Moody's Upgrades Indonesia Outlook to Positive as Finances Improve
Jakarta. Moody's Investors Service upgraded its credit outlook on Indonesia to "positive" from "stable", praising its progress on reforms and its efforts to keep finances under control despite falling prices for its main commodity exports.
Moody's upgrade late on Wednesday (08/02) follows a similar move by Fitch in December, and comes at a welcome time for Indonesia's policymakers as they seek to attract and retain more foreign investment as emerging market assets globally come under stress.
Indonesia's rupiah currency and its main stock index edged up in early trade on Thursday.
Outlook upgrades typically mean a country is closer to a ratings upgrade, which would allow it to sell government bonds at lower rates and attract more foreign investors.
"The positive outlooks from Moody's and Fitch suggest Indonesia's sovereign credit rating is on an uptrend. We expect the factors cited by Moody's...to continue and ultimately translate into a ratings upgrade," economists at Nomura said in a note.
http://jakartaglobe.id/business/moodys-upgrades-indonesia-outlook-positive-finances-improve/
Japanese lenders ink Indonesian geothermal deal
Lenders led by Japanese financiers have extended US$440mn to a geothermal power project in Indonesia.
The co-financing was led by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC), which has contributed US$198mn from its own book. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) then led a syndicate of commercial banks on the rest of the financing.
The syndicate was composed of BTMU, Mizuho and SMBC, with the commercial portion of the debt being covered by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (Nexi), a Japanese government-owned agency.
The finance will fund the Muara Laboh geothermal power project, being built by Supreme Energy Muara Laboh (SEML), an Indonesian subsidiary of Engie, the French power company. The project is in the South Solok area of West Sumatra. It will eventually have a generating capacity of 80MW, which will be sold to the state-owned power utility PT PLN over a 30-year period.
SEML will be joined in a consortium by Japanese industrial giant Sumitomo Corporation on the construction of the project, which explains the involvement of Japan’s export credit agency (ECA), JBIC.
Muara Laboh will power 120,000 homes in Indonesia, the world’s highest-populated Muslim nation and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The power will be emissions-free and is a key part of the Indonesian government’s drive to reduce carbon emissions by 29% by 2030.
Indonesia has some of the world’s largest geothermal energy potential, and the government has been actively promoting the sector’s development since introducing a new law in 2014 that allows international companies to access the resources.
http://www.gtreview.com/news/asia/japanese-lenders-ink-indonesian-geothermal-deal/
Taiwan eyes closer cooperation with Indonesia
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) - With the “New Southbound Policy” entering into full force and effect, Taiwan is seeking to forge closer bilateral ties with Indonesia, a nation that has enjoyed a robust economic growth in recent years.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is also the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has included the Southeast Asian nation in the first phase of the policy, along with the Philippines, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
According to the international professional services firm PwC’s latest report published on Wednesday, Indonesia is projected to be the world’s fourth largest economy by 2050.
“By 2050, emerging economies such as Mexico and Indonesia are likely to be larger than the UK and France, while Pakistan and Egypt could overtake Italy and Canada,” the report said.
Indonesia is also Taiwan’s 12th largest partner, with over 1,700 Taiwanese companies investing in the country.
Robert James Bintaryo, representative of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office (IETO) in Taipei, said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo has focused heavily on developing the nation’s infrastructure, especially the construction of highways, ports, railways, and electricity, a field of which he has encouraged foreign investment.
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3090161
Indonesia, South Africa talk to boost trade
Indonesia and South Africa are strengthening their economic cooperation, Indonesia’s top diplomat has revealed, as a delegation of state officials and businesses seeks to bolster the country’s presence on the African continent.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi was in Cape Town on Monday for bilateral talks with her South African counterpart. She encouraged state-owned firms in her entourage to seize the available trade and investment opportunities in South Africa.
She said an agreement was struck with South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to finalize a plan of action for both countries’ 2017–2021 Strategic Partnership, which would act as the basis of future economic cooperation.
Afterwards, Retno spoke to a South African-Indonesian business forum, inviting local businesses from the energy, shipping, and strategic industry sectors, as well as travel agents and importers of furniture and foodstuffs, to “trade, invest in and tour” Indonesia.
“Indonesian and South African businesses must take advantage of [our] very good political relations to realize mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities,” she told participants.
The forum was also attended by representatives of state-owned strategic industry firms including aerospace firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia, weapons maker PT Pindad and shipbuilder PT PAL.
Daniel Tumpal Simandjuntak, the Foreign Ministry’s director for African affairs, revealed that PT Pindad had offered to South African businessmen its signature Anoa 6x6 armored personnel vehicle, while PT PAL advertised its KCR-60 fast missile ships.
One of the results of the forum includes a plan to import 18 containers worth of consumer goods from Indonesia, as well as an assessment of plans to build an instant noodle production facility in South Africa.
The meeting with Nkoana-Mashabane also produced a number of new initiatives, including a free-visa agreement for service and diplomatic passport holders, an agreement on diplomat training and other engagements in the marine and fisheries sector.
Whilst in Cape Town, Retno also paid a courtesy call to President Zuma to personally convey an invitation to participate in the upcoming Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders’ Summit in Jakarta next month.
South Africa and Indonesia are both founding members of IORA, which comprises 21 coastal states that border the Indian Ocean. Indonesia served as vice chair of IORA from 2013 to 2015 and is now the current chair.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/08/indonesia-south-africa-talk-to-boost-trade.html