Indonesia’s FDI to hit 1.4% GDP in 2025: World Bank
Indonesia's foreign direct investment (FDI) could go up to 1.4 % of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, according to a recent report by the World Bank (WB).
An aerial view of Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo:Indonesia Expat)
Jakarta (VNA)🧸 - Indonesia'sforeign direct investment (FDI) could go up to 1.4 % of its gross domesticproduct (GDP) in 2025, according to a recent report by the World Bank(WB).
The WB attributed this uptick to the jobcreation law and the government's industrial downstreaming strategy ofprocessing raw minerals at home for greater added value. It forecast that thecountry’s FDI is projected to gradually pick up as theOmnibus Law on Job Creation and the Indonesian government's agenda to developthe downstream mining and mineral industries are implemented, reaching 1.4 % of GDP in 2025. Indonesia's net FDI is projected togrow to 1.3% of the country's GDP this year from 1.1% in 2022. Thebank has set the same 1.3% forecast for 2024. According to bank, based on multinationallender, an open market is a recipe for Indonesia to reach high-income status byits centenary in 2045. The bank stated Indonesia has had"historically restricted market competition" through regulation, thuspreventing productive firms and industries from growing. The job creationomnibus law is expected to remove some of these constraints, among others, byopening up previously restricted sectors for investors. Satu Kahkonen, the bank country director forIndonesia and Timor Leste, emphasised that Indonesia needs to enhancecompetition to spur the country's productivity growth. The job creation omnibuslaw liberalised private investments in the Indonesian economy. Kahkonen said Indonesia had a very largenumber of sectors that were closed or restricted for private investment. Thelaw package released those restrictions in one go. From now on,Indonesia needs to identify the specific constraints within policy areas orsectors that prohibit market contestability. He cited that the country needs to remove theremaining restrictions to competition that are embedded in businessregulations, procurement rules, international trade policies, labor marketregulations, and financial sector rules. The WB called Indonesia's financial sectoromnibus law "a major reform step". This package of regulations is setto improve access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs),among others, by allowing state-owned banks to write off MSMEs' non-performingloans./.
Ten years after its establishment (June 27, 2013 – June 27, 2023), the Vietnam - Indonesia strategic partnership has been consolidated and strengthened across many areas, said former Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi.
Indonesia plans to raise its mandatory palm oil-based biodiesel blending to 40% in the next few years, but for now will keep it unchanged at 35%, its Minister for Energy & Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif has said.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.