Batam (ANTARA) – Indonesia is backing its first wind energy conversion project in Batam as part of efforts to expand renewable energy manufacturing and strengthen the country’s role in the global clean energy supply chain. National Development Planning Minister Rachmat Pambudy said the project is expected to generate economic and investment benefits for Batam and the broader Indonesian economy. “We hope this project delivers broad benefits, both economically and from an investment perspective, not only for Batam but nationally,” Pambudy said in a statement on Thursday. The project will be developed by PT McDermott Indonesia, which recently completed two new facilities — the Cakrawala and Nusantara buildings — supporting the Tennet 2GW High Voltage Direct Current project. The wind energy conversion initiative forms part of broader efforts to build a competitive and sustainable domestic energy industry. Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said the project would strengthen Batam’s position as a fabrication hub for critical offshore wind farm components and expand its role in renewable energy supply chains. “Since beginning operations in the 1970s, McDermott has grown from an eight-hectare site into a 110-hectare offshore fabrication complex,” Ahmad said. He added that the company has served as a major player in Southeast Asia’s maritime manufacturing industry for more than five decades. Ahmad said the newly inaugurated facilities include the climate-controlled Cakrawala block assembly building and the Nusantara blasting and painting facility, representing investments worth US$240 million. The project is expected to employ about 7,000 local workers during construction while relying entirely on local young engineers for structural design work. The governor said the investment could support the Riau Islands economy, which expanded 7.04 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. The project is also expected to contribute toward the province’s 2025 investment target of Rp64.67 trillion, equivalent to about US$4.0 billion. Translator: Amandine Nadja, Yashinta DifaEditor: Rahmad NasutionCopyright © ANTARA 2026 https://en.antaranews.com/news/417225/indonesia-to-develop-first-wind-energy-conversion-project-in-batam

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Manufacturing sector remains the main driver of Indonesia’s economy amidst various global challenges, Industry Ministry’s spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said in his statement on Friday. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the manufacturing industry’s contribution to national GDP showed an increasing trend from the second quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2026, from 17.92 percent to 19.20 percent. In addition to GDP contribution, the ministry also assessed that there had been no shift in the workforce from the manufacturing industry sector to other sectors, particularly services. During the post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery period from 2021 to 2025, the number of workers in the manufacturing sector increased from 18.7 million to 20.3 million—representing an 8.63 percent increase. Meanwhile, the national workforce also grew by 11.82 percent during the same period. This indicates that the manufacturing industry continues to grow and is able to absorb new workers. “The manufacturing industry was able to maintain its workforce until 2025 and even grow by an average of 2.78 percent per year. There will be no shifting of the manufacturing industry workforce out of this sector. Jobs in the manufacturing industry remain competitive and sustainable for bothcurrent and prospective workers,” Febri said. The Industry Ministry also noted another achievement of the growth of the manufacturing industry, which has again exceeded national economic growth after 13 years. In 2025, manufacturing industry growth will reach 5.30 percent, higher than the national economic growth of 5.11 percent. “The growth of the manufacturing industry, surpassing national economic growth, has been achieved over the past 13 years thanks to President Prabowo’s directives which support and protects national industry and its workers,” Febri said. On the investment side, as of April 23 this year, 633 companies had reported the construction of new production facilities with a total investment value of Rp418.62 trillion (US$23.66 billion). The investment is expected to create 219,684 jobs. Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta DifaEditor: M Razi RahmanCopyright © ANTARA 2026 https://en.antaranews.com/news/416711/indonesias-manufacturing-sector-remains-economys-main-driver

Jakarta. Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara has acquired less than 1% stake in GoTo, the tech giant confirmed on Tuesday night, amid the government’s plans to slash ride-hailing commission fees. Millions of Indonesians make a living as drivers for GoTo’s online taxi unit Gojek. On May Day, the government vowed to cap the drivers’ commission fees at 8%, down from the current 20%. His close aide and senior lawmaker, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, revealed that the government, via Danantara, had bought an undisclosed amount of shares in the ride-hailing apps to make this happen. The publicly listed GoTo finally confirmed the news of Danantara’s entry in filings at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). “We understand that Danantara has purchased a number of the company’s shares through the exchange in an amount less than 1% of the [company’s] total issued shares,” GoTo director and corporate secretary R.A. Koesoemohadiani said. GoTo went on to say that the company “welcomes this investment”, describing it as a “reflection of sustained confidence” in its business fundamentals, performance, and long-term prospects. Earlier in the day, Danantara boss Rosan Roeslani confirmed the fund’s purchase while staying tight-lipped on the details. He also told reporters that Danantara would “gradually increase” its shareholding. Slashing the commission fee that companies take from drivers for each trip will automatically boost the income that the latter bring home. GoTo said that it was still waiting for the details and a copy of the presidential decree that regulates the commission fee changes. “So that the company can subsequently conduct a holistic assessment and plan the most suitable business plan to implement the relevant provisions,” Koesoemohadiani said. GoTo is the entity formed by merging Gojek and e-commerce major Tokopedia. This article was made by: Jayanty Nada Shofa https://jakartaglobe.id/tech/danantara-buys-less-than-1-stake-in-goto#goog_rewarded

Jakarta. Lawmakers voiced support on Friday for a government plan requiring social media users to register accounts using verified mobile phone numbers, arguing the measure could reduce anonymous “buzzer” accounts, online disinformation, and cybercrime. The proposal, introduced by the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, would require all social media users in Indonesia to re-register their accounts using a phone number linked to their identity. Meutya Hafid first outlined the plan during a parliamentary hearing earlier this week, saying mandatory phone-number registration could strengthen user accountability and help curb harmful online content. Supporters in parliament said the move could limit the spread of fake accounts and automated “bot” networks often used to amplify hoaxes, provocation, and political propaganda online. “With clearer identities, there will no longer be robot or anonymous accounts used to spread negative content, lies, and provocation on social media,” said Oleh Soleh, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission I overseeing communications and information policy, on Friday. Another Commission I member, Nurul Arifin from the Golkar Party, said digital platforms have evolved into spaces tied not only to social interaction but also to economic activity, politics, and national security. “Because of that, the state must ensure accountability,” she said. Nurul argued that verified phone numbers could help authorities and digital platforms respond more quickly to online fraud, disinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, child exploitation, and cross-border cybercrime. Nurul pointed to countries such as China and South Korea, which have implemented forms of real-name or identity-linked online registration systems, although they stressed Indonesia should adapt the policy to its own democratic framework rather than replicate foreign models outright. At the same time, legislators cautioned that the policy would require strong safeguards for personal data protection and transparency in how digital identity systems are managed. “Public data access must be tightly supervised and not misused,” Nurul said, adding that independent oversight and regular cybersecurity audits would be essential. The proposal comes as Indonesia tightens regulation of online platforms under the recently enacted child-protection regulation known as PP Tunas, which sets a minimum age of 16 for social media use and restricts targeted advertising aimed at minors. Under the policy, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Roblox have pledged compliance. TikTok alone has disabled around 780,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 in Indonesia since April, according to the ministry. This article was made by: Ilham Oktafian https://jakartaglobe.id/tech/indonesia-plans-phone-verification-for-social-media-users-to-curb-anonymous-accounts#goog_rewarded

BRUSSELS, May 21 (Reuters) – The euro zone economy will slow in 2026 after war in the Middle ‌East triggered the second energy shock in less than five years with the severity of the hit determined by how long the conflict drags on, the European Commission said on Thursday. The surge in oil prices to above $100 a barrel will push up inflation and depress sentiment among firms and households, it added. “Before the end of February 2026, the EU ​economy was set to keep expanding at a moderate pace alongside a further decline in inflation, but the outlook has changed substantially since ​the outbreak of the conflict,” the EU executive said in a statement. The European Commission now forecasts euro zone gross ⁠domestic product growth will slow to 0.9% in 2026 from 1.3% in 2025, with a rise of 1.2% in 2027. In its last set of forecasts ​in November, the expectations were respectively 1.2% and 1.4%. The EU executive also raised its forecasts for inflation to 3.0% in 2026 from a previous 1.9% and ​to 2.3% in 2027 from 2.0%, reinforcing the case for a rise in European Central Bank interest rates. The ECB is all but certain to increase borrowing costs at its next meeting on June 11 after disruption to the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane caused a spike in oil prices and pushed inflation in the euro area well above the bank’s ​2% target. Financial markets expect one or two further moves in the following 12 months. Weaker growth, higher interest rates, measures to ease the impact of ​energy prices and increased defence spending would also worsen public finances, the commission forecast, with euro zone budget deficits set to rise from 2.9% in 2025 to 3.3% this ‌year and ⁠3.5% in 2027. For France, Germany and Italy, next year’s deficits would be higher than previously expected. Italy is also set to overtake Greece as the most heavily indebted euro zone country in 2027, with gross government debt at 139.2% of GDP. NO REBOUND SEEN IF WAR DRAGS ON The Commission said the principal risk to its forecasts was the duration of the Middle East conflict. The data underpinning its estimates had cutoffs of late April to early May and although ​a fragile ceasefire is in place between the ​U.S. and Iran, Hormuz remains ⁠effectively closed. In view of the uncertainty, the EU executive said it had drawn up an alternative scenario based on longer disruption, in which energy prices would peak in late 2026, such as Brent crude hitting $180 per barrel, and only gradually ​return to baseline levels by the end of 2027. Inflation in this case would not ease and the ​economy would not rebound ⁠in 2027. European Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said that under the adverse scenario the forecasts for growth this year and next would roughly halve. In its main forecast, the Commission said domestic consumption was expected to remain the principal driver of growth, even though consumer sentiment dropped to a 40-month low when the United States and ⁠Israel launched ​air strikes their on Iran. Business investment is likely to be constrained by tighter financing ​conditions, lower profits and heightened uncertainty, while weaker overseas demand is curbing growth of exports. Nevertheless, the EU executive said investments in supply diversification, decarbonisation and lower energy consumption meant the EU economy ​was better placed to manage the current shock than the one seen in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Toby Chopra https://www.reuters.com/business/euro-zone-growth-set-slow-2026-middle-east-conflict-fuels-inflation-says-eu-2026-05-21

PARIS, May 23 (Reuters) – France has decided to ban Israel’s ​far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from ‌French territory, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Saturday, adding that this reflected growing anger among governments around ​the world over the treatment of an ​activist flotilla heading to Gaza. “As from today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is ⁠banned from entering French territory,” Barrot wrote on X. “Along ​with my Italian counterpart, I am asking ​the European Union to also take sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir.” Western governments expressed outrage after Ben-Gvir posted a video ​of himself taunting activists who had intended to ​bring humanitarian aid to Gazabeing pinned to the ground. Some later ‌alleged ⁠they had been physically assaulted in detention, allegations that Israel’s prison service denied. Ben-Gvir was rebuked by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United ​States, Israel’s ​staunchest ally. ⁠Netanyahu said Ben-Gvir’s conduct was “not in line with Israel’s values and ​norms”. A spokesperson for Ben-Gvir did not ​immediately ⁠reply to a request for a comment on the French decision. The activists, whose vessels ⁠were ​intercepted this week in international ​waters by the Israeli navy, have been deported from Israel. Reporting by ​Sudip Kar-Gupta Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Kevin Liffey https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-minister-ben-gvir-banned-access-french-territory-2026-05-23

Major reforms to UK financial regulation will provide a more than £1.6bn boost to the City of London over the next decade by cutting costs for banks and encouraging more lending, according to a government assessment. The Financial Services and Markets Bill, which has been introduced into the House of Lords, sets out to achieve the most drastic shake-up of oversight of the City in more than a decade. The legislation — which will scrap the payments watchdog, ditch certification rules for City employees and overhaul the financial ombudsman — will cut “direct annual net costs” for businesses by almost £127mn, the government estimated in an impact assessment. Officials calculated the wider effects of the reforms, such as increased lending, meant its overall benefits to society over the next decade would reach £1.64bn, based on the government’s “net present social value” measure that weighs the broader impact. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has championed the City as a big driver of UK growth and bowed to pressure from international banks not to increase a levy on the sector in her second Budget in November 2025. However, consumer groups challenged the government’s calculations. “It’s fanciful to think that any of these changes will materially alter the growth of our financial services industry or wider UK economy,” said James Daley, head of Fairer Finance, adding that the reforms would shift regulation too much in the City’s favour. The government defended its reforms by saying the UK financial services industry was “facing increasingly strong competition from other jurisdictions and the sector has not grown in real terms since 2010”. US regulators have ushered in a wave of financial deregulation since Donald Trump returned to the White House last year, increasing pressure on other countries to water down many of the rules imposed after the 2008 global financial crash. The main benefits for financial services companies from reforms in the bill are expected to be from cutting the costs of reporting to regulators and of compensating consumers.  The biggest benefit will come from scrapping the statutory certification regime, which was introduced after the 2008 crisis, requiring financial services companies to check thousands of senior staff are fit and proper every year and record the results on a central directory.   Overall, the government aims to halve the burden of the wider senior manager and certification regime, which covers almost 150,000 employees, cutting costs for companies by almost £70mn a year.  The impact assessment estimated another £31mn of annual costs would be saved by shortening the deadlines for regulators to authorise financial firms, introducing a provisional licensing regime for innovative firms and requiring watchdogs to produce long-term strategies. Overhauling the Financial Ombudsman Service, which provides the main recourse for consumers to seek compensation for unresolved complaints against firms, is also expected to save the City just over £18mn a year. The reforms, reducing the ombudsman’s flexibility to rule against companies that complied with regulation and introducing a 10-year time limit for complaints, are forecast to cut the number of cases it handles by about 28,000 a year, of which about 11 per cent would have been upheld in recent years. In the year to March it received 214,600 complaints. The government is also overhauling the “appointed representatives regime”, which allows authorised financial services companies to appoint unregulated firms or people to carry out regulated activities under their responsibility. Companies appointing such representatives have been the subject of almost 20 per cent more complaints than others. The government wants the Financial Conduct Authority to start vetting the 8,000 representatives appointed each year to ensure they are suitable. This reform would save almost £13mn partly by lowering complaints, it estimated. Measures to expand the rules on who can become a member of a credit union would help them to serve more people and widen access to affordable finance, the government predicted. Lending would also be boosted by plans to loosen rules requiring banks to ringfence their retail arms from their investment banking operations, it added. This article was made by Martin Arnold https://www.ft.com/content/33e0d067-1869-4715-84b9-fa1b1b83b878?syn-25a6b1a6=1

BERLIN, May 22 (Reuters) – The German economy grew ‌by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared ​with the previous quarter, ​the statistics office said on ⁠Friday, confirming its preliminary ​reading. Exports rose considerably at ​the start of the year, helping Germany’s economic performance, said ​Ruth Brand, president of ​the statistics office. Total exports of goods ‌and ⁠services rose by 3.3% following a decline in exports in the fourth ​quarter ​of 2025, ⁠while imports only increased by 0.1% ​quarter-on-quarter. Government spending increased ​by ⁠1.1%, while household spending stagnated. Investment declined by 1.5% in ⁠the ​first quarter. Reporting ​by Maria Martinez, Writing by Friederike ​Heine, editing by Ludwig Burger https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-economy-grows-by-03-q1-stats-office-says-2026-05-22

Jakarta (ANTARA) – French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen its strategic relationship with Indonesia into a global partnership in various sectors. In a joint statement, during the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday (May 28), Macron considered Indonesia as an important strategic partner for France in the Indo-Pacific region. “Indonesia is an important strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific and I am believe it is also part of Mr. Prabowo’s conviction,” Macron said as quoted in Jakarta, Friday. In defense and security sectors, Macron highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries which marked by the arrival of the first Rafale fighter jet in Indonesia. Macron called it was an evidence of growing strategic relationship between the two countries. “Yesterday, the first Rafale fighter jet just arrived in Indonesia, which is proof of this relationship, and today’s discussion is also proof of the desire to continue moving forward on this path,” Macron said. He also emphasised the importance of strengthening economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Indonesia, France, and also European Union. Macron hoped the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Indonesia and the European Union (EU) immediately be implemented to accelerate trade and investment in various strategic sectors, such as transportation, health, energy transition, and defense. He also appreciated the opening French dairy and beef cattle in Indonesian markets. Furthermore, Macron welcomed Danantara’s investment plan as part of strengthening economic relationship between France and Indonesia. In culture and education sectors, the two leaders also committed to deepen cooperation which was previously strengthened through a joint declaration of a cultural strategy at Borobudur Temple in May 2025. The cooperation included in museums, literature, film, and fashion, as well as strengthening scientific, technological, and university collaboration in the France-Indonesia Year of Innovation 2026. “France wants to welcome more students, researchers, and talents,” Macron added. Regarding international issues, Macron and Prabowo exchanged their views on the situation in the Middle East, conflict in Ukraine, and tensions in the South China Sea and Southeast Asia. Macron praised Indonesia’s active role in promoting peace and international dialogue. “I would like to pay tribute to your (Prabowo) courageous stance for peace in the Middle East and for the recognition of Palestine, as well as continued commitment of your military for peace and Lebanon’s sovereignty,” Macron noted. Regarding the Southeast Asia issue, Macron emphasised ASEAN holds a crucial position in France and the European Union’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Therefore, France is ready to continue working with Indonesia in facing global and regional challenges. Translator: Maria C, Asri Mayang SariEditor: Fransiska NindityaCopyright © ANTARA 2026 https://en.antaranews.com/news/417247/ri-france-strengthen-synergy-in-defense-economy-sectors

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The establishment of France-Indonesia High-Level Business Council (FI-HLBC) will strengthen bilateral trade and investment between Indonesia and France, according to Indonesia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). Kadin Indonesia Chairperson Anindya Bakrie, in his remarks on Friday, said that the high-level business council, established by support from the two sides, is a milestone in strengthening bilateral trade that continues to show positive growth. “In the first quarter of this year, the trade value of our two countries reached almost US$1 billion. This is exponential growth, and I believe it is just a beginning,” Bakrie stated. The FI-HLBC launching, during the 2026 Indonesia-France CEO Forum in Paris on May 28, was witnessed by President Prabowo and French President Emmanuel Macron. The trade council was initiated together by Kadin Indonesia and the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF). According to Bakrie, economic cooperation between Indonesia and France will be focused not only on trade and investment but also on investments to create new jobs and elevate human resource quality. He said that President Prabowo’s and President Macron’s presence during the FI-HLBC launch reflected the two countries’ commitment to strengthening long-term economic collaboration. “This means that businesses and governments focus on investments, trade, technological advancements, and human resources development. The business community fully supports this development,” Bakrie remarked. Bakrie said that strategic sectors that will be the focus of cooperation between the two countries include energy and mineral resources, human resources development, manufacturing, education, and healthcare. He also expressed optimism that FI-HLBC will bring greater benefits for businesses in both countries and further strengthen economic ties between Indonesia and France. Translator: Muzdaffar Fauzan, Nabil IhsanEditor: M Razi RahmanCopyright © ANTARA 2026 https://en.antaranews.com/news/417315/indonesia-france-business-council-to-boost-trade-investment-kadin