PT Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, subsidiary of ASX-listed Coca Cola Amatil, has just inaugurated its new distribution center in Pandaan, Pasuruan, East Java, which was built with US$60 million. The distribution center will likely be benefited from new toll roads being built connecting Pasuruan and other areas in the province.

Synthetic fiber may control 63% of the world’s fiber market, but man-made cellulose fiber is a big business. Indonesia with its forest resources is a key player despite questions surrounding sustainable forest management. Other than the growing export market, Indonesia, with a population of 250 million people, is a big market. That’s probably why Lenzing AG, the world’s largest producer of viscose staple fiber (VSF), plans to expand its Indonesian facilities.

Shares of Bank Ina Perdana (BINA) surged 24.68% to Rp384 on Wednesday (March 8) with thin trading volume (9.84 million shares exchanged hands). That means value of the small bank has already jumped 148% since early November 2016 on prospect of having Salim Group, which once controlled Bank Central Asia (BBCA), as substantial shareholder in the bank.

Indonesians praised Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise the country’s hajj quota from 168,000 to 221,000 this year, cutting down effectively the waiting time, which now reaches up to 15 years in some regions. Higher quota means business for airline, catering services, hotels, and, of course, tours and travel services. Other than hajj, number of Indonesians visiting Saudi Arabia for minor hajj pilgrimage (umrah) has steadily increased alongside improvement in purchasing power.

PT HM Sampoerna Tbk (HMSP), the largest company on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) by market capitalization, booked net profit of Rp12.76 trillion last year or US$959 million, an increase of 23.1% from 2015. Accordingly, Indonesia operations contributed 13.8% to Philip Morris International Inc’s worldwide net profit last year (US$6.97 billion).

Pretty much as predicted, Salim Group has continued expansion in property business in Indonesia. Other than projects in the greater Jakarta, including those in Pantai Indah Kapuk in partnership with Agung Sedayu Group, the group embarks major expansion in Bintan Island, Riau Islands province.

Massive infrastructure development has attracted some investors to continue investing in Indonesian property and logistics. TB Simatupang area in South Jakarta, for example, has attracted more foreign investors in commercial property as progress of mass rapid transit (MRT) lifts prospect of the area. Fast growing e-commerce has also attracted more investments in logistics solution.

Shares of AKR Corporindo (AKRA) ended higher by 2% Monday (Mar 6) as investors responded positively the Company’s performance last year. While sales revenues dropped 23%, mostly due to falling revenues from fuel trading and chemicals manufacturing, AKRA booked net profit of Rp1.01 trillion, slipped only 2.2% from 2015.