Indonesia has reached another infrastructure milestone with the completion of the new Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java. While not the biggest, it is the first eco-friendly floating airport in the country. President Joko Widodo led the inauguration and was pleasantly surprised that it was completed six months ahead of its initial deadline. […]
On my travels around the eastern provinces of Indonesia I am often asked by Governors, Bupatis and business people, “what can Australia do to help us develop our tourism sector?” All levels of government in Indonesia are promoting tourism with the expectation it will bring progress and prosperity to the long-neglected people of eastern Indonesia. […]
Former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans once said, “No two neighbours anywhere in the world are as comprehensively unalike as Australia and Indonesia.” Despite proximity, Canberra and Jakarta may as well be worlds apart but changes need to be made if the countries want to face the future in a strategic way. Change is happening on […]
An interview with the Bukalapak CFO uncovers how the e-commerce marketplace grew from a small garage office to being Indonesia’s latest unicorn. As the Indonesian digital economy continues to grow, the government encourages the younger generation to become actors, not just spectators. Tempo – Interview: Young on top, Bukalapak’s secret to increase valuation (video) Interview […]
To assess human health and internal organs doctors routinely conduct diagnostic testing such as ultrasounds and x-rays. In a similar way, non-destructive testing (NDT) is conducted to assess the structural health of infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels and airports. The alternative, destructive testing – i.e. loading to breaking point – can be employed to assess […]
I spent the month of October 2017 in Australia on my mid-term consultations and leave. It is hard to believe, but I am half-way through my posting: eighteen months of solid work behind us, and another busy eighteen months ahead of us, until the end of our posting to Makassar. I travelled to Perth, Darwin, […]
It is a year until the next presidential elections will be held in Indonesia and speculation has begun about who will put themselves forward to face the incumbent, Joko Widodo. The answer will shape the coming debate in Australia’s largest neighbour. Indonesia’s democracy is just 20 years old and it is due to hold its […]
Fintech continues to flourish, as Indonesia awaits the birth of its fifth unicorn. Hundreds of new startups are emerging, with some taking on the country’s energy and agriculture challenges. In addition, while certain parties encourage receiving funds only from local companies and stakeholders, others have argued the benefits of opening up to foreign investors. Detik […]
Indonesia needs to make a concerted effort to strengthen its research ecosystem – including policy research – to be able to compete with other countries in the region. One key challenge in Indonesia’s research ecosystem is the availability and accessibility of data and research. To help address this, the Indonesia Alliance for Policy Research (ARK), […]
For a nation of 17,000 islands, ports are essential to the delivery of goods to over 260 million people. Researchers from Monash University and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember are using big data to simulate how transport flows in order to offer better models of distribution. Surabaya port Terminal Teluk Lamong in East Java is operating […]