Climate Conference a Winner for Indonesia: Official

From the Jakarta Globe.com

While last week’s Copenhagen climate talks may have been considered as a lost opportunity to reach a binding agreement to slow down global warming, Indonesia stands to gain more than it bargained for, Rachmat Witoelar, executive chair of the National Council on Climate Change, said on Wednesday.

“[The conference] was not a failure and Indonesia was satisfied with the accord because it reflected our five major demands, as delivered officially by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,” Rachmat said. He was referring to the president’s speech at the convention in which he demanded a strong commitment to reduce emissions, significant funding from developed countries and the continuation of the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) scheme.

Rachmat said there was still time for the accord to be transformed into a legally binding agreement at next year’s climate talks, which are expected to be held in Mexico.

“The agreement, however, is morally binding and Indonesia still has the chance to play a more significant role with our middle-ground solutions,” he said.

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Four foreign countries interested to take part in Indonesia's power development: official

From Xhinhuanet.com

Prominent power firm and lenders from Russia, Japan, Kuwait and Germany have pledged their interests to take part in Indonesia's huge power plant projects expected to commence next year, a local media report said Saturday.

Fahmi Mohtar, Director of Indonesian state-run power firm, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), conveyed that he had received representatives of those power firms who conveyed their interests, according to the Detik.com.

The Russian power firm, United Energy System of Russia (RAO UES), wanted to take part in the construction of Indonesia's hydropower plants, coal-fired power plants and geothermal power plants, Fahmi was quoted as saying.

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Indonesia To Provide Tax Refund For Foreign Visitors

From Bernama.com

The Indonesian government will provide tax refund for foreign visitors to purchase goods from April next year, an official said here Tuesday, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

The visitors can have the refund when leaving from Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta and Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, said Djoko Slamet Surjoputro, director of Public Relations with the tax office.

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RI, France agree on ‘unlimited’ strategic partnership

From the Jakarta Post

Indonesia and France have agreed to step up their bilateral relationship through a planned launch of what leaders of the two countries called an “unlimited strategic partnership”.

President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono met with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday to discuss the issue, upon which they agreed on enacting the partnership starting next year when Indonesia and France were to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ bilateral relationship.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters after the meeting between the two presidents at Elysee Palace in Paris that Yudhoyono had invited the French president to visit Indonesia to co-launch the strategic partnership.

“There is willingness between the two countries to begin a strategic partnership. France has firmly stated that Indonesia has gained more influence globally, and wants a without-limit strategic partnership [with Indonesia],” said Marty.

“The planned visit of President Sarkozy to Indonesia in 2010 will be a good opportunity to formalize the strategic partnership.”

With the unlimited partnership, Marty said, there would be huge potential for cooperation between the two countries across a range of fields, including social, cultural, education and engineering.

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Indonesia’s Stocks to Rise 32% by End-2010, Credit Suisse Says

From Bloomberg.com

Dec. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia’s stock index may climb 32 percent next year after outperforming measures in Asia’s biggest markets in 2009 as companies raise debt to expand amid a pickup in economic growth, according to Credit Suisse Group AG.

The Jakarta Composite Index is set to rise to 3,300 by the end of 2010, led by consumer, infrastructure and resource stocks, said Arief Wana, director of equity research at PT Credit Suisse Securities Indonesia, the local unit of the Swiss bank. The measure fell 0.5 percent yesterday to 2,494.74.

The stock index has risen 84 percent this year, beating the region’s 10 biggest stock markets, as domestic spending helped boost Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Companies are expanding on signs demand will improve as growth accelerates, with the central bank forecasting that the economy will grow 5.5 percent in 2010 from an estimated 4.3 percent this year.

“We’re bullish on Indonesia,” Wana said in an interview yesterday. “As we believe that Indonesia is entering into a higher growth phase, the companies’ current much stronger balance sheet should be able to sustain a high rate of return- on-equity.”

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