Indonesia keeps interest rates unchanged for third straight time
The Bank Indonesia (BI) announced at its meeting on April 18 it will keep its benchmark interest rates unchanged for a third straight time, predicting headline inflation would be back within its target sooner.
Hanoi (VNA) - TheBank Indonesia (BI) announced at its meeting on April 18 it will keep its benchmark interestrates unchanged for a third straight time, predicting headline inflationwould be back within its target sooner.
The Southeast Asia's biggest economy has been supported by acommodities-led export boom, though economists expect a slowdown in growth astighter monetary policies across the world weigh on global demand.
BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said maintaining the interestrate at 5.75% as expected is aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability. Thecurrent benchmark rate is still sufficient to keep core inflation within BI'starget range of 2-4%.
Last month, inflation was already at 4.9%, but it will continueeasing, he said, adding that starting August, it could be below 4%. BI previouslyexpected headline inflation to return to target in September.
Meanwhile, with sentiment for riskier assets improving amidmarket forecasts that US rates are near their peak, the rupiah hasstrengthened by almost 4% in the past month, even with some depreciation thisweek.
The central bank kept its 202🐠3 GDP growth outlook at theupper💞 end of 4.5%-5.3% range./.
The Indonesian government is considering imposing a tax on foreign tourists after a series of incidents in which badly behaved foreigners have violated laws or customs, local media reported.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has emphasised the need to promote equal economic relations between the Southeast Asian country and Germany as well as the European Union during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on April 17 announced that she has met with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) President Raja Kumar to discuss Indonesia's full membership in the FATF.
The Indonesian government has initiated the drafting of a declaration by leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the threat of a food crisis to strengthen strategic cooperation for all stakeholders in building mechanisms to strengthen food security, regional supply chains and sustainable agriculture.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
Illustrative image (Photo: Reuters) 
