National Data Center Ready by Oct 2024
The National Data Center (PDN) will be completed and inaugurated by October 2024, said Director General of Application Information Technology Semuel Pangerapan.
Semuel said his team has been coordinating with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I to stay updated on the development and ensure the security system of this first PDN managed by the government.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology kicked off the PDN development in Cikarang, West Java, in November 2022, with a 25,000 core processor, 40 petabyte storage, and 200 terabyte of RAM. The ministry will also conduct inspections of the installations, and monitor the entire process.
Related Link:
DPR Committee Approves 2024 Gov't Budget
President Joko Widodo’s final state budget of Rp 3,325 trillion for 2024 was approved by the House of Representatives (DPR) Budget Committee on Sept 19, higher than the previous proposal of Rp 3,304 trillion. This represents a 2.29 percent fiscal deficit of gross domestic product (GDP) which is slower than 2023’s 2.30 percent outlook. This also assumes the predicted 5.2 percent economic growth remains unchanged and inflation of 2.8 percent, lower than the 3.1 percent 2023 outlook.
The revenue target of Rp 2,802 trillion was also approved, larger than the Rp 2,781 trillion proposal, as the government expects more revenue from the oil and gas sector. The committee approved an energy subsidies’ revision of Rp 1,891 trillion, 2 percent higher than the Rp 1,859 trillion proposal, bearing in mind the potential effect of El Nino on harvests and food quality in general, said Budget Committee Chair Said Abdullah. The decision is expected to be approved a full DPR vote very soon.
Related Links:
- https://english.kontan.co.id/news/indonesia-parliament-committee-approves-governments-2163-billion-2024-budget
- https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/indonesia-parliament-committee-approves-govts-2163-bln-budget-2024-2023-09-19/
Indonesia Speaks Out at United Nations General Assembly
Indonesia highlighted the unjust global order and trade discrimination as the main causes of the lack of progress in achieving targets set in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York, on Sept 18. The Summit is part of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which runs from Sept 18-26.
The Global South, a term broadly comprising developing countries, must also be given the opportunity to develop downstream industries as they often experience discrimination, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said.
In response, world leaders adopted a decisive declaration at the Summit, addressing commitments to focus on and ways to achieve the development goals, which include providing better financing for developing countries and delivering an SDG Stimulus as proposed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The Summit is considered the most important event in the UNGA series of meetings. Aside from the SDGs, the delegates will also discuss other pressing global issues and how to navigate the current geopolitical landscape.
Related Links:
- https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2023/09/19/indonesia-pushes-for-downstreaming-global-south-rights-at-un-sdgs-summit.html
- https://en.tempo.co/read/1773858/sdg-summit-world-leaders-agree-to-take-immediate-action-to-unlock-better-financing-for-developing-countries
OJK Appoints Indonesia Stock Exchange as Carbon Exchange Organizer
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has appointed the Indonesia Stock Exchange (Bursa Efek Indonesia, BEI), as organizer of the upcoming carbon exchange, set to launch on Sep 26. The OJK is also preparing seminars in major cities across Indonesia to enhance capacity building and understanding of Indonesia’s carbon trading ecosystem, OJK Board of Commissioners Chairman Mahendra Siregar said.
Under OJK Regulation 14/2023, the carbon exchange will trade carbon units defined as equivalent to 1 ton of CO2, which are recognized as securities or securities/investment contracts. Carbon units will be traded in the form of Technical Approvals for Upper Emission Limits for Business Actors (PTBAE-PU) and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Certificates (SPE-GRK), which act as recognition of carbon emission offsetting activities in sectors such as energy, land, and forestry.
The OJK will establish a validation and verification institution (LVV) before the carbon exchange’s opening, from which companies must obtain LVV certification and complete PTBAE-PU and SPE-GRK evaluations, which so far include energy company Mutuagung Lestari, and auditing and certification companies Sucofindo, TUV Rheinland Indonesia, and TUV Nord Indonesia.
Related Links:
- https://dinsights.katadata.co.id/read/2023/09/19/bei-wins-carbon-exchange-bid-whats-next
- https://investasi.kontan.co.id/news/resmi-ditunjuk-jadi-penyelenggara-bursa-karbon-bei-persiapkan-hal-ini
Bilahari Kausikan: Singapore’s Existential Battle in Balancing US v China
The next AmChams of the Asia Pacific (AAP) Author Series will be with Bilahari Kausikan as he discusses his latest book, "Singapore Is Still Not an Island." The event will be held on Sept 29, at 10:00–11:00 SGT (UTC 8) via Zoom.
This second collection from Singapore’s well-respected, highly experienced “undiplomatic diplomat” provides a front-row seat to the US-China competition to be the dominant player in a global system in which both are vital, irreplaceable components, and why balancing between China and the US is Singapore’s toughest and most imperative challenge.
Now with the freedom of being a self-described “pensioner,” Bilahari will provide unvarnished insights and analysis which will be of value to practitioners of geopolitics and those impacted by it.
Gov't to Continue Rempang Industrial Area Construction
The government has said the construction of an industrial area on Rempang Island in Riau will continue as planned despite opposition residents. The government will offer compensation and facilitate residence relocation for the affected families, Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia said. The number will be adjusted to the previously owned assets by the residents.
The government aims to develop an integrated business district, Rempang Eco City, which will encompass an industrial zone and resorts. Chinese glass manufacturer Xinyi Group plans to invest $11 billion to build a factory on the island.
Related Links:
- https://jakartaglobe.id/business/govt-aims-to-construct-2500hectare-industrial-area-in-rempang-despite-protests
- https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2023/09/18/govt-promises-to-compensate-rempang-locals-for-eviction.html
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AmCham Update is AmCham's regular newsletter on developments related to the pandemic crisis and other issues in Indonesia. It is edited by AmCham Managing Director A Lin Neumann and written by the AmCham Staff. Paul L Goddard.
