How to Boost Taxes Without Pressuring Entrepreneurs to "Startup" Scandal

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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.

Ways to Increase Tax Revenue of IDR 524 Trillion without Burdening the Business World

In the report "Respectfully, State Officials: Don't Collect Taxes Like Hunting in a Zoo." released by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) reveals that by applying the right tax instruments, the government can increase revenue to IDR 524 trillion per year. This is without the need to burden the business world and society.

According to Celios' Director of Public Policy, Media Wahyudi Askar, the figures are not just a technical calculation, but also a strategic solution to overcome the deadlock in budget discussions that have so far only focused on cuts. "The numbers make sense technically, but not politically," he said.
Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Economic Policy Analyst Ajib Hamdani said, with the current fiscal posture, the business world hopes that the government can accelerate restitution, Government Borne Value Added Tax (PPN DTP), tax relaxation for UMKM, as part of a pro-growth fiscal policy.

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The Vital Role of the Financing Industry and MFIs in Encouraging the People's Economy

Chief Executive Officer of the Supervisor of Financing Institutions, Venture Capital Companies, Microfinance Institutions, and Other Financial Services Institutions (PVML) Agusman explained that through this firstflagship activity, OJK seeks to expand access to financing, especially for the productive sector and UMKM, which are the backbone of the Indonesian economy.
Chairman of the Association of Microfinance Institutions (Aslindo), Burhan, also explained that microfinance institutions (MFIs) and sharia microfinance institutions (SMFIs) have a central role in responding to the financial needs of rural communities, especially for those who do not have access to conventional banking services(unbankable).

In addition, there are also other financial institutions such as finance companies, fintech, and pawnshops. All have their own roles and markets.

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eFishery and Investree scandals do not dampen investor interest

Former eFishery CEO and founder Gibran Huzaifah is suspected of manipulating financial statements by inflating revenue. Previously, the startup , which was established in October 2013, continued to grow and became the new prima donna of this ecosystem. In fact, eFishery has managed to achieve unicorn status or a startup with a valuation of more than 1 billion US dollars in early 2023.

Investree's problems became public due to a spike in bad debts. The company, founded by Adrian Gunadi, posted an unhealthy credit spike. The majority shareholder of Investree Singapore Pte Ltd decided to dismiss Adrian Gunadi as President Director. OJK has also revoked Investree's business license since October 21, 2024. Adrian, who is on the run, has also been included in the wanted list with red notice status since February 7, 2025.
Eddi Danusaputro, Chairman of the Venture Capital Association for Indonesian Startups (Amvesindo), said that in terms of market, Indonesia is still promising for startups due to stable economic growth and massive use of technology. The alleged eFishery fraud case does give a bad impression to investors, but this case is only done by one startup, not all startups in Indonesia.

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Aiming for Opportunities Behind Indonesia-Peru CEPA

Director General of International Trade Negotiations (ITA) of the Ministry of Trade, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said that this cooperation will open preferential access for more than 90% of the tariff posts of both countries, a leap that is expected to boost the value of bilateral trade towards the ambitious target of USD 5 billion.
Although labeled Comprehensive, IP CEPA will initially focus on trade in goods. Thisincremental approach was also previously applied in negotiations with Chile, before being extended to services and investment sectors. The first phase includes the elimination or reduction of tariffs,rules of origin, customs procedures, trade security, as well as arrangements related to technical barriers and health and food safety standards (SPS). After implementation, the two countries will continue negotiations on services, investment, intellectual property, and the digital economy.

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Provinces Outside Java that Grow More Consistently

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in early August announced that national economic growth reached 5.12% in the second quarter of 2025. Spatially, Java, which contributed the most (56.94%) to the national GDP, showed a growth of 5.24%. Followed by Sumatra, which contributed 22.20%, grew 4.96%. Furthermore, Bali and Nusa Tenggara grew 3.73%, Kalimantan 4.95%, Sulawesi 5.83%, and Maluku and Papua (3.33%).
From the first quarter to the second quarter of 2025, Central Papua, Lampung, and South Kalimantan grew by 14.15%, 9.33%, and 8.10%, respectively. Over the past five years, the growth of these three provinces has consistently increased. Other provinces such as North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, and Papua experienced a spike in growth rate in 2021, but experienced a decline until 2024.

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Indonesia International Smart City Expo & Forum 2025 (IISMEX) : This event will be held at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) Kemayoran, Jakarta, on August 13-15, 2025. The event is an important collaborative event attended by 28 ministries and agencies, as well as business players. As one of the largest technology, ICT, and IoT exhibitions in Indonesia, IISMEX 2025 is a platform to bring together smart city solution suppliers from various countries with decision makers, such as government representatives from ministries and local authorities, CEOs, managers, architects, engineers, and property developers. There are many events presented in the forum, for complete information, please access IISMEX social media or visit the website https://iismex.com/.

IPXpose Indonesia 2025: This event, organized by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI), will be held at Smesco Jakarta on August 13-16, 2025. It is a comprehensive event featuring a variety of exciting activities, including exhibitions, executive forums, workshops, business matching, contests, intellectual property (IP) clinics, and awards. The event is targeted to attract participation from innovators, business owners, investors, and the general public who are interested in exploring and capitalizing on the potential of intellectual property. Information on free tickets and various series of events can be accessed through the website Ipxpose.dgip.go.id.