The capital of West Java, Bandung, is cool. Not only does it sit at a high altitude and have low average temperatures – 700 metres above sea level and 23°C, respectively – it is also a centre for education, culture and technological innovation. Some 60% of Bandung’s 2.4m people are younger than 40 and they are the main drivers of the city’s so-called “creative economy”, as entrepreneurs…
Surabaya, on the island of Java, boasts a population of nearly 3m, but the population of Greater Surabaya is estimated at more than 10m, making it the second-largest city in Indonesia. In addition to its size, Surabaya is the birthplace of Sukarno, the country’s founding father and first president, and home to one of the busiest ports in South-east Asia. “We managed to become a city with the second-highest…
Though Indonesia was not a major coal exporter until well into the 1990s, the country’s coal producers have made up for lost time by rapidly boosting their shipments. Along the way, they have ascended to the top spot in the seaborne coal hierarchy, surpassing Australia in 2011 and maintaining the lead position through boom and bust cycles. Rich in carbon deposits distributed across the country,…
While Indonesia has long had a small and extremely wealthy elite, the steady economic growth and political stability that followed the departure of President Suharto and the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998 has lifted millions of people out of poverty and created a new middle class. The number of Indonesians in this category rose by 40% between 2003 and 2010, according to former minister of finance,…
With more than 17,000 islands spanning 54,716 km of coastline and some of the world’s most enchanting diving spots, Indonesia has major potential in the marine tourism segment. And while it is the world’s largest archipelagic country, the marine tourism sector has remained relatively undeveloped. Out of the Wilderness Although there are a number of boutique sailing cruises operating out of Bali…
As the largest archipelago country in the world with more than 17,500 islands, Indonesia has both huge potential and abundant wealth lying within its territorial waters. Looking to tap into this potential, newly-elected President Joko Widodo has so far placed a high degree of emphasis on marine industry and security, stating in his inaugural speech in October 2014 that, “the time for us is to return…
The introduction of universal health care is expected to have a major impact on Indonesia’s already thriving pharmaceuticals sector. Analysts have predicted that 2015 will be a watershed year for pharmaceuticals, with the full implementation of universal health care (known as JKN locally) expected to increase demand for prescription medications. Generics especially will benefit, because the government…
Because Indonesia manufactures only a small number of the high-tech medical devices and equipment it uses domestically, the opportunities for foreign manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of medical devices are numerous. Devices and equipment used in clinical laboratories, diagnosis, surgery, cancer treatment, dental services and dermatology are all expected to see high demand as the nation’s…
After President Joko Widodo’s administration took the reins of government in 2014, it implemented changes to the structure and mission of the education system. These changes aim to enhance the competitiveness of the workforce and increase the amount of research and development (R&D) activities conducted by students, researchers and entrepreneurs. A New System The restructuring reinforced the…
With the application of the right policies, Indonesia could return to growth above 6%, and perhaps eventually reach the 7% target set by the new president. The government intends to double expenditure in the key areas of public works, transport and agriculture, and new plans include the construction of 2600 km of roads, 15 airports, 24 ports, 3258 km of railway and the addition of around 35,000 MW
