Growing Interests in Manufacturing Sector (3): AKPI
Growing domestic consumption normally leads to increasing demand for plastic. Indonesia is still a country heavily rely on imported plastics and articles. Last year, while overall import declined 2.6%, Indonesia’s import of plastics grew 3.7% to US$2.53 billion. This is clearly an opportunity for domestic plastic producers, including Argha Karya Prima Industry (AKPI).
Tri Rismaharini: A Game Changer?
Not that many people knew her. Her popularity was nowhere close to Jokowi’s. She wasn’t even in the universe of Jokowi worshippers. But political dynamics change really fast here in Indonesia. Today, Tri Rismaharini is the country’s rising star. There are those who are starting to believe that Risma could match Jokowi (and perhaps even beat him in July’s presidential race). She’s considered to be better, more decisive, understands more details, and she already has a proven track record managing a big city. Is the Mayor of Surabaya, Tri Rismaharini the game changer?
Industrial Catering Players
Industrial catering is a big business. In Indonesia, the business is also dominated by ‘big boys’ close to people in power, especially in mining and oil & gas. Bob Hasan, golf buddy of the late president Soeharto, for example, is known for his company’s ‘monopoly’ in catering services for giant mining PT Freeport Indonesia. Surya Paloh, chairman of NasDem Party, is another big name in the industry.
SKK Migas Scandals: The Simbolons, Rubiandini & Jero Wacik
Arta Meris Simbolon, daughter of Marihad Simbolon, who is also CEO of Parna Raya Group, was an interesting witness in the trial of Rudi Rubiandini, former head of SKK Migas, last Tuesday (Feb 11). Prosecutors confronted her with a taped conversation between her and Deviardi, golf trainer of Rudi, regarding various issues.
Island Concepts (ICON) & The Controversial Bali International Park
Our source was right when he suspected the award of land use right for an area over 250 hectares in Jimbaran Bay, Bali Island few years ago for the sake of ‘2013 APEC Summit’. We all know that the area, where the so-called Bali International Park, should have been built to host the summit, is still a vast empty area.
YOGYA Group & Retail Explosion
YOGYA Group, operator of YOGYA and GRIYA department stores, is among the oldest players in modern retail industry here. Two of its major competitors, MATAHARI and RAMAYANA, are listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) with market capitalization of Rp39 trillion and Rp9.8 trillion respectively. Will YOGYA eventually offer its shares to public?
Growing Interests in Manufacturing Sector (2): MLIA
In November 2012, when we posted an article titled ‘Revisiting Mulia Industrindo’, the stock was traded at around Rp250. It rallied to as high as Rp740 year, but then retreated to below Rp300 in September 2013. Mulia Industrindo (MLIA) then launched the stock buyback program in October, which lifted the stock to above Rp500 this time around.
Growing Interests in Manufacturing Sector (1): LTLS
Lautan Luas (LTLS) is one of few players consistently develop their position in domestic manufacturing. It has 100 international principals and distributes more than 1,000 chemical products. Principals of Lautan Luas are also partners of Djarum Group and Wings Group, two of the largest consumer players in Indonesia, in the country’s largest fatty alcohol producers.
Yusril + Sukanto Tanoto & Political Changes (Part II)
Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Sukanto Tanoto have both sailed through five presidents with ups and downs, friends and nemesis in politics and business. Yusril was speech writer of then president Soeharto. Sukanto’s business was also flourished during Soeharto years. They were both ‘inner circle’ of then president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Yusril + Sukanto Tanoto & Political Changes
Former minister of law and human rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra has been appointed legal advisor by Asian Agri, a company controlled by tycoon Sukanto Tanoto. Asian Agri is trying to challenge the court’s ruling, which forces the company to pay more than US$200 million in fines for the alleged tax evasion case. This case is interesting from both legal and political perspective.