In this issue

As the saying goes, the best way to know the future is to create it. A fitting example of this ideal can be found in the cover subject, Wendy Yap of PT Nippon Indosari Corpindo, better known as Sari Roti, the brand name of its popular bread products. She started her company back in 1995, growing it into the country’s dominant mass-market bread company. She had a clear vision, implemented on it, and created her—and her company’s—future. Now she is embarked on the largest-ever expansion of her business since its founding. Her story aptly supports the theme of “creating the future” that will be used for this year’s annual Inspiring Women conference. The same theme could also be applied to describe the women in the Inspiring Women package. It is meant to encompass empowerment, self-confidence and, of course, creativity. These women are on the forefront of creating the future, for themselves and for society.

Economic Impact Of Infrastructure Delivery

AS AN ADVISORY firm focused exclusively on infrastructure, we often help governments develop watershed economic and infrastructure programs aimed at increasing economic growth; but only rarely see the required political courage to implement such programs. A few years ago, I led a team of local and international infrastructure experts on a two-year study to analyze and benchmark eight different sectors within infrastructure in Indonesia, which was submitted for the development of RPJMN 2015-2019, the government’s five-year medium-term development plan. The then-incoming Joko Widodo administration adopted the study’s key components and issued the RPJMN 2015-2019 along with the NAWA CITA-9 Goals. Nawa Cita aimed to bring social equity to Indonesia via infrastructure projects, maritime connectivity, and reduced logistics costs, poverty and inequality. The Jokowi administration’s for-reaching infrastructure program totalled $342 billion—and like many I was sceptical.

2 mins

Creativity Takes Center Stage

INDONESIA’S BEST kept secret may be its remarkable creativity—contributing over 7% to the GDP. In 2016 Indonesia’s creative forces produced Rp 922 trillion worth of goods and services, up from Rp 852 trillion in 2015. Triawan Munaf, head of the staterun creative economy body Bekraf, noted that in the past three years the figure has annually risen by a whopping minimum of Rp 70 trillion. He expects last year the figure may hit the Rp 1 trillion mark.

2 mins

The Teaching Post

A unique refugee school in Bogor gets help from the local and global media.

3 mins

Law Without Justice

“LEX INIUSTA non est lex (an unjust law is no law at all)”—this legal maxim originates from St. Augustine, and became a motto for Thomas Aquinas and was quoted by Martin Luther King Jr. Currently, Indonesia has many laws and regulations. Through the 1945 Constitution, it stipulates that all previous laws and regulations prior to independence will still be applicable unless they are revoked. Hence, Indonesia has been using the Criminal Code, Civil Code, and Commercial Code from the Netherlands. In addition, the government and the House of Representatives promulgate many new laws.

2 mins

Wendy Yap

President Director & CEO, Nippon Indosari Corpindo

8 mins

Dayu Dara Permata

Co-founder, Go-Lifebe

4 mins

Sri Widowati

Country Director, Facebook Indonesia

4 mins

Cryptocurrencies As Portfolio Diversification

AS BITCOIN and cryptocurrencies gain ever more media coverage, many who never invested in crypto are asking whether cryptocurrencies could provide meaningful portfolio diversification to traditional portfolio asset allocation. To answer this, one must look both backwards and forward. Backward looking to determine past correlations and a risk-reward profile, and forward looking to understand the real risk of central bank mistakes and government debasement of fiat currencies.

2 mins

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Forbes Indonesia Magazine Description:

Forbes Indonesia is a world-class business magazine of uncompromising quality and scope, providing insights and information to readers critical to their business and inspiring them to greater success