Over a million Indonesian families living in internet dead zones have been unable to access a government-funded electricity relief scheme being distributed online. An Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry official said on Tuesday that as many as 1.2 million families lived in regions with poor connectivity and thus were unable to access both the WhatsApp […]
Read MoreIndonesia booked a US$743 million trade surplus in March as export and import activities contracted slightly amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has announced. Southeast Asia’s largest economy recorded $14.09 billion in exports in March, a 0.2 percent decrease year-on-year (yoy), while total imports fell 0.75 percent yoy to $13.35 billion driven by decreased […]
Read MoreIncreasingly desperate businesses have come up with creative ideas to meet customers’ needs and weather the COVID-19 downturn. Hospitality company Swiss-Belhotel International is offering a service it calls “Isolation Package in Indonesia”, where the hotel offers Wi-Fi, laundry and room service for those wanting to self-isolate during the pandemic. The rooms are being offered at […]
Read MoreThe Agriculture Ministry is partnering with food producer PT Indoguna Utama and ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia, among other businesses, to secure supplies and offer them an online grocery platform. The partnership is part of the government’s anticipatory efforts to meet surging demand, especially for beef and chicken meat during Ramadan and on Idul Fitri. Both […]
Read MoreThe government estimates that up to 3.78 million Indonesians will fall into poverty and 5.2 million lose their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects the worst global recession since the Great Depression. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Tuesday that, with economic growth projected at the lowest level since […]
Read MoreThe government’s ability to provide social protection and ensure undisrupted food supply will be crucial in preventing social unrest as the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to hit households and workers hard, economists have warned. Former Finance Minister Chatib Basri said the government should be able to provide cash transfers for affected citizens, adding that it would need […]
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Thailand
