Cinema screens expand, economy shrinks, alternative export markets sought

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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.

National Film Improves, Theaters Ready to Expand 2026

The manager of the CGV Indonesia cinema network, PT Graha Layar Prima Tbk (BLTZ), at an expose on Thursday (02/10/2025) plans to expand in 2026. CGV Indonesia does not specify how many cinemas and screens will be added, but hopes that this expansion will make the company's performance better in the future and prioritize areas outside Java for expansion.
BLTZ also pays attention to the food and beverages (F&B) business, which is considered to continue to show a positive trend. Usually, with the addition of a movie theater screen, sales of food and beverages will follow. According to him, the quality of Indonesian cinema is improving rapidly. This can be seen from the number of Indonesian films that air in a week reaching 3-4 films, while in a month there can be more than 15 films.

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Asia Pacific and Indonesia Economic Growth Forecast to Slow Slightly

The latest Asian Development Bank (ADB) research released in September 2025 on economic outlook states that the Asia Pacific region's economic growth in 2025 will slow to 4.8% - from the previous prediction in April of 4.9%. Indonesia's economic growth in 2025 is also predicted to shrink to 4.9% after previously being predicted at 5.0% in April. Therefore, it is necessary to implement fiscal and monetary policies that are adaptive, appropriate, and aligned so that economic performance continues to run, in an effort to exceed these projections.

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Indonesian Exporters Find Alternative Markets to the US After Trump's Tariffs

After US President Donald Trump implemented trade tariffs in August, Indonesia's exports to the US declined that month compared to July. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed that Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to the US in August fell 12.39% on a monthly basis. In July, Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports to the US amounted to US$3.10 billion, falling to US$2.72 billion in August. Business players have begun to look for alternative export markets other than the US. Check out the success stories of exporters who have successfully sought alternative markets other than the US.

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Indonesia-Kyrgyzstan Aim for Halal Industry Cooperation Opportunities

Indonesia is exploring opportunities for cooperation in developing the halal industry with Kyrgyzstan, opening new export breakthroughs to non-traditional countries. Based on data obtained from the Ministry of Trade, the value of trade between Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan is still relatively small. Recorded in 2024, the value was US$ 1.8 million, while from the January-August 2025 period it reached US$ 1.4 million. Indonesia exports 19 HS(Harmonized System) code commodities, including palm oil products and their derivatives, glycerol chemicals, cigarettes, bags, gingseng, garments, and others. Indonesia's exports to Kyrgyzstan are dominated by palm oil products and their derivatives which account for around 90% of total exports.

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BRIN Selected Videos Indonesia Palm Oil Expo 2025 to Drive Innovation for Energy and Food Security

Exports to Malaysia Surge Amid Global Turmoil

Indonesia's exports remained stable, growing 0.86% after President Trump's new tariffs. A number of countries supported the stability of Indonesia's export value, one of which was Malaysia. Exports to the neighboring country in August recorded a record high of USD $1,051.4 million (up 7.80%), driven by a surge in downstream commodities such as refined palm oil. The figure was the highest recorded so far this year. This increase underscores the importance of the ASEAN regional market, which as a whole is Indonesia's top non-oil and gas export destination with a share of 19.42%.
When viewed in more detail, the main commodities of oil and gas and non-oil and gas exports to Malaysia in July and August 2025 have changed. In August, leading commodities such as refined palm oil liquid fraction (HS code 15119037) saw a significant jump from US$59.63 million to US$135.89 million, making it the second leading export commodity, after coal. In addition, fuel oil (HS code 27101979) also surged to US$46.37 million, reflecting increased demand for energy.

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UMKM Go Export Yogyakarta Seminar Event: With the theme " UMKM Strategies to Penetrate the Export Market", this business seminar organized by UMKM Go Export aims to thoroughly explore how to export. The seminar can be attended by those who don't even have their own products yet, and can be started with minimal capital. The seminar was held at Harper Hotel, Yogyakarta, on Friday, October 03, 2025, with two sessions: Session 1 (08.30 WIB-complete) and Session 2 (14.00 WIB-complete). Information related to ticket purchase and how to participate can directly access umkmgoekspor Instagram social media.

Wakatobi Wonderful Festival and Expo: Also known as Wakatobi WAVE 2025, this annual marine culture and tourism festival is organized by the Wakatobi Regency Government. It aims to promote Wakatobi's underwater beauty and cultural diversity. The event will be held over three days, from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5, 2025, with a series of activities centered on the Togo Marina area, Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The festival features conservation initiatives, lively cultural attractions, unique Bajo tribal cultural performances, an ornamental boat parade, and regional culinary exhibitions. As a tourism event included in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) 2025 calendar, this event is open to the public and tourists or participants can follow and enjoy the entire series of events directly.