Corona Virus Update #55     March 21, 2021

Cumulative number of reported cases: 1,425,044 (as of March 15)
Recovered: 1,249,947
Deaths: 38,573
Fatality Rate: 3%

Rupiah to US$14,418
Jakarta Stock Exchange Index: 6324

 

Overview-  Vaccine Delivery Capacity Outstrips Supply

Indonesia has organized a vaccine delivery program for 900,000 -1,000,000 shots per day but the lack of supply hampers the government’s year-end goal of 181 million people or 70 percent of the total population. Indonesia has administered 5.48 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine since the campaign began on January 13, with 4.02 million people having received at least one shot, according to Health Ministry data released on Sunday. Of those figures, 1.48 million citizens have been fully vaccinated with double doses of China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine.

The country will receive an additional 10 million doses of the vaccine through April, meaning that at best there will be 300,000 doses per day. It won’t be until June or July that Health Minister Budi Sadikin expects supplies to allow full vaccination.

Current vaccination drive prioritizes elderly citizens and essential service workers, including the few remaining medical workers who have not received the jab during the first stage of the campaign.

Signs of Re-Opening: Jakarta’s Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, or Museum MACAN, finally reopened its doors last Wednesday, after almost a year of Covid-related closure. To avoid mass crowding, only a limited number of people can enter the gallery at a time.

Travel- Restrictions Reimposed

According to the Consulate of Indonesia (NY) website:

“Please be advised that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia has temporarily suspended visa applications.

For further information, please visit https://visa-online.imigrasi.go.id/

Economic-

  • Trade Surplus in February: Indonesia’s trade surplus widened slightly in February, as oil and gas exports rose. The country posted a trade surplus of $2.00 billion in February, compared with $1.96 billion in January. A poll of analysts by The Wall Street Journal had forecast a $1.87 billion surplus. The country recorded a trade surplus with the U.S., Philippines and India.
  • Indonesia-Singapore Investment Treaty: Indonesia and Singapore’s bilateral investment treaty (BIT) has entered into force after ministers of the two countries signed the treaty’s instrument of ratification last week. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the treaty, which was first signed on Oct. 11, 2018, in Bali, was expected to boost two-way investment flows by between 18% and 22% over the next five years. The treaty provides greater legal certainty to Indonesian and Singaporean investors who invest in either country by granting greater protection from discriminatory treatment and illegal expropriation, among other things.
  • Trump-branded Properties in Indonesia: Plans to build Trump-branded country clubs, luxury resorts and residences as part of a 35 trillion-rupiah (US$2.4 billion) entertainment complex in Indonesia appear to have stalled. The sprawling entertainment and lifestyle resort, whose construction is being led by Indonesian media conglomerate MNC Group, is finally gathering speed following years of delays. But the Trump Organization, which had been linked with the development since 2015, has been scrubbed from its most recent promotional materials. When asked by the media about the progress of the Trump-branded parts of the project, the group’s executive chairman, Hary Tanoesoedibjo, said they “won’t likely pick up yet for the time being.” without further elaboration.
  • Bank Indonesia Mandate May Change: Indonesia is considering legislation expanding the mandate of its central bank to fund public debt.  A proposed omnibus financial sector reform bill would require Bank Indonesia to consider the government’s broad economic strategy when making monetary policy decisions. The central bank’s mandate would also be extended to promoting job creation, supporting sustainable economic growth and keeping stability in the financial system.

(sources: International and Indonesia news media, Bali Update (from balidiscovery.com), Reformasi Weekly, US Embassy website)