Jakarta Level 2, New Travel Requirements, Children Under 12 Allowed for Flights
PPKM in Java and Bali has been extended until Nov 1, and outside of Java and Bali until Nov 8, while Jakarta has been classified as level 2. Following this decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued Ministerial Instruction 53/2021 and Ministerial Instruction 54/2021.
Under level 2, businesses in essential sectors are allowed to operate at 75 percent, cafes and restaurants inside movie theatres at 50 percent capacity, sports, social gatherings, arts and culture events, and wedding receptions may be held at 50 percent capacity.
In line with the extension, air travel now mandates the use of PCR tests regardless of passengers’ vaccination status, while previously fully vaccinated passengers could use antigen test results. In addition to vaccination card proof that passengers have received at least the first dose of vaccination, a negative PCR test result is required taken two days before departure. The provision is under Covid-19 Task Force Circular Letter 21/2021.
Children under 12 are now allowed to board flights, provided they travel under parental supervision, comply with health protocols, and are in good health, proven by a negative PCR test result. They may also enter tourist attractions in Jakarta, as long as they are accompanied by vaccinated parents and the places visited already use the PeduliLindungi app.
Related links:
- https://katadata.co.id/ameidyonasution/berita/616d45c01e618/ppkm-jawa-bali-dilanjutkan-dua-pekan-54-daerah-masuk-level-dua
- https://www.cnnindonesia.com/ekonomi/20211021063029-92-710234/syarat-terbaru-naik-pesawat-wajib-tes-pcr-meski-sudah-vaksin
- https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/10/21/210000026/catat-ini-syarat-naik-pesawat-untuk-anak-di-bawah-12-tahun
- https://katadata.co.id/happyfajrian/berita/616f9f302a4ee/anak-di-bawah-12-tahun-boleh-masuk-area-wisata-jakarta-ini-syaratnya
COVID-19 TASK FORCE CIRCULAR LETTER 21/2021
Ministry of Health: Covid-19 Wave Three Will Happen
Indonesia will see the third wave of Covid-19, according to the Ministry of Health. The Director for Prevention and Control of Direct Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health Siti Nadia Tarmizi said this is based on the experiences of other countries, where a third wave has happened despite high vaccination coverage and health compliance. Although it is not known exactly when the third wave will occur, Nadia said the government has been preparing to anticipate it.
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AmCham Malaysia: Will 2022 Be a Watershed for the Asia-Pacific?
AmCham Indonesia took part in the virtual discussion "Will 2022 Be a Watershed for the Asia-Pacific?" hosted by AmCham Malaysia today, Oct 22. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the Asia-Pacific trade landscape with Dr. Deborah Elms, Founder and Executive Director of the Asian Trade Center; and Tami Overby, Senior Director – Asia & Trade at McLarty Associates. Siobhan Das Bachran, Chief Executive Officer of AmCham Malaysia, moderated the discussion.
The speakers shared their insights on two prominent trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between 10 ASEAN nations, Australia, Japan, and South Korea; and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP), which combines countries in Asia (Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Brunei, and Singapore), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and the Americas (Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Chile).
Deborah explained the scope of each agreement, the economic benefits, and the challenges faced in advancing the partnerships. Tami added her insights on dynamics between the state parties, including China and Taiwan’s proposed accession into the CPTPP, and how the US might come into play in these trade agreements. Both speakers emphasized the need for companies to pay attention to these agreements and find opportunities to join discussions, in order to drive the development of new trade rules in Asia.
CLICK HERE FOR DEBORAH ELMS' PRESENTATION
Best Places to Go When Hosting Offline Meetings
Have you got Zoom fatigue from all those online meetings? We have covered outdoor locations for more social activities, this time we will look into options for more work-oriented occasions. Let’s take a look at hotspots with outdoor arrangements perfect for your next small offline meeting!
North Jakarta has become popular for its abundance of outdoor spaces and is perfect for more casual meetings where you may need to entertain. Urban Farm is a favorite of Jakartans, with its cozy marketplace aesthetic and wide array of tenants. Popular dining spots there include Monsieur Spoon and Toby’s Estate. It feels as though you are walking down a port abroad in Cove at Batavia. Situated right across the water, this up-and-coming spot has a number of food areas with both indoor and outdoor seating options perfect to entertain your guests.
If you are looking for a more formal dining experience that allows more guests, several rooftop spaces have slowly been opening up across the city. Numerous hotels right at the heart of the business district are opening up dining options atop their buildings, giving ample time to move right from the workplace. However, as it has been starting to rain again, don’t forget to check the weather forecast before making your reservations.
For quicker meetups, there are now more cafes with semi-outdoor areas. With concepts ranging from industrial-minimalist to cozy-garden style, rather than changing your virtual background, there are so many options to choose from for the backdrop of your next meeting. But if you are looking for more cafes connected with public spaces, there are also those with outdoor seating popping up in prominent shopping centers.
With regulations relaxing to allow more opportunities for in-person meetups, it is still imperative to remain vigilant in adhering to the 3Ms. And be sure to call in advance to ensure you get seats with proper social distancing.
AmCham Cares: HSBC
After half a decade of empowering women micropreneurs, projects by HSBC and the YCAB Foundation have finally reached their last leg. Throughout the years, the strong partnership between the two has created impactful projects impacting not only women but also youth, through programs such as Resiliency for Women Entrepreneurs and Farmers and Anak Bangsa Siap Berkarya.
Impacting the lives of youth, two projects were designed to ensure the support of their education and ensure they are well equipped and ready to enter the workforce. Anak Bangsa Siap Berkarya prepared youth to enter the workforce not only through employment but also through entrepreneurship. While Center of Excellence - Ready to Work Youth Employment, was created to align industry needs with new graduates.
YCAB Foundation’s mission to empower women micropreneurs from marginalized communities is strengthened by providing access to capital, financial literacy, and resiliency. This training is not only to pivot their businesses but also to increase the stability of family income to form a healthy economic cycle for these families. In impacting the lives of Indonesian women, Women Entrepreneur Empowerment has trained 10,003 women and disbursed 48,277 microloans, while Resiliency for Women Entrepreneurs and Farmers has impacted 416 women and 288 farmers.
BI Maintains Benchmark Rate
Bank Indonesia’s (BI) Board of Governors has maintained its benchmark 7-Day Reverse Repo Rate at 3.50 percent, deposit facility (DF) rate at 2.75 percent, and lending facility (LF) at 4.25 percent. The reverse repo rate is the interest charged for central bank borrowing from commercial banks and is an instrument used to control the money supply. The decision is in line with the need to maintain exchange rates and economic stability while supporting national economic recovery efforts.
Bank Indonesia continues to coordinate with the government and the Financial System Stability Committee to strengthen financial system stability, in order to catalyze economic growth and financial inclusion. Some of the measures taken by BI are:
- Maintaining the rupiah exchange rate policy
- Continuing to strengthen strategy for monetary operations
- Maintaining an accommodative macroprudential policy stance
- Maintaining looser down payment requirements on automotive loans/financing at 0 percent
- Maintaining a looser loan/financing-to-value (LTV/FTV) ratio on property loans/financing
- Strengthening prime lending rate (SBDK) transparency in the banking industry
- Starting the implementation of the first phase of BI-FAST, a new payment system that will start operating in the second week of December 2021
- Extending its credit card policy
- Accelerating local currency settlement (LCS) implementation to ease trade and investment with other countries
- Supporting the government by promoting Indonesia’s trade and investment opportunities with partner countries.
Related link:
Indonesia Records Highest Export Value
Indonesia recorded its highest export value in August 2021, at US$21.42 billion, Minister of Trade Muhammad Lutfi said. Minister Lutfi said this is the best momentum for trade and Indonesia’s economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. To September 2021, Indonesia’s export value has increased by 43.8 percent.
Related link:
Positive Signs For Loan Disbursement
Bank Indonesia's latest Banking Survey shows positive signs for new loan disbursements in the third quarter of 2021, with the weighted net balance (WNB) of demand for new loans at 20.9 percent. The survey predicts the growth of new loans disbursed in the fourth quarter, with a WNB of 90.9 percent.
Meanwhile, lending standards are predicted to loosen in the fourth quarter, as seen by a decreasing Lending Standards Index from 2.0 percent to -0.4 percent. Credit growth is expected to be 5.3 percent year on year.
Related link:
WeWork Publicly Traded on New York Stock Exchange
For over a decade, WeWork has been dedicated to building a company that enables members to do their best work. The company is excited to celebrate taking the next step in this journey as it became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, Oct 21, under the symbol “WE”.
As of Oct 20, WeWork had previously announced gross cash proceeds of approximately $1.3 billion, prior to expenses, which includes cash held in the trust account, a fully committed PIPE, and an equity backstop facility provided by Cushman & Wakefield
WeWork has shown strong global momentum after reporting five months of consecutive revenue growth, and Executive Chairman Marcelo Claure and CEO Sandeep Mathrani will continue to lead the company as it executes its strategic plan
“Today is a testament to the determination of our company to not only transform our business but also to adapt and deliver the options that today’s workforce demands. As companies around the world reimagine their workplace, WeWork is uniquely positioned to offer the space and services that can power solutions built around flexibility. Providing employers and landlords around the world with our holistic offering of space-as-a-service, All Access and workplace management technology will enable WeWork to lead the market in mainstream adoption of flexible space”, said Sandeep Mathrani, WeWork CEO.
More information - https://bit.ly/weworkNYSE
Support Independent Journalism: Subscribe to The Jakarta Post
In these difficult times, our hometown English language newspaper, The Jakarta Post, is more important than ever. Given the difficulties of physical circulation and the economic slump, the Post needs to boost its online subscribers – a goal we heartily support at AmCham Indonesia. Quality English language news is vital for our businesses, our home offices, and the flow of information out of Indonesia. It is for this reason, that we are urging all of our members and readers to subscribe to JP! Information is what will help get us through this crisis. Below is information about how to sign up.
JP Premium Digital Subscription Packages
https://www.thejakartapost.com/packages
Monthly subscription – Rp 50,000
Yearly subscription – Rp 600,000
Now is the Time to Join AmCham!
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We offer a full slate of meetings, events, and information for our community online. But we can only do this through the support of our members. If you are not yet an AmCham member, please join now.
AmCham Indonesia is open to all companies with an interest in US business relations and we have many non-American members. We are a community and we welcome you!
Reach us at [email protected] or click below!
AmCham Office and Events
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The AmCham Office is on the work-from-home status and all face-to-face meetings and events have been postponed. We are having a number of meetings online using the Zoom platform. You will be notified of virtual meetings as they are scheduled.
What is Your Company Doing on COVID-19?
Please let us know what measures your company may be taking in the form of donations and other assistance to help Indonesia during this time of confusion and concern. Contact [email protected] with your news. We would like to publicize the ways that our AmCham companies are pitching in.
Stay well
We urge you to send us press releases and other information that we can pass on to the broader AmCham community. If you have items of interest, please email material to [email protected]. Follow this link to information provided by the US Embassy
Stay safe, call a doctor if you have a high fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. Stay healthy above all else.
AmCham Update is AmCham's regular newsletter on developments related to the pandemic crisis and other issues in Indonesia. It is edited by AmCham Managing Director A Lin Neumann and written by the AmCham Staff. Paul L Goddard is the Managing Editor
