Author: Meridian Gate Advisory
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Indonesia’s New Finance Minister: Fiscal Credibility, Policy Continuity and Investor Confidence
Indonesia has appointed Suahasil Nazara as Minister of Finance, replacing Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa after approximately one year in office. For foreign businesses and investors, the change sends two competing signals. On one hand, Suahasil brings significant institutional experience. He has served as Deputy Minister of Finance since 2019 and previously led the Fiscal Policy Agency.…
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ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action Adopted in Manila as FTA Talks Enter Final Stretch
Summary Foreign Minister Anita Anand attended the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Plus Canada in Manila on July 22, followed by the ASEAN Regional Forum ministerial. The principal outcome was the adoption of the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action 2026-2030, the five-year cooperation framework covering trade and investment, regional security and economic cooperation. Senior officials had endorsed…
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Indonesia’s Commodity Shift and What It Means for Foreign Investors
Indonesia’s export reform of strategic natural resources is set to take effect on June 1, 2026. What was until recently a proposed structural shift is now imminent policy — and foreign investors have little time to adjust their assumptions. Under the reform, exports of key commodities including coal, palm oil, and ferroalloys will increasingly move…
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Canada–Indonesia CEPA: Full Text Released
The full text of the Canada Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has now been published. As the agreement moves toward ratification and a potential entry into force in 2026, understanding its scope and structure will be important for monitoring how trade and investment conditions may evolve. The full text of CEPA is available below for…
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Canada and Thailand Launch Free Trade Negotiations
Summary Canada and Thailand have officially launched negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The announcement followed a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on the margins of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. This new initiative complements Canada’s ongoing Canada–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement negotiations, signaling…
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Indonesia Allows Foreign Nationals to Lead State-Owned Enterprises
Key Facts Immediate Implications This clarification represents a governance and competitiveness upgrade, not a deregulation. For Canadian and global firms, it reflects Indonesia’s pragmatic approach: opening the door to high-skill collaboration while maintaining sovereignty and accountability in its SOEs.Businesses seeking to engage Indonesian SOEs should view this as a sign of increasing managerial professionalism and…
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Indonesia Lowers Paid-Up Capital Requirement for Foreign Investors
Date: October 2025Source: Indonesian Ministry of Investment / BKPM (Regulation No. 5 of 2025) What’s Changing Why It Matters MGA View This reform is a strategic inflection point for Canada-Indonesia business engagement:By lowering the paid-up capital barrier, Indonesia is proactively improving its attractiveness for foreign direct investment, especially in sectors where upfront asset intensity is…
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Jakarta Unrest – Advisory Update
Updated September 1, 2025 at 9:00 pm WIB Protests in Jakarta and other major cities continue following the death of a delivery driver during clashes with police. Demonstrations are centered near the DPR/MPR complex and key transport hubs. President Prabowo has ordered an investigation and canceled overseas travel to manage the crisis. Key Impacts: Security:…