Hartono Family bets more in F&B

Mar 3, 2026 | Market

PT Savoria Kreasi Rasa, a company controlled by Hartono Family, has on March 2nd completed the acquisition of SariWangi tea brand from PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (UNVR) for Rp1.5 trillion. This will make Savoria a bigger player in the food and beverage industry.  It’s...

FID approval for Hashim’s oil & gas project

Mar 3, 2026 | Commodities, Market

Conrad Asia Energy Ltd and its subsidiary West Natuna Exploration Limited (WNEL) have secured approval of Final Investment Decision (FID) for the development of Mako gas field in Duyung production sharing contract (PSC). The company, previously, signed and agreement...

Quiet (mass) layoffs (9)

Mar 3, 2026 | Market

Six out of eight IDX-listed companies releasing full year 2025 financial reports on Monday (Mar 2) cut their workforce last year, some in double digit percentage. Not necessarily because of falling revenues and profit.  PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources (SMAR) Tbk, one of...

A shift in public reactions to foreign policy

Mar 3, 2026 | Market, Politics

The ongoing petition, signed by several Indonesian civil society groups opposing the country’s trade agreement and participation in Trump’s Board of Peace, reveals an important development in Indonesia’s policy landscape. At a time when public concern remains...

Dynasties and the optics of power

Mar 3, 2026 | Politics

The Rp 8.5 billion official vehicle controversy involving Rudy Mas’ud, Governor of Kalimantan Timur, should have been a routine budget debate. The vehicle was canceled, an apology was issued and the funds were returned. Yet the episode refused to fade. It...

Death penalty, due process and the Fandi case

Mar 3, 2026 | Law, Politics

Indonesia’s war on drugs has long been framed as a matter of national survival. With traffickers moving tons of narcotics across maritime borders, the state has consistently defended harsh penalties — including death sentences — as necessary deterrence. Yet the...

Esports, power and the question of public trust

Mar 3, 2026 | Market

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka recently called for stronger regeneration and institutional support for Indonesia’s esports athletes, the message resonated with millions of young Indonesians. Esports is no longer a niche hobby. It is a multibillion-dollar...

Interesting trade data in January 2026

Mar 2, 2026 | Market

Indonesia recorded trade surplus of US$955 million in January 2026, collapsed 72.7% from the same month last year as export grew only by 3.4%, while import expanded by 18.2%. Implication of the government’s policies in mineral sector started to hit export growth. Palm...

Public employment becomes a fiscal illusion

Mar 2, 2026 | Market, Politics

The government’s plan to potentially “send home” up to 9,000 contract-based civil servants (PPPK) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has exposed a deeper contradiction at the heart of Indonesia’s public employment policy. These workers were recruited, formally appointed, and...

The technical implications of PP Tunas

Mar 2, 2026 | Law, Market

Government Regulation No. 17/2025, or PP Tunas, has been presented as a long-overdue measure to protect children in digital spaces. With full implementation beginning in March 2026, the regulation introduces obligations for digital platforms to verify user age,...