Indonesia
Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country and archipelago comprising more than 17 000 islands stretching between the Indian and Pacific oceans. The capital is Jakarta, located on the island of Java. With a population exceeding 270-million, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and the largest economy in Southeast Asia. The country operates as a presidential republic, with a directly elected president serving as both head of State and head of government. Indonesia is a member of the Group of Twenty (G20), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The economy is diverse, with key sectors including coal mining, liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, palm oil cultivation, manufacturing and services. Indonesia is one of the world's leading exporters of thermal coal and a significant producer of nickel, tin and other minerals. The rupiah is the national currency, issued by Bank Indonesia, the central bank. Major trading partners include Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore and Vietnam. Indonesia's strategic location along major shipping lanes and its abundant natural resources underpin its importance in regional and global trade. The country gained independence from the Netherlands in 1945, following centuries of colonial rule and Japanese occupation during the Second World War.
Indonesia Updates
South Africa can become strong value-add minerals player again, PyroFuZA points out 
By: Martin Creamer 2nd June 2026 Look out for PyroFuZA. Those eight letters have the potential to make best use of South Africa’s natural resources and restore South Africa’s... →
South Africa poised for first rate hike since 2023 on Iran war
By: Bloomberg 28th May 2026 South Africa’s central bank is set to raise borrowing costs for the first time in three years as policymakers seek to combat inflationary pressures... →
Informal land ownership a major issue globally, highlights World Bank
By: Rebecca Campbell 26th May 2026 Two-thirds of the world's assets are in land and buildings, highlighted World Bank global leader in land Mikka-Petteri Törhönen in a presentation... →
SA: Leon Schreiber: Address by Home Affairs Minister, on the occasion of the Home Affairs Budget Debate (Vote 5) (19/05/2026)
20th May 2026 Instead of forcing 63 million citizens to queue at only 349 physical locations, we are bringing services closer to where people stay. Instead of... →
Iran war to cast a shadow on BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Delhi
By: Reuters 13th May 2026 The US-Israeli war on Iran is set to cast a shadow over a two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping that kicks off in New... →
Anti-gender & anti-climate politics: exploring converging agendas in Global Majority countries
24th April 2026 Politics today is marked by accelerating global backlash against both gender equality and action on the climate crisis. This new working paper... →
China's gold market importance probably growing, says precious metals analyst
By: Martin Creamer 14th April 2026 China is probably growing in importance to the gold market the same way it is growing in importance to the global economy. By contrast, the... →
Nelson Mandela was a towering global symbol – but how effective was he as a president?
14th April 2026 Nelson Mandela remains one of the most revered political leaders of modern times. He is widely credited with guiding South Africa through a... →
Somali systems: from aid-centred to state-led crisis response
9th April 2026 There are major challenges in transitioning towards state-led crisis response in Somalia. These include the outsized role of aid and incentive... →
Countries suffer when credit rating agencies lack data: how to fix the problem at source
9th April 2026 Some developing country governments spend years making the reforms that international financial institutions want – only to find that their efforts... →
