REEs

Feb 10, 2026 | Commodities, Market

The government has recently identified eight mining blocks with significant rare earth elements (REE) potential while planning to launch two research projects to develop processing technology. Brian Yuliarto, Head of Mineral Industry Agency (BIM), who is also minister...

Correction in consumer financing

Feb 10, 2026 | Market

Consumer financing companies expect recovery this year with 4.5% growth of retail sales of cars last month. Last year was tough. Mandiri Tunas Finance (MTF), subsidiary of state bank Mandiri (BMRI), suffered 66% fall in net profit, contributing to relatively flat...

Public reaction to plans for the Umat Tower

Feb 10, 2026 | Politics

In politics, timing is everything. After initially urging the government to withdraw from the Board of Peace, major Islamic institutions in Indonesia ultimately endorsed the decision to join. Days later, Prabowo Subianto unveiled plans to build a 40-story tower for...

A skyscraper for faith, or a tower of political control?

Feb 10, 2026 | Politics

President Prabowo Subianto’s plan to build a 40-story headquarters for Islamic institutions in the heart of Jakarta is being framed as a grand gesture of respect for the country’s Muslim majority. Placing the building near the iconic Hotel Indonesia roundabout, one of...

When social programs wear uniforms

Feb 10, 2026 | Politics

President Prabowo Subianto’s recent address at the TNI–Polri leadership meeting sent a clear political message: the military and police are expected to become the front line of the government’s flagship programs, from the Free Nutritious Meals initiative to the Merah...

Vice-presidential race is quietly taking shape

Feb 10, 2026 | Politics

Indonesia is only a short time into the Prabowo Subianto–Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration, but early signals for the 2029 election are already emerging. The latest survey from Indikator Politik Indonesia (IPI) not only shows a high approval rating for President...

Budget deficit & off-budget mechanisms

Feb 10, 2026 | Market

Do not criticize, or even analyze policies of, Indonesian government if you’re not PhD in economics. That’s basically what Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, minister of finance, told public late last week regarding a report from Citigroup economist Helmi Arman about the State...

Prabowo’s Co-op: Imported trucks

Feb 10, 2026 | Industries, Market

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) claimed that the financial system had provided Rp148.6 trillion of financing to President Prabowo’s Red-and-White Village Cooperative (KDMP) program last year. Details are not available, but since fourth quarter of 2025, PT...

Prabowo’s Co-op: Land and cost issues

Feb 10, 2026 | Market

Village administration all over the country found very hard to provide 1,000 sqm of land for the Red-and-White Village Cooperative (KDMP). That’s probably why Prabowo administration would seize the so-called ‘dormant/unused land’. The Central Government, as you know,...

Dividend ratio of state banks

Feb 9, 2026 | Market

Two state banks, Bank Mandiri (BMRI) and Bank Negara Indonesia (BBNI), have released their full year 2025 financials. Mandiri reported a tiny 0.9% growth in net profit to Rp56.3 trillion last year, slightly below private-owned bank BCA, which has substantially smaller...