Industries

Indonesia’s temporary national data center in Surabaya, East Java has been compromised in a cyberattack since June 20, disrupting services across hundreds of national and local agencies. The Jakarta Post wrote that state-owned communication company PT Telkom Indonesia (TLKM) reported that 282 databases belonging to central and regional administrations linked to the temporary data center in Surabaya were still affected by the breach as of last Tuesday, according to press release from Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo). Bear in mind that Telkom’s subsidiary Telkomsigma operates the Surabaya facility, where data recovery processes are ongoing.

With series of governance issues at Kimia Farma (KAEF) and Indofarma (INAF), some wonder whether it is worth to keep the State’s involvement in the pharmaceutical industry. Still, PT Bio Farma, a holding company for state pharmaceutical firms, is proposing additional state capital placement or injection (PMN) of Rp2.21 trillion for 2025, used for funding the construction of new production facilities, also to upgrading existing machines and technology. 

State-owned postal service company PT Pos Indonesia has recently attracted public attention regarding its plan to conduct sizable layoff this year. Layoff or termination is one of the most difficult tasks in business. As we know, Pos Indonesia is one of the oldest state-owned companies. As of today, the Company is involved in the courier and logistics services business.

The government continued to claim positive impacts from the special economic zones (SEZs), and, accordingly, awarding more. There are currently 21 SEZs that spread throughout Indonesia with claimed total investment worth Rp187.5 trillion with the creation of a workforce of 126,506 people until March 2024.

We’ve seen correction of EV sales in some European countries, especially Germany and UK, following the end of incentive packages. Slowdown in Europe might have contributed to correction of nickel prices this year. But, China, the world’s second largest market after USA, is still showing a rapid rate of growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoption after China’s plug-in car sales increased to 704,000 units or 44% market share in April 2024 compared to 35% in the same period of last year.

The competition for the cement industry in Sumatra, the second largest market after Java Island, is becoming increasingly tougher with the entry of new players from China. PT Kobexindo Cement, a consortium of the Hongshi Holding Group from China, has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Aceh Regency Government regarding the establishment of a new cement factory. This agreement was signed on May 18, 2024 in Jakarta.

World crude steel production for the 71 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 155.7 Mt in April 2024, a 5 percent decrease compared to April 2023. China produced 85.9 Mt last month, a 7.2 percent decrease compared to the same period of last year.

First visit of elected president Prabowo Subianto to China has paved the way for construction of the Bandung-Surabaya high-speed train (HST). It is almost certain that China will secure the lucrative project, which will likely be implemented by Prabowo-Gibran administration.

Almost all big names of tire manufacturers have local manufacturing presence in Indonesia. It was a long period of a three-way competition between Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Gajah Tunggal. Some players might have left the country, but others keep coming to tap the growth opportunities. These opportunities drive Sailun Group, a Chinese tire manufacturer, to take the advantage to invest in the country.