President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has two more years to accomplish some major infrastructure projects—water reservoirs, railways, including mass-rapid transit (MRT), light-rail transit (LRT), and high-speed train (HST), roads, including toll roads, ports, and airports.

Domestic cement sales grew 11.5% year-on-year to 5.06 million tons last month, while export skyrocketed 124.7% to 224,277 tons (including clinker). This is the strongest monthly sales so far this year, lifted by strong demand in Jaba, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara. Accordingly, domestic cement market grew 3.4% to 19.82 million tons in the first four months of 2017.

Traffic congestion in most major cities in Indonesia will cost the State significantly if politicians resume fuel subsidy policy in the event of substantial hike in oil price. The central government has initiated some mass public transportation projects, but without participation of provincial and city administrations all over the country, the country will continuously under threat of the growing population of cars and motorcycles.

Minister of transportation Budi Karya Sumadi defended the government’s policy in developing mass public transportation infrastructures such as light-rail transit (LRT), mass-rapid transit (MRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), and railways, saying they would not only easing off traffic congestion, but improving air quality and energy efficiency.

About 3.01 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 15.07% from the corresponding period of last year. Interestingly, number of tourists entering the country through cross-border posts jumped 28% to 128,824 people. Very small compared to the total visits, but today President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is scheduled to inaugurate new cross-border post in Skouw, Papua.

Sales revenues of Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa (INTP), the second largest cement producer, dropped further by 14% to Rp3.38 trillion in the first quarter of 2017. Last year, Indocement also suffered 13.7% fall in sales revenues to Rp15.4 trillion, while operating profit declined by almost 28%.

PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada (CMNP), which builds Soreang-Pasir Koja and Depok-Antasari toll roads, was seen lot more aggressive in the first quarter of 2017. Payments to contractors and employees jumped more than 50% from the corresponding period of 2016, while payment for compensation fund of land acquisition reached Rp113 billion against zero in Q1/16.

Cable manufacturers were among the best performing stocks on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) this year. Sucaco (SCCO), the largest player, for example, gained 43.6% year-to-date, while second largest KMI Wire (KBLI) already gained 77%. Third largest Jembo Cable (JECC) has also gained 69%, while Kabelindo Murni (KBLM), the smallest, advanced 32.5%.