In another era the rupiah flirted with 15,000 triggering panic, violence, and eventually a change of government. As the rupiah approaches the same level today, 20 years later, we are seeing anxiety, yes, but also confidence and unity. We saw an example of this through sports. Indonesia\u2019s Hanifan Yudani Kusumah had just won gold in martial arts (pencak silat) at this year\u2019s Asian Games held in Jakarta. After his victory lap he ran to the VIP seats to embrace President Jokowi and his rival in next year\u2019s election Prabowo (chairman of the Silat Association) in a group hug, in a gesture of unity.<\/p>\n
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For a singular moment Indonesia was united. \u201cJokowi and Prabowo are both great people. We are a nation, we should not be divided because of something unimportant,\u201d Hanifan said later, referring to political tensions between the two leaders\u2019 followers in recent years. Indonesia won twice as many gold medals (31) than was expected and the games were concluded without any major hitches and with a smaller impact on the national budget than anticipated. Perhaps buoyed by the results President Jokowi announced Indonesia\u2019s bid for the 2032 Olympics. But,in truth, the nation\u2019s self-confidence has been growing independently of its sports accomplishments.<\/p>\n
The steps Indonesian leaders have taken in the last few months to slow the rupiah\u2019s depreciation demonstrate a rising belief of their ability to intervene. This is not 1998 when the nation sought help from outside organizations such as the IMF. This is a new, resilient Indonesia that believes it has the tools and experience to manage its way out of current and future crises. Some of the moves seem contradictory (i.e. pursuing free trade deals while closing some markets to foreign products) but would be well understood by many Indonesians for their paternalist as well as nationalist nature. Among them are:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Indonesia sent its Trade Minister to Washington to keep the spigot open for manufactured exports (GSP benefits) to the US and to Australia to finalize a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement meanwhile the Finance Minister announced that tariffs will be placed on 1000+ imported items.<\/li>\n
- President Jokowi directed the state-owned oil company Pertamina to buy all local oil production to preserve foreign exchange even though it may not have the refining and storage capacity and the policy could violate existing contracts.<\/li>\n
- Bank Indonesia intervened mightily in the last few days to slow the skid of the rupiah.<\/li>\n
- Bulog will import up to 2 million tons of rice; an affordable rice price is key to social stability and worth giving up precious foreign exchange.<\/li>\n
- The government is forcing a greater use of locally produced biodiesel.<\/li>\n
- Indonesia continues to shoulder its state-owned enterprises with debt as it subsidizes gasoline and electric prices, purchases shares of foreign owned mining companies, and prepares to take over mature oil and gas fields from foreign contractors.<\/li>\n
- The Trade Minister linked purchases of Airbus and Boeing aircraft to building biodiesel factories in the EU and the US.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These moves may help on the margins but in the face of a stronger dollar and what seems to be a growing herd mentality to either sell emerging market assets, or at least hold off on buying them until trade wars and other economic allergies subside, they may not be enough. It won\u2019t help that traditionally Indonesian companies hold dollars\u2013 often in offshore accounts- rather than exchange them fearing further depreciation.<\/p>\n
Even though I am skeptical of some of the overly interventionist policies I admire not just Indonesia\u2019s confidence but also its reserve. It knows its fundamentals remain attractive and that buyers will come back in. Unlike Turkey\u2019s Erdogan, President Jokowi is not blaming currency depreciation on the US and President Trump, foreign banks, or \u201cthe evil of interest rates\u201d. He is focused on the right things. \u201cThere are only two key [things] \u2013 investments must continue to increase and exports must also increase so [we] can resolve the current account deficit\u201d, Jokowi said recently. In light of this statement perhaps the President should consider shifting the burden of investing tens of billions in the shares as well as the ongoing operations of oil fields and mines away from state owned enterprises. Indonesia can save its precious foreign exchange by letting the private sector make these investments. He could remove other barriers to direct foreign investment and begin a serious reform of the often corrupt judicial system. Lifted by its amazing performance in the Asian Games, the privilege of hosting this year\u2019s World Bank\/IMF meetings and a future Olympics, would national pride really suffer ?<\/p>\n
(The writer\u2019s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce or its members)<\/em><\/p>\n
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