House commission confirms Destry as BI governor 
 
The House of Representatives has confirmed Destry Damayanti for the Bank Indonesia (BI) governor position for a full five-year term. Muhammad Misbakhun, chairman of House Commission XI, which oversees financial affairs, announced the confirmation on Thursday at the legislative complex in Jakarta.

Destry has been serving as the acting central bank head since former governor Perry Warjiyo suddenly resigned in late June, with two years left in his term. 

“Through a decision in internal meetings, deliberation and consensus, we have determined that Ibu Destry Damayanti is to become Bank Indonesia governor for the period of 2026 to 2031 ,” said Misbakhun.

He also announced that current BI Deputy Governor Aida S. Budiman would take up Destry’s old seat as senior deputy governor and that Solikin Juhro had been confirmed to take up Aida’s old post.  

Aida and Destry went through the vetting process on Wednesday, while Solikin’s was held on Thursday. A House plenary session still needs to confirm the appointment before Destry’s designation becomes binding, which is scheduled to take place next Tuesday.  

Destry then has to be sworn in by President Prabowo Subianto as the new central bank governor. The government has yet to announce any date for the ceremony. Destry was the sole candidate Prabowo nominated after the seat fell vacant due to Perry’s departure.  

She has already chaired the most recent BI Board of Governors’ meeting earlier this month, keeping the BI rate unchanged, and has signaled continuity in monetary policy, putting emphasis on stability and growth during her screening and heaping praise on Perry’s performance in office. 

Source: The Jakarta Post 

Indonesia Breaks Ground on USD 169 Million Bekasi Waste-to-Energy Plant 
 

The Indonesian government on Wednesday broke ground on a IDR 3 trillion (USD 169.4 million) waste-to-energy plant in Bekasi, with the facility targeted to begin operations by mid-2028. Electricity generated by the plant will be purchased by state-owned electricity company PLN at a rate of USD 0.20 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). 
 

According to government data, the facility will be capable of processing up to 1,500 tons of waste per day and converting it into electricity. The project in the Bantar Gebang area is being developed by Daya Energi Bersih Nusantara (Denera), a company under sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia, using low-emission incineration technology. 
 

The technology was selected to accommodate the characteristics of waste generated in Indonesia and is designed to substantially reduce waste volumes within a relatively short period. The technology is also claimed to comply with environmental standards under the European Union's Industrial Emissions Directive (EU IED). 

Bekasi was selected for the project because its landfill capacity has been exceeded, creating growing health and safety risks. 
 

Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said the project is also expected to create nearly 1,000 green jobs and provide clean electricity for tens of thousands of households. 

"This demonstrates that collaboration between the central government, local governments, Danantara Indonesia, and various stakeholders can deliver concrete solutions for integrated waste management in Indonesia," Pandu said in a statement. 

Source: Jakarta Globe 
 
 

Govt eyes IDR 40 trillion transaction for National Online Shopping Day 

The government is targeting transaction value for the 2026 National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) to reach Rp40 trillion (USD 2.1 billion), an increase of approximately 10 percent compared to the previous year's realization of IDR 36.4 trillion (USD 1.9 billion). 
 

This was announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto at the opening of the Kick-off Road to Harbolnas 2026 in Jakarta on Thursday. 

According to him, this year's event is expected to contribute to national economic growth, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2026. 
 

"This year's target is set to increase by at least 10 percent, at IDR 40 trillion (USD 2.1 billion)," the minister noted. 
 

He sees Harbolnas as an opportunity to stimulate economic activity in the fourth quarter, with the government aiming for six percent economic growth in Q4 2026 as a stepping stone toward achieving the same growth rate in 2027. 

Hartarto stated that the development of Indonesia's digital economy continues to show great potential, reaching around US$100 billion last year, where the country is also a key market for video commerce. 
 

"The number of online sellers is around 800,000, but video commerce transactions have increased by almost 90 percent, reaching 2.6 billion transactions," he added. 
 

Meanwhile, Minister of Trade Budi Santoso stated that Harbolnas is a collaborative program between the government and the Indonesian E-commerce Association (IdEA) to boost economic growth in the fourth quarter and stimulate increased purchasing power towards the end of the year. 
 

Of the total transactions last year, local products contributed IDR 16.6 trillion (USD 911 million), or around 45 percent. 
 

"The three local product categories most in demand by consumers are fashion and sportswear, personal care products, and food and beverage products," Santoso outlined. 
 

The 2026 Harbolnas is set for seven days, from December 10-16, 2026. In contrast to previous events, this year's event will not only include promotions for goods, but also various products and services, including accommodation and transportation tickets. 
 

The 2026 edition will also bring in online travel agents, ride-hailing services, social commerce platforms, and other digital commerce and service providers. 
 

"This expanded scope is also part of the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation Number 19 of 2026 concerning the Implementation of Trading Businesses Through Electronic Systems," Santoso remarked. 
 

He then pointed to the growing role of Indonesian e-commerce platforms in supporting exports, where Indonesian products can now be promoted through digital platforms in several Asian markets. 
 

The development is in line with the Ministry of Trade’s programs, including UMKM Bisa Ekspor and Kampuspreneur. The ministry has partnered with more than 20 universities to equip students with export-related training. 

Source: ANTARA News