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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.
The Largest Peer in the Region, Indonesia-Brazil Ready to Explore a Shared Future
- The arrival of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Jakarta opens up opportunities and potential for wider cooperation between Indonesia and the Samba Country. President Lula was received by President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (23/10/2025).
- The 39th Head of State of the Republic of Brazil explained that with a combined population of nearly half a billion, the value of bilateral trade between Indonesia and Brazil has only reached USD 6.3 billion over the past two decades. In fact, as countries with the largest economies in each continent and region, Indonesia and Brazil can increase the opportunity for bilateral trade value to USD 15 billion-USD 20 billion. One form of cooperation between the two countries is to strengthen the first node, namely advancing the bioethanol fuel market.
Read the full story here.
Employers hope working group can resolve overlaps between agencies
- Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Sanny Iskandar hopes that the working groups newly formed by the government can resolve the main problems that are still often faced by business actors, such as overlapping authority between agencies. There are three working groups that will work under the task force to accelerate the government's strategic programs, namely: Working Group I is tasked with accelerating the realization and implementation of the government's strategic program budget, Working Group II focuses on accelerating program implementation and resolving obstacles or debottlenecking. Meanwhile, Pokja III handles the acceleration of regulatory settlements that form the basis for program implementation and law enforcement.
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Huge Growth Space for Pension Fund Industry
- Only about 10%-15% of Indonesians have pension funds. In fact, the standard from the International Labor Organization (ILO), the minimum pension fund that is considered sufficient is 40%. This means that there are still 85%-90% of people who are not yet participants, so there is still room for growth. As of August 2025, pension fund assets reached IDR 1,593.18 trillion or grew 8.72% on an annual basis (yoy), with mandatory pension programs amounting to IDR 1,200.62 trillion, voluntary programs IDR 392.56 trillion.
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Palm Oil Industry Seeks New Market Opportunities in Three African Countries
- The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) is exploring export markets to three African countries, namely Tanzania, Kenya, and Namibia. This step is taken to strengthen CPO export performance as well as to seek new market opportunities other than China and India. Gapki chose to explore the Tanzania, Kenya, and Namibia markets because the three countries are the "Center of Origin", due to their high plantation development, especially for palm oil. In addition, the economies of these three countries are stable in the African region, and they also need CPO and processed palm oil products.
Read the full story here.
Selected Videos: When Skills, Certificates, and Sacrifice are the Ticket to the Future
Agung Mahesa Fikri
FDI Realization Strengthens, but Extra Work is Needed to Achieve Target
- Indonesia's investment realization until the third quarter of 2025 reached IDR 1,434.3 trillion or 75.3% of the target. Domestic investment (PMDN) dominated the realization with a proportion of 55.1%. However, foreign investment (FDI) realization in the third quarter grew at a higher rate of 4.8% after two previous quarters of decline.
- Investment realization in the third quarter of 2025 reached IDR 491.4 trillion, an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous quarter. This achievement increased by 13.9% on an annual basis (yoy). The total accumulated investment realization until the third quarter has reached IDR 1,434.3 trillion, equivalent to 75.27% of the annual target. To achieve the 2025 investment target of IDR 1,905.6 trillion, investment realization in the fourth quarter must be at least IDR 471 trillion. This figure is slightly lower than the realization in the third quarter.
Read the full story here.
Webinar Ketenagakerjaan 2025 with the theme "Reading the Dynamics of Informal Workers: Between Choice, Compulsion, and Policy Challenges" will be held online via Zoom and YouTube Live on Friday, 24/10/2025 at 08.00-11.30 WIB. The event is organized by the Manpower Planning and Development Agency and Manpower Policy Development unit of the Ministry of Manpower to discuss in depth the issues of flexibility, vulnerability, and public policy for informal workers in Indonesia. The speakers include Prof. Anwar Sanusi, Ph.D (Head of the Manpower Planning and Development Agency, Ministry of Manpower) as the Keynote Speaker, along with experts such as Rosita Dewi (Director of the Inclusive Economy and Finance Group, Bank Indonesia), William Hutchins Seitz, Ph.D (Senior Economist, The World Bank), Arif Novianto (Lecturer and Researcher), and Palmira Permata Bachtiar (Head of Economy Cluster, SMERU Research Institute).
The NUS Innovation Forum (NIF) Jakarta 2025 is a global forum initiated by the National University of Singapore (NUS) with the support of the NUS Alumni Network Jakarta. The forum aims to explore the latest trends in the world of innovation with the theme "AI, Innovation and Economic Growth." The event will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 15.00-17.00 WIB, at the Grand Thamrin Ballroom 1st floor, Pullman Thamrin Hotel, Central Jakarta. The forum will feature RI Minister of Communications and Digital Meutya Viada Hafid, as well as a Rector Panel Discussion bringing together university leaders, including Prof. Dr. Hamdi Muluk (UI Vice Rector), Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia (UGM Rector, TBC), Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara (ITB Rector, TBC), and Prof. Tan Eng Chye (NUS President). Information regarding the detailed rundown and series of activities can be directly accessed through the official NUS website.
"Treat your soldiers like your children and they will follow into the deepest valley." (Sun Tzu-Chinese Strategist)
Have a good day, Chief.
Team SUAR
