INDONESIA READIES ANTICIPATORY STEPS FOLLOWING TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 7 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has yet to make a move but is preparing anticipatory steps while awaiting the results of the US investigation to uncover causes of its trade deficit with 16 countries, including Indonesia.          US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order calling for an investigation into countries that had contributed to the US "trade imbalance."     Earlier, the US Department of Homeland Security had issued a list of 16 countries that were viewed as having a trade imbalance with the US.          The Indonesian government is still awaiting the results of the investigation into the countries appearing on the list of US deficit contributors.          "Point one of the executive order calls for the analysis and study of the causes of the deficit. We do not know yet how they would conduct the analysis," Chief Economic Minister Darmin Nasution stated at a coordination meeting on the US foreign trade policy in Jakarta on Thursday.          Hence, the Indonesian government is still awaiting the results of the analysis. It has yet to take steps but will continue to intensively communicate with the US side and prepare various anticipatory measures.

RI, U.S. BUSINESS DEALS DURING JOKOWI'S VISIT VALUED AT US$20 BILLION

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) - Indonesia and the United States are expected to conclude business deals valued at US$20 billion in the on-going visit of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Washington this week.          As part of the US$20 billion deals, the Capital investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) mentioned a U.S. investment plan worth US$2.4 billion, agreed to during the President's visit.          The Head of the BKPM, Franky Sibarani, said in a written statement made available in Jakarta on Tuesday that of the total investment plan, about one billion US dollars were for investment expansion, US$600 million for electricity development, US$750 million for downstream agro industry and US$12 million for heavy equipment/machinery industry.          "The US$2.4 billion investment plan that has been identified by the BKPM is part of the business deals between Indonesia and the United States, worth US$20 billion," Sibarani said.