Indonesia’s export boom following China’s WTO accession significantly improved labor market outcomes, particularly in regions with strong manufacturing activity. The study finds that between 2000 and 2014, districts more exposed to manufacturing export expansion experienced higher formal employment growth and greater income gains among lower- and middle-income groups, while commodity-driven exports yielded limited benefits.

Branding in Indonesia plays a crucial role in establishing competitive advantage for businesses navigating the country’s culturally diverse and dynamic market. Success depends on a deep understanding of local consumer behavior, values, and market trends.

Indonesia is expected to enter the final quarter of 2025 with cautious optimism, as the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) faces a volatile environment shaped by both global and domestic factors.

Indonesia’s pursuit of becoming an advanced economy by 2045 is challenged by concentrated trade, investment, and supply chain dependencies that heighten its exposure to geopolitical and economic shocks.

Indonesia’s implementation of the Online Single Submission (OSS) system has significantly improved the country’s business licensing environment by streamlining regulatory procedures and reducing barriers for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which are central to its rapidly growing digital economy.

Indonesia’s Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) islands present a strategic yet underutilized gateway for boosting Australian investment into Southeast Asia’s largest economy. While Australia’s outbound investment into Indonesia remains low despite recent growth, leveraging Singapore’s infrastructure, connectivity, and business familiarity offers a promising path forward.

Indonesia’s political economy has shifted from the promises of neoliberal globalisation toward a deeply entrenched oligarchic order, where dynastic politics and elite networks dominate governance and resource allocation.

Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa steps into the role of Indonesia’s new finance minister at a challenging time, tasked with navigating a 2026 budget already constrained by President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programs while needing to boost tax revenues by 13.5% without rate hikes and cut the fiscal deficit to 2.48% of GDP.

Indonesia’s content moderation framework, under MOCI Regulation No. 5/2020 and refined by Decree No. 522/2024, faces criticism for its opaque enforcement, broad legal definitions, and potential for overreach, which could stifle free expression. The introduction of the SAMAN system adds new moderation measures at a time when the country’s startup ecosystem is struggling, with investments plummeting from USD 10.9 billion in 2021 to USD 800 million in 2024.