AIYA Links: 23 August
In the news
- It’s been a bad week for Indonesia on the financial markets, as expectations that the US Federal Reserve will wind down its quantitative easing policies saw investors pull US dollars out of Asia.
- As these links went out, Bloomberg reported that President Yudhoyono and his economic team were set to announce policy responses ‘that may include a fiscal stimulus and tax holidays…to address the economic situation’. The Jakarta Globe reported that measures would include revisions to the negative investment list and loosening of import restrictions.
- Concerns about the economy go beyond the financial markets, as The Economist reports this week.
- On the other hand: Singapore bank UOB will open an FDI advisory branch in Jakarta this year, a reminder that investment still remains strong overall.
- The Australia-Indonesia aviation market still has great potential, as this analysis from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation shows.
- Aussie beef producers will welcome comments made at the IndOz beef industry expo by Indonesian officials about their government’s keenness to promote Indonesian investment in food production here. Industry news site Beef Central has some good reporting from the event.
- Indonesian oil and gas regulator SKK Migas sought to reassure the industry that it was business as usual after its chairman was arrested on corruption charges last week.
- In Jakarta, ‘a buzzer is not an alarm or a bell, but someone with a Twitter account and more than 2,000 followers who is paid to tweet’ on behalf of an advertiser.
- Fairfax’s Michael Bachelard (@mbachelard) reports that the so-called ‘freedom flotilla’ to West Papua province has been interpreted in Jakarta ‘as an Australian attack on Indonesia’s sovereignty’, despite Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr condemning the protest.
- Plans by a South Sumatran city government to make female high school students submit to virginity tests have been greeted (mostly) with outrage.
Jobs/Events
- Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane: Applications to participate in the next Asialink Leaders Program are now open, and if you’re a professional looking to boost your Asia career, or a manager wanting to enhance your workforce’s Asia literacy, this is a fantastic opportunity to do just that.
- Canberra, 27 August: The Australia-Indonesia Business Council will host AusAID East Asia Division head Rod Brazier at the National Press Club to speak about opportunities for business in Australia’s aid program in Indonesia. More details here.