Latest news with #StatisticsIndonesia
Malaysia Sun
10 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Roundup: Indonesia ramps up global tourism promotion to attract more int'l tourists
JAKARTA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is strengthening its promotional efforts to tap into the growing global tourist market, as the Southeast Asian archipelago continues to struggle to catch up with neighboring countries in attracting international visitors. Last year, Indonesia received around 14 million foreign tourists, while Singapore welcomed 16.5 million, Malaysia 25 million, Vietnam 17.6 million, and Thailand 35.5 million. According to data from Statistics Indonesia, the majority of foreign tourists in 2024 came from Malaysia, followed by Australia, Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste. This year, the country is targeting 14 to 16 million foreign tourist arrivals to boost foreign exchange and encourage economic growth through the tourism sector. Several popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, including the island resort of Bali, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, and Raja Ampat in the easternmost region of Papua, all offer stunning views. Meanwhile, some of the leading entry points for foreign tourists to Indonesia are Batam in the Riau Islands Province, located near Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Bali and Jakarta. In a bid to increase the global competitiveness of Indonesian tourism, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said recently that the government is committed to further strengthening its promotional efforts in international markets. Moreover, the ministry has undertaken several diplomatic initiatives to boost the country's tourism industry. Late last month, Indonesia's Tourism Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation. "The MoU is expected to increase the exchange of visits between the two countries, specifically through facilitating promotional activities carried out by the government and business actors," Wardhana said last week at the ministry. She added that advancing the Indonesian tourism industry requires a strong spirit of collaboration and collective commitment among ministries, institutions, and friendly countries, with the hope that tourism can become an economic and social force that benefits the entire community. Indonesia also held bilateral meetings with several countries during the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, which took place in Spain late last month. The ministry discussed collaboration opportunities with several nations, including Spain, India, Mexico, and Tunisia, during the forum. "We will continue to move forward with the principles of sustainability, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness, while ensuring that the growth of this sector aligns with efforts to preserve culture and the environment," she added.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Indonesia books preliminary $4.9 bln trade surplus in May, finance minister says
JAKARTA, June 17 (Reuters) - Indonesia posted a trade surplus of $4.9 billion in May based on preliminary customs data, the finance minister said on Tuesday, which would be the country's biggest monthly surplus in more than two years. Exports from the resource-rich country reached $25.3 billion, while imports were $20.4 billion, Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a press conference. Statistics Indonesia is due to release final data on July 1. If the figures don't change, the May surplus would be the widest since February 2023, based on LSEG data. April's surplus was $160 million. Sri Mulyani said while the trade figures looked good, trade tensions and slowing global growth have influenced exports and would also affect growth in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Strong growth was seen in May exports of agricultural products and manufactured goods, but there was also a steep drop in shipments of mining products, which hurt government revenues, Sri Mulyani said. Indonesia ran a budget deficit of 21 trillion rupiah ($1.29 billion) in the first five months of 2025, equal to 0.09% of GDP, the ministry data showed. Revenues in the January-May period reached 995.3 trillion rupiah, while total spending stood at 1,016.3 trillion rupiah. That compares with a deficit of 0.1% of GDP in the same period of 2024, with revenues at 1,123.5 trillion rupiah and spending at 1,145.3 trillion rupiah. ($1 = 16,275 rupiah)
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Editorial: Indonesia must avoid economic gunboat diplomacy
Don't panic: Even if time is running out, states must avoid premature concessions because US trade policy remains in flux, with legal challenges ongoing. — 123rf THE clock is ticking as a deadline nears for Indonesia to hash out a trade deal with the United States or risk punishing tariffs imposed on almost all Indo-nesian goods shipped to the world's largest economy. These are not your usual trade negotiations, where two or more countries come together as equals to reduce import tariffs on each other's export goods. Instead, Washington unilaterally imposed so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries and is now seeking concessions to lift them. There is no mutual aspect here, where both sides agree to open their markets for imports from the other, thereby unlocking the economic benefits of comparative advantage. The US aims to strong-arm Indonesia to import more from them even while they would import less from this country, and because that runs counter to economic logic, Washington is relying on tariffs to subdue market forces. The crude case the US has put forward to justify its policy is that trade partners export more to the US than they import from it. Indonesia has enjoyed a trade surplus with the rest of the world for several years running, and bilateral trade with the US accounts for a major chunk of that. Data published by Statistics Indonesia last week showed that the country's overall trade surplus shrank to almost zero in April, with a particularly stark drop in the surplus vis-à-vis the US. That could be a one-off, however, and it won't take the pressure off negotiators in talks with Washington. But the bigger question is why Indonesia should have to justify itself at all. If a country makes shoes and clothing and other products and offers them at prices appealing to US consumers, what is wrong with that? We are not forcing our products onto anyone. For Washington to just look at the bilateral trade balance and point to a US trade deficit as supposed evidence of unfair practices is overly simplistic and unfair. If the administration of US President Donald Trump wants to make a case against Indonesia, it is going to have to be more specific. Indeed it could, because we are certainly not beyond reproach when it comes to trade practices. Far from it. Washington could legitimately point to local content requirements and food import restrictions as the two most salient areas of Indonesian protectionism. On the other hand, we could point to the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, the Build America, Buy America Act, and steel import tariffs as US protectionism. These, not the trade balance, are issues we should negotiate around, in good faith, with the aim to improve mutual market access. With one month to go until America's reciprocal tariffs are to enter into force, the US piled pressure on foreign negotiating teams last week by urging them to present their best offers. We must avoid premature concessions, because the US trade policy remains in flux, with legal challenges ongoing. South Korea's newly elected President Lee Jae-myung said last week his administration was in no rush to clinch a deal with Washington. That appears to be the smart way to go about it. Coordinating Indonesia's approach with Asean and other regional trade partners will maximise leverage. The tariff threat is part of Trump's negotiating tactics. No need to be intimidated by something as trivial as a ticking clock. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
Malaysia Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Indonesia exports corn to Malaysia for 1st time
Xinhua 05 Jun 2025, 17:15 GMT+10 JAKARTA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Thursday exported corn to neighboring Malaysia for the first time. President Prabowo Subianto attended the ceremony marking the export of 1,200 tons of corn to Malaysia, held in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan Province. Corn producers from Bengkayang have received a request from Malaysia for 20,000 tons, which will be delivered in stages. The commodity was transported by a number of trucks heading to the Malaysian state of Sarawak. In his speech, Prabowo said Indonesia should no longer need to import corn from other countries by 2026, expressing optimism that the nation would achieve maize self-sufficiency even sooner. "I believe that Indonesia will not only be self-sufficient in food, but will become the world's food barn," he said. According to Statistics Indonesia, domestic maize production increased by 2.98 percent last year, reaching 15.21 million tons compared to the previous year. Java was the largest producing island, contributing 7.89 million tons, or 51.86 percent of total national production.
Malaysia Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Indonesia sees 9 pct rise in foreign tourist arrivals in April
Xinhua 02 Jun 2025, 16:45 GMT+10 JAKARTA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1.16 million visitor arrivals were recorded in Indonesia during April, up 9.15 percent year-on-year, according to the latest data released by Statistics Indonesia. Malaysia was the largest source of visitors during the month, followed by Australia and the Chinese mainland, according to the agency's deputy for distribution and services, Pudji Ismartini, who spoke at a press conference on Monday. She also reported that the cumulative number of foreign tourist arrivals between January and April was approximately 4.3 million visits, representing a 5.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The Southeast Asian country aims to receive up to 16 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025.
