Indonesia’s 2026 draft state budget was meant to project confidence. A deficit of just 2.48 percent of GDP, within the legal ceiling, and a pledge to reach balance by 2027–2028 suggested fiscal discipline. Yet within days, the government’s credibility began to crack—not because of external shocks, but because its own numbers stopped adding up.

Indonesia’s participation in Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, deserves recognition as a bold step. By showcasing a pavilion with ten local studios—ranging from established names like Agate and Digital Happiness to emerging players such as Busy Beaver and Gambir Studio—the government seeks to position Indonesia not just as a vast gaming market but as a legitimate producer of creative content.

The talk of the town is possible ‘restructuring’ of debts and ownership in PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), operator of the first high-speed train (HST) in the country, by the sovereign wealth fund Danantara. Politicians have expressed support to PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), the largest shareholder from Indonesian side, to get rid off the debt burden.

Sudden drop of supply for ‘subsidized natural gas’ forced industrial customers, mainly manufacturers of glass, ceramics, and tyres, to buy the commodity at inflated price. Amidst flooding of cheap imported products, these domestic manufacturers will likely see further correction in their margins.

We love IFs. If we can give free meal to 82 million people the economy will grow 8% per annum. If we can build three million homes per annum, we can achieve 8% growth in two years time. If we can build more food estates, we will not only self-sufficient in food supply...

The Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs is preparing to launch SAPA UMKM, a super-application that will soon become the mandatory digital entry point for Indonesia’s 40 million small and medium enterprises. Within the next two months, every micro, small, and medium business will be required to register through this platform in order to be formally recognized and gain access to state programs—from business permits and halal certification to financing, training, and export facilitation.

On August 14, 2025, Fadli Hassbullah Fatba, manager procurement and planning of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia, announced pre-qualification tender of a jack-up rig (Indonesian flag) for offshore exploration in Mahakam area, East Kalimantan. 

When the composite index of Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) recently hit a new record, government officials quickly praised fundamentals of the economy. It clearly is an illusion because vast majority of companies with strong fundamentals actually reported stock market losses year-to-date. 

Shares of PT Solusi Sinergi Digital (WIFI) or Surge, indirectly co-owned by Hashim Djojohadikusumo—-brother of President Prabowo Subianto, gained 1.8% to Rp2,770 this morning as the company confirmed interest in acquiring ISP PT Link Net (LINK) Tbk from Axiata Group. At the last quoted price, WIFI was worth Rp14.7 trillion, already twice of LINK (Rp7.3 trillion).

The recent surge in local property taxes (PBB-P2) across several Indonesian regions has ignited widespread public anger. In Pati, Central Java, a planned increase of up to 250 percent triggered massive demonstrations involving tens of thousands of residents. In Cirebon, taxpayers claimed their bills jumped by almost 1,000 percent, while in Jombang, East Java, homeowners saw their annual tax leap from IDR 400,000 to IDR 3.5 million within just two years.