Indonesia's central bank - Bank Indonesia (Photo: AP)
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, announced a large economic stimulus package on September 9 to revive the slowing economy.
The package includes a variety of measures such as the removal of unsuitable administrative regulations, tax incentives and the promotion of mechanisms for attracting foreign investments and boosting economic development given the Rupiah is at its weakest in the last 17 years.
It also included policies to stabilise the domestic currency by allowing foreigners to open bank accounts in Indonesia, continue the central bank’s policies on the monetary market to keep the Rupiah stable and limit purchases using USD.
Accordingly, the Indonesian financial authority (OJK) will allow foreigners to open bank accounts within the next week.
Statistics showed Indonesia welcomes between 10 and 20 million tourists each year.
The first package is planned to be implemented in September or October and the second will be announced by the end of September with the third in October.
On the same day, the Indonesia Central Bank also submitted five financial policy packages to protect the domestic currency and maintain the economy’s indicators in order to improve its effectiveness.
The measures included increasing inflation control, financial and economic cooperation between the Indonesian Bank and the central government; increasing the stability of the Rupiah and maintaining confidence in the foreign exchange market by controlling the fluctuation of the domestic currency; increasing the management of supply and demand for foreign currency with the exchange rate adjusted twice a week instead of once; and reducing the cap for foreign currency purchases from 100,000 USD to 25,000 USD per customer per month.
Other measures included accelerating the approvals of foreign debts from banks and increasing the stability of the financial market by providing software to assist infrastructure investment while strengthening the foreign currency reserves.
Indonesia posted slowing growth in the year’s first six months with 4.71 percent in the first quarter and 4.67 percent in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the value of the Rupiah has been declining since March.-VNA
Indonesia’s central bank has decided to hold the benchmark interest rate at 7.5 percent, which has been kept unchanged for six consecutive months, in an attempt to support the currency rupiah.
Indonesia will expand its imports of certain food items to stabilise domestic price and control inflation, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong told the Jakarta Post.
Foreign investment flows to Indonesia during the first half of 2015 led the ASEAN region, said head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Franky Sibarani on September 1.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Indonesia's central bank - Bank Indonesia (Photo: AP)
