Indonesia is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of both land area and population. Over the past five years, Indonesia’s urban population has increased by 53.5 percent, more than half of its total, according to Statistics Indonesia. The impact of urban population growth is directly proportional to the rise in demand for both infrastructure and living facilities in urban space, such as buildings and roads.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has declared war on inflation, with a series of pre-emptive strikes designed to woo voters. The potential casualty: his zeal for economic reform.While price pressures are relatively benign in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Widodo is leaving nothing to chance as a long election campaign draws near. He’s slapped controls on fuel costs and ordered additional imports of various staples from salt to buffalo meat.

This August, Indonesia is set to host Asia’s biggest sporting event, the Asian Games. The multi-sport event is scheduled to be held from 18 August to 2 September, 2018. This will be the first time the Asian games will be hosted in two cities, Jakarta and Palembang. This is also Indonesia’s first time hosting the games since 1962.

Indonesia’s worst equity rout in five years has got strategists asking the usual question after a slump: Are stocks cheap enough to buy?For Jahanzeb Naseer, the head of Indonesia research at Credit Suisse Group AG, investors should selectively pick shares now that the benchmark gauge is near at its lowest level since October. Foreign investor outflows have reached 1 percent of the market’s value, a past indicator that selling may taper, he said.

When former president of the United States (US), Barack Obama mooted the idea of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) to Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo in 2015, the latter opted for a ‘wait and see’ approach. He expressed his opinion to the architect of the “Pivot to Asia” that the largest economy in Southeast Asia will only join upon the ratification and implementation of the deal by all its current members.

Indonesia recently concluded the Indonesia-Africa Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali which saw the attendance of over 500 delegates from Indonesia and Africa. The forum was held to foster a strong economic relationship between Indonesia and Africa.The forum was attended by participants from over 50 African countries, including government officials and diplomats, members of state-owned companies and the private sector.

Indonesia’s Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti deals with some dangerous men in her role, but they don’t rattle her. She has an equally intimidating weapon on her side: Google.Partnering with the search engine firm, Pudjiastuti is catching illegal fishing activity in real time, after thousands of vessels’ locations were revealed online.

Indonesia’s central bank is in no rush to pull the interest rate trigger just yet, thanks in part to the government.While policy makers in Malaysia have started raising rates, Bank Indonesia has refrained from tightening as benign prices allow Governor Agus Martowardojo to focus on supporting economic growth.

 Indonesia is an archipelago that is made up of over 16,000 islands, many of them with their own unique attractions from diving spots with diverse marine life, beautiful beaches with pristine waters and places with rich histories. Examples of such places include Borobudur, Morotai Islands and Labuan Bajau. While such places are beautiful in their own right, many of them remain unknown and under the radar.

Australia’s recent maritime border treaty with Timor-Leste could open a new can of worms for Australia as Indonesia may use Timor-Leste’s recent victory at The Hague to renegotiate Indonesian-Australian maritime boundaries. Last month saw Timor-Leste and Australia finally reaching an agreement over the maritime border between the two nations following a 15-year dispute.