to findings released by polling agency C-Voter on Wednesday. The survey, which polled 5,269 adults across... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3296936/gloom-india-more-lose-hope-better-quality-life-under-modi-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3296936/gloom-india-more-lose-hope-better-quality-life-under-modi-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:00:08 +0000 A potential US$450 million BrahMos missile deal between India and Indonesia highlights Jakarta’s bid to enhance its naval power, as both nations seek to strengthen and diversify defence ties in response to China’s growing territorial ambitions in the region, analysts said. During a recent state visit to India, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to expand cooperation in defence manufacturing and maritime safety, culminating with Subianto attending... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296751/indonesia-eyes-indias-brahmos-missiles-major-defence-boost-amid-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296751/indonesia-eyes-indias-brahmos-missiles-major-defence-boost-amid-china-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jan 2025 07:00:18 +0000 Indonesia is doubling down on its palm-oil biofuel ambitions, framing a recent World Trade Organization ruling as a “win” in its battle against European Union restrictions. While the WTO decision, announced on January 10, upheld the EU’s classification of palm oil-based biofuel as “high risk” due to its links to deforestation, it also criticised the bloc’s procedures, giving Jakarta a sliver of vindication in a dispute that has escalated into a clash over climate policy, trade and market... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296198/indonesia-scores-palm-oil-win-over-eu-what-next-its-big-biofuel-gamble?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296198/indonesia-scores-palm-oil-win-over-eu-what-next-its-big-biofuel-gamble?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2025 09:30:08 +0000 A comment from an official in US President Donald Trump’s transition team has ignited an uproar in Indonesia by suggesting the relocation of some of the 2 million Palestinians in Gaza to the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, a plan Indonesian officials have strongly denied and denounced. NBC News published a report on Sunday quoting an unnamed official on Trump’s team saying that discussions were under way in the newly inaugurated administration on how to rebuild Gaza following the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296157/unacceptable-indonesia-rejects-report-us-relocation-plan-palestinians?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296157/unacceptable-indonesia-rejects-report-us-relocation-plan-palestinians?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:00:44 +0000 A new policy by a hospitality chain in India requiring couples to prove their marriage to check into its hotels in the northwestern city of Meerut has sparked a fierce debate over conservative values encroaching on personal freedoms in the world’s largest democracy. The OYO Hotels chain, which runs a budget hotel booking platform, announced earlier this month “new check-in directives” allowing partner hotels in Meerut to deny bookings from unmarried couples. Under this policy, hotels have the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3295837/indian-hotel-chains-married-couples-only-room-policy-sparks-personal-freedom-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3295837/indian-hotel-chains-married-couples-only-room-policy-sparks-personal-freedom-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free-meal scheme has encountered an early setback after dozens of cases of foodborne illness at schools emerged just two weeks into the implementation of the US$4.4 billion plan, casting doubts about its rapid roll-out and ambitious expansion plans. According to local media reports, 40 students at the SDN Dukuh 03 state elementary school in Central Java’s Sukoharjo regency fell ill after eating the meals, which consisted of fried chicken,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3295514/foodborne-illness-cases-mar-roll-out-prabowos-flagship-free-meal-scheme-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3295514/foodborne-illness-cases-mar-roll-out-prabowos-flagship-free-meal-scheme-indonesia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:40:17 +0000 As US tariffs squeeze Chinese solar firms across Southeast Asia, Indonesia is emerging as a surprising outlier – sensing opportunity where others feel the heat. While its neighbours grapple with the fallout of Washington’s trade crackdown, Jakarta is doubling down on its renewable energy ambitions, wooing Chinese investment and positioning itself as the region’s next solar powerhouse. To attract Chinese solar giants looking to diversify their operations, the Indonesian government is loosening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3295253/indonesia-seeks-chinese-solar-boom-shadow-us-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3295253/indonesia-seeks-chinese-solar-boom-shadow-us-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jan 2025 09:30:07 +0000 Indonesia may consider importing oil from Russia following its entry into the Brics bloc, according to senior officials, but analysts say Jakarta must carefully weigh the economic benefits of discounted crude against the geopolitical risk of pushback from the West. Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia said on Friday that “an opportunity to acquire oil from Russia emerged after we joined Brics”. “As long as it complies with regulations and presents no issues, why... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294714/why-not-indonesia-mulls-cheap-russian-oil-imports-post-brics-entry-despite-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3294714/why-not-indonesia-mulls-cheap-russian-oil-imports-post-brics-entry-despite-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:41:57 +0000 Indonesia’s formal entry into the Brics bloc is a calculated gamble in an era of global power shifts, analysts say. But the move could also complicate the country’s non-aligned foreign policy stance if US president-elect Donald Trump views it as a challenge to America’s interests. Brics, a grouping of emerging economies often seen as a counterweight to Western-led institutions, announced Indonesia’s membership on Monday through its current chair, Brazil. Indonesia’s foreign ministry confirmed... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293828/indonesia-brics-strategic-hedge-or-challenge-us-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293828/indonesia-brics-strategic-hedge-or-challenge-us-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 05:00:09 +0000 Kahon Chan,Amy Sood Kahon Chan,Amy Sood Hong Kong’s finance chief has arrived in Indonesia with a business delegation to promote the city’s advantages to local companies, with members noting the technology and manufacturing sectors are keen to tap into the vast potential of the world’s fourth-most populous nation. Indonesia’s growing middle class, expansive territory and rising demand for professional services would put Hong Kong firms in an advantageous position, analysts said on Tuesday. The delegation led by Financial Secretary... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3293804/hong-kongs-paul-chan-indonesia-mission-citys-firms-eye-huge-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3293804/hong-kongs-paul-chan-indonesia-mission-citys-firms-eye-huge-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:19:04 +0000 A Singaporean couple has opted not to pursue legal action against three Indonesian teenagers who were arrested for harassing them during their visit to Bandung in West Java. Bandung City police chief Budi Sartono told reporters on Sunday that the police had halted their investigation into the case after one of the victims accepted a public apology from the teens. “The victim has confirmed that she will not continue the legal process into the case as she saw the perpetrators had apologised on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3293606/singapore-couple-drops-legal-action-against-indonesian-teens-over-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3293606/singapore-couple-drops-legal-action-against-indonesian-teens-over-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:06:13 +0000 Indonesia could fall short of its goal to become an advanced nation by 2045 as analysts warn bureaucratic inefficiencies may frustrate President Prabowo Subianto’s ambition to shrink the country’s poverty rate by the end of his first term. Data from the government’s statistics agency shows that 25.22 million people in Indonesia, or 9.03 per cent of the population, were living below the poverty line of 582,932 rupiah (US$37) per month as of March last year. Prabowo, who was inaugurated as... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3293312/indonesias-poverty-struggles-persist-prabowos-growth-goals-look-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3293312/indonesias-poverty-struggles-persist-prabowos-growth-goals-look-elusive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Former Indonesian president Joko Widodo has slammed a “baseless” report for listing him as one of the world’s leading individuals for enabling corruption in 2024, but analysts say the findings reflect significant setbacks in Jakarta’s fight against corruption during his tenure. “Corruption? What corruption? What’s the proof? Just prove it,” Widodo told reporters on Tuesday at his residence in Solo, Central Java. “There’s so much slander, malicious framing, and baseless accusations nowadays.... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293374/indonesias-widodo-slams-baseless-report-listing-him-leading-corruption-enabler?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293374/indonesias-widodo-slams-baseless-report-listing-him-leading-corruption-enabler?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jan 2025 01:30:18 +0000