Conversation with Onno Widodo Purbo
In partnership with three Indonesian telecommunication providers—Telkomsel of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Persero Tbk (IDX:TLKM), PT XL Axiata Tbk (IDX:EXCL) and PT Indosat Tbk (IDX:ISAT)—Alphabet Inc (nasdaq:GOOG) will launch the trial of Project Loon to distribute internet connection with 900 MHz throughout Indonesia this year. But the project has been largely criticized by many Indonesian information technology experts, on Sunday (Jan. 17), we managed to speak to Onno Widodo Purbo, an Indonesian IT expert about alternative technology to distribute telco connection.
R.I.P Tjitrawati Gunadi
A sad news came from the Panin Group. Tjitrawati Gunadi, the wife of Mu’min Ali Gunawan, the founder of Panin Group, passed away at the age of 78 in Dec. 18, 2015 in California, the United States of America. The East Java born was buried in Lippo Group’s exclusive cemetery the San Diego Hills Memorial Park located in Karawang Barat, West Java last Thursday (Dec. 31, 2015).
Central Jakarta Police Chief Hendro Pandowo
On Monday (Dec. 28, 2015), the radical-religious group otherwise known as The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) searched for the Purwakarta Regent Dedi Mulyadi at the Cultural Center Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) in Central Jakarta. The FPI targeted the Golkar Politician following a clash that took place in Purwakarta, West Java. Dedi was scheduled to receive an award from the Indonesian Theater Federation (FTI) and FPI was determined to find Dedi and send him back to Purwakarta. News of the FPI search went viral over social media platforms, and accusations emerged that the Central Jakarta Police allowed the thugs to conduct their search.
The Coffee Business: Maxx Coffee
Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) has become a staple for big cities. It’s brand color green is already well known that people wouldn’t mind using a similar green to label their brand of coffee. Starbucks’ Indonesian competitor named Maxx Coffee uses a drawing of an owl in a green circle symbol as their corporate logo. At a glance, one could not help to think of Starbucks when seeing a Maxx Coffee logo.
F&B Business: Socieaty
Socieaty is a new restaurant located in the First Floor of the Plaza Indonesia shopping center in Central Jakarta. The restaurant was opened in September earlier this year. Socieaty offers all-day dining with a combination of Asian and European influence in their menu. The new restaurant adds to the plethora of other ventures catering to the upper-middle market of Jakarta.
F&B Business: NamNam Noodle Bar
Vietnamese food has been growing popularity amongst Indonesians in the past few years. A number of new Vietnamese restaurant chains opened are easily spotted across Jakarta. There are Pho 24, Saigon Delight, Do An and NamNam Noodle Bar. The most recent of the addition is NamNam Noodle Bar.
Fakhrurozi Ishak, FPI’s Governor of Jakarta
On Nov. 10, the high imam of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab told attendees of a public rally that he would appoint Fakhrurozi Ishak, a Betawi cleric as the new governor of Jakarta to counter Ahok’s reign. The acting Governor of Jakarta Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama laughed upon hearing the news and jokingly said that he would establish a new organization to counter FPI. Who is this Fakhrurozi Ishak?
The Search for the New Chief of Tax
The committee for the selection of the Finance Ministry’s new Chief of Taxation Office is expected to start the open recruitment to search for Fuad Rahmany’s successor today (Nov. 12)—Fuad Rahmany will enter his mandatory retirement age on Dec. 1. The open recruitment will likely attract a lot of candidates both from inside and outside of the Taxation Office. This is a breakthrough by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration.
Minister of Elementary, Secondary Education, and Culture Anies Baswedan
Developing Indonesia’s human resources has always been a part of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s mission. The president sees human resources development as one of the key strategies for strengthening Indonesia’s competitiveness in an increasingly cosmopolitan world. This is why the President made it his mission to increase access to and improve the quality of education. One of the men to whom the President entrusted this job is Anies Baswedan, the Minister of Elementary, Secondary education, and Culture.
Acting Oil and Gas Chief Naryanto Wagimin
Replacement of senior officials comes naturally with a change of regime. One of which is the most recent rotation of leadership at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). Edy Hermantoro, the Ministry’s Director General of Oil & Gas has been replaced with Naryanto Wagimin who is now the Acting Director General of Oil & Gas. Naryanto is now a new face. He’s a career bureaucrat at the ESDM Ministry. Let’s get to know him a little bit more.