Author: Haikal Febrian

Jakarta. The number of countries that are backing Indonesia’s bid to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) is growing. This time, the support is coming from Lithuania which has been part of the 38-membered group since 2018. According to Lithuanian top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis, Vilnius will not only back Indonesia’s OECD candidacy, but it is also willing to share what it was like trying to secure a seat at the intergovernmental organization. “Both of our countries believe in democratic, free market policies. Lithuania strongly supports [Indonesia’s] bid for membership in the OECD,” Landsbergis told reporters in Jakarta following a meeting…

PETALING JAYA: The Emerald Belt of Borneo Strategy, a collaborative effort between Malaysia and Indonesia, seeks to deepen economic partnerships among all Asean member states. According to Malaysia-Indonesia Business Council international affairs director Senator Jaziri Alkaf Abdilah Suffian, several approaches have been adopted to integrate trilateral economic cooperation between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The Emerald Belt of Borneo Strategy also seeks to expand its “enormous benefits” to other countries like the Philippines and Thailand, he said. Jaziri pointed out that the strategy has contributed to strong investments in recent years. Between 2017 and 2022, Malaysia invested a total of US$10.1bil…

Singapore will begin taxing foreign-sourced disposable gains from January 1, 2024, with Parliament approving the amendments to the country’s Income Tax Act. Under the amendments, dubbed Section 10L, capital gains from the sale of foreign assets will be subject to tax if they are received in Singapore and if the relevant entity does not have ‘economic substance’ in Singapore. How the entity is judged to have ‘economic substance’ in the city-state will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Singapore’s Ministry of Finance has stated that Section 10L is aligned with the EU’s Code of Conduct Group Guidance (COGC). EU…

Domino Printing Sciences has announced the official opening of Domino Printing Indonesia, a new subsidiary dedicated to providing complete coding and marking solutions for the archipelago of Indonesia. Headquartered in Jakarta, Domino Printing Indonesia will become the first global coding and marking provider to establish a direct presence in the Indonesian market. Regional offices will be established in Bandung and Surabaya, with further plans to open subsequent offices across Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi in the coming years. The new subsidiary is a ‘one stop shop’ for complete coding and marking solutions for businesses of all sizes and within all key…

The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum has wrapped in the Chinese capital. World military officials and defense experts discussed potential collaboration and resolutions of existing conflicts. CGTN’s Cen Ziyuan has the details. Officials and experts say it is an important occasion to understand China’s vision of national defense and global security. MARIA SULTAN Chairperson, South Asian Strategic Stability Institute, University of Pakistan “I think the forum is extremely important, because of a number of reasons. First and foremost, the world needs to know what China is thinking.” CEN ZIYUAN Beijing “The annual event with a theme of ‘common security and lasting…

Gorontalo (ANTARA) – Synergy and Collaboration for the Acceleration of Basic Services (SKALA), a partnership program between Indonesia and Australia, was officially launched in Gorontalo on Wednesday by Regional Secretary Budiyanto Sidiki and the Australian Consul General in Makassar, Todd Dias. SKALA aims to support the reduction of poverty and inequality by increasing the availability of basic services for poor and vulnerable communities. “It focuses on strengthening strategic elements in the regional government system, such as public financial management and minimum service standards,” said Sidiki in Gorontalo. The program will also cover planning and budgeting, as well as strengthening perspective…

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo officially inaugurated the Archipelagic and Island States or AIS Forum Summit today in Nusa Dua, Bali. In his opening remarks, the president stated that Indonesia is ready to support archipelagic and island states and developing countries, including through financial aid. “Indonesia is also committed to preparing grant funds to be used for the interests of archipelagic states and developing countries,” Jokowi said, yet he did not provide further details but claimed to prioritize the interests of said countries. This is proven by Indonesia’s position on various international forums such as the G20 Summit, ASEAN Summit, and the…

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Following the closure of TikTok Shop, traders in the Tanah Abang Market called on the government to also shut down e-commerce sites, such as Shopee, Lazada, and Tokopedia. Their demand recently made headlines and went viral on social networking sites. As widely reported, the short video-sharing app TikTok halted its e-commerce service, TikTok Shop, following the issuance of the Trade Minister’s Regulation No. 31 of 2023, which restricts social commerce. The government issued the ban in an effort to protect local market products from illegal imports which are sold at prices lower than market competitors. The recent demand to restrict e-commerce…

jpnn.com, BALI – ASEAN Youth Interfaith Camp or AYIC 2023 is being held again in the spirit of strengthening cooperation and understanding between religious communities in Southeast Asia. With the theme Strengthening Interfaith Outreach and Partnership Through Digital Platforms, this year’s AYIC emphasizes the importance of utilizing digital technology in building bridges of understanding and tolerance. Atanaya Hotel, Kuta, Bali witnessed the collaboration of youth from ten ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Not only that, local youth from Primakara University also took part, enriching the discussion with authentic local perspectives.…

A recently released report by the United Overseas Bank (OTC:UOVEY) (UOB) has shed light on the current economic sentiments of citizens and businesses across five ASEAN nations – Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The report was released on Wednesday and a statement regarding the ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study (ACSS) was provided two days prior by Yuthchai Tayaratchakul, the Executive Vice President of UOB. The study revealed that rising inflation, escalating household expenses, and reducing savings are the primary concerns among respondents. This has led to a more frugal approach towards spending among the Thai population. Interestingly, it was also…