Indonesia
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Has Indonesia’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund Stumbled Before It Could Run?
Danantara’s governance has raised many concerns throughout its first half-year in existence. While much will need to be ironed out as the fund is in its infancy, the current governance and structure raises many flags that need to be resolved if Indonesia truly and seriously wants its very own Temasek.…
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China’s Nickel Empire: The Hidden Costs of Green Tech and AI Ambitions in Indonesia
China’s drive to dominate the green-tech and AI supply chains has turned Indonesia into one of the world’s leading producers of nickel. Industrial growth has brought jobs and improved local infrastructure, but it has also accelerated deforestation, excreted waste into rivers, and harmed the livelihood of traditional communities. The transformation…
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Neo-Colonialism and the Entrenchment of Palm Oil Exploitation in Indonesia
In July 2025, Indonesia transferred 400,000 hectares of seized plantation land to a state-owned palm oil company. Just weeks earlier, President Prabowo Subianto urged the country to expand palm oil production without worrying about deforestation. At first glance, this may seem like a routine economic decision to support a key…
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How Indonesia Became a Hotbed for Conglomerates – And What It Means for the Future of the Country
Indonesia is home to a large concentration of powerful and wealthy families which essentially dominate the business landscape over multiple sectors and industries. This concentration of wealth potentially undermines the country’s potential, as well as the wellbeing of its citizens. How Indonesia got to this point – and the lessons…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 