If we can trust in data provided by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Indonesia’s steel deficit had dropped significantly from US$8.9 billion in 2013 to US$4.65 billion in 2017. And if we can trust data provided by Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), Indonesia might soon entering a steel surplus.

The government’s proposals to strengthen financials and operations of the universal healthcare program BPJS Kesehatan could boost valuation of companies in the healthcare industry, especially hospitals and pharmaceutical players. We might see more investments from private equity firms in the sector.

Less than 24 hours after President Joko Widodo announcing an area in Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara will become the new capital city, property developer PT Agung Podomoro Land (APLN) Tbk published one full page advertisement at Kompas, the largest newspaper in the country, about its Borneo Bay City project in Balikpapan, the biggest city in East Kalimantan province.

National cement consumption declined by 1.6% to 6.4 million tons in July. It declined 2% year on year (y/y) to 35.7 million tons for Jan-Jul 2019 period. Cement consumption in Java and Sumatera declined in July. DKI Jakarta posted a 30% fall in cement consumption, and Central Java’s cement consumption fell 23%.

PT PP Infrastructure, subsidiary of state-owned EPC firm PT Pembangunan Perumahan Tbk (PTPP), has signed a partnership with Maynilad Water Services Inc, indirectly owned by Salim Group, for the development of water infrastructure system in West Java province.

Soekarno-Hatta international airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, finally has a new runway, the third. NAM Air flight from Pontianak (West Kalimantan) became the first commercial flight to land at the new runway last Thursday (Aug 15). The third runway lifts the airport’s handling capacity to 114 flights per hour, reducing the waiting time significantly.

Hutama Karya has completed construction of Terbanggi Besar-Kayu Agung (189 KM) toll road in South Sumatra. Depending on results of trial run, commercial operation might soon be inaugurated, lifting further infrastructure profile of Sumatra Island, the second most populous island in the country.

Indonesia is a major importer of plastics. In 2018, the country imported US$9.21 billion worth of plastic & products, an increase of 19% from 2017. Import of organic chemicals, including raw materials for domestic production of plastics, meanwhile, grew 17% to US$6.93 billion. This is seen an opportunity by some companies to expand their domestic production facilities.

Business people are still nervous waiting the new Water Law. Despite uncertainty surrounding the legal framework, some major water projects have been entering construction and financial closing stages. Else, would be difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 100% access to drinking water by 2030.