Fuel Import Regulation, Slow PNBP, BRICS Wide Road, BI Rate Effect

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The following is important information related to the development of the business universe that needs attention today based on the curation of the SUAR Team.

Private Gas Stations Sell Well Until Stocks Run Out, Pertamina Needs to Maintain Quality

The new import policy is suspected to have triggered the scarcity of fuel oil (BBM) supply at public filling stations (SPBU) owned by private companies, which has occurred since late August. All parties need to find a common ground so that the business world continues to run smoothly and consumers can still obtain quality fuel.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the regulation of fuel imports was taken to maintain the balance of the trade balance while ensuring the availability of domestic supplies. Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri emphasized that the mechanism with the private sector is carried out openly and is not intended to increase prices to consumers. Private gas stations have yet to provide an official response. BP-AKR spokesperson Dewi Indrasari said that her party is still conducting internal discussions.

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Slow Non-Tax Revenue, Pursue in Downstreaming and Private Collaboration

The government signals that it is ready to loosen non-tax state revenue (PNBP) levies. One of them aims to accelerate strategic projects in Papua.
Behind the tug-of-war over this strategic project, the condition of PNBP is not encouraging. As of the first semester of 2025, PNBP collected Rp 222.9 trillion or 43.4% of the 2025 State Budget target of Rp 513.8 trillion. This condition contrasts with government projections. In the 2026 Draft State Budget, the PNBP target is only set at IDR 455 trillion, lower than the 2025 outlook of IDR 477.2 trillion, as well as far below the 2024 realization of IDR 584.4 trillion.

The government needs to encourage non-tax revenue sources such as levies from natural resources (PNBP) and encourage economic growth so that levies can increase. This is because the country needs a lot of money for spending, so it needs to boost additional alternative revenues other than taxes.

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Wide Road for Business Expansion to BRICS Countries

Indonesian businesses can utilize Indonesia's membership in BRICS to access a wider market. The transformation of BRICS from a partnership of emerging economies to a forum of Southern Hemisphere countries is increasingly relevant to the needs of today's world, especially in the midst of global geopolitical and geoeconomic disruption. More than just political cooperation, BRICS now opens a wide avenue for entrepreneurs from member and partner countries to meet, exchange insights, and work together to contribute to boosting the economy of the country and region.
The BRICS' active, hands-off approach is having an impact. The forum's voice is increasingly taken into account, especially representing the interests of countries in the global South that are fed up with the political moves of the US and Europe - which are increasingly disregarding the world order that they themselves once built.

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Lower Interest Rates, Time for Real Sector to Take Credit for Expansion

Triggered by a series of reductions in Bank Indonesia's benchmark interest rate (BI Rate), banks will slowly reduce their lending rates. With lower lending rates, the real sector is preparing to take out investment loans or working capital loans to be ready for expansion. In turn, this is expected to boost the pace of economic growth even faster.
Chairman of the Indonesian Exporters Association (GPEI) Benny Sutrisno said, with the BI Rate at 4.75%, the cost of borrowed funds is cheaper, so it can encourage companies to increase their export activities. Other entrepreneurs also said the same thing. The business world is monitoring loan interest rates and is ready to take investment or working capital loans for expansion.

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Women and UMKM, Two Sides of Economic Empowerment

Indonesian women who work continue to grow. As of February 2025, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the figure reached 58.4 million people or around 40% of the total working population. Of this number, those whose employment status is self-employment, including those assisted by permanent and non-permanent laborers, reached 20.9 million people (35.8%).
This number has increased rapidly even when compared to the pre-pandemic period. In 2019, the number of self-employed women - whether assisted by regular or irregular workers - was only 17.9 million (34.4%). Over the period 2020-2025, the average growth of women working in this group was 2.6% per year.

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Indonesia-Latin America and the Caribbean (INA-LAC) Business Mission 2025: The culminating event of the INA-LAC Business Forum, organized annually since 2019, aims to strengthen trade and collaboration in various sectors - such as food and beverage, health and beauty, automotive, energy, and textiles. INA-LAC 2025 was designed and held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia together with partners, on September 22, 2025, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This business mission offers opportunities for businesses to participate in tabletop business meetings and business matching sessions. For registration and more information, participants can visit the INA Access Indonesia website.

"Strategies for Penetrating the Export Market" seminar in Surabaya: This event will be held on Monday, September 22, 09.00-15.00 WIB, with a hybrid format (offline and online) at Palm Park Hotel, Surabaya. It aims to teach how to export quickly, help find potential buyers , and provide networking with export experts and players. The seminar will be filled by expert speakers, such as Naufal Zuhdi (RPX), Yuli Andayani (Mallindo Global Network), and Arie Indarwanto (Export Center Surabaya, Ministry of Trade). For more information on how to participate in the seminar, participants can access information on the expocenter.kemendag Instagram social media.