The government’s announcement that it will build 15 to 20 artificial-intelligence incubators — with pilot facilities in Blok M and Tanah Abang funded by a Rp 2.7 trillion contingency budget — reflects an ambition to fast-track the nation into the AI era. Officials argue that these incubators will nurture local startups, strengthen innovation, and create solutions for priority sectors such as healthcare.

PT Garam, part of ID Food state-owned food holding, and ACWA Power have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for developing an integrated seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination project combined with salt production and photovoltaic solar energy in Gresik, East Java province, strengthening national food and water security.

President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his cabinet to roll out one megawatt (MW) of solar power plants in every village as part of the energy transition toward net-zero emissions. Yet another ambitious project targeting over 80,000 villages across the archipelago!

The tensions in Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau—triggered by the government’s (Satgas PKH) sealing of homes and community facilities—expose a deeper structural crisis in how Indonesia manages conservation and agrarian governance. What the state frames as “illegal settlement control” is, in reality, a complicated social landscape shaped by decades of unclear land administration, permissive local authorities, and the absence of coherent enforcement.

Prabowo administration decided to double down on its free nutritious meals (MBG) program despite growing criticism and demand for a total review. Other than substantial increase in State budget next year, the government asked sovereign wealth fund Danantara to lend a hand.

It is confirmed that gold will be charged with substantial export levies. Thermal coal will likely follow next year despite protests from some business associations. Discussions to charge export levies on processed nickel have been around for more than two years now, but this time the government might eventually implement it.

Indonesia likes to believe it is entering the age of the “space economy.” BRIN is pushing an 18-satellite Nusantara constellation, and state-owned Telkomsat is expanding its portfolio through international partnerships. The newest collaboration—with Australia’s Myriota—promises ultra-low-power satellite IoT to connect farms, fisheries, offshore rigs and remote villages long neglected by terrestrial networks.

Major holidays are fast approaching, and the Indonesian government is taking several preventive measures against food inflation, especially with the free meals program still at the forefront of Prabowo Subianto administration. It was reported that the President, in a recent special meeting, instructed to increase the production of food ingredients, such as milk and vegetables, and to replace chicken eggs with quail eggs or beef for the free meals menu.

Shares of Bank Central Asia (BBCA) ended slightly higher by 0.29% to Rp8,500 on Tuesday (Nov 25) to make a market capitalization of Rp1,037 trillion. The stock was relatively stable despite the ongoing investigation of bribery implicating one of the bank’s beneficiary owners. 

PT Super Bank Indonesia Tbk (SUPA), controlled by Eddy K Sariaatmadja (owner of Emtek Group) and Anthony Tan Ping Yeow (founder of Grab Holdings), has officially launched initial public offering (IPO) of 4.4 billion shares to raise up to Rp3.06 trillion.