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Showing posts from December, 2013

Indonesia’s economy faces gathering headwinds

From Bloomberg Dec 6, 2013 Indonesian policy makers are grappling with a depreciated exchange rate, elevated inflation and diminished foreign capital inflows undermining President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s legacy of economic stability before he steps down next year. His failure to fix infrastructure gaps in his two terms has added to price pressures, threatening his party’s chances at elections in 2014. The government will allow foreign ownership of as much as 100 percent on airports, airport services and ports, Mahendra Siregar, chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board, told reporters today. For ground and freight terminals, it may be as high as 49 percent, while a cap on overseas holdings in 10 other industries may be eased, he said. The World Bank said last month downside risks to Indonesia’s economic outlook are sizeable, as higher borrowing costs and inflation may have a greater-than-expected effect on domestic demand. Exports have dropped for 18 consecutive months. “Ext