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India’s deteriorating business climate is forcing the country deeper into a dangerous embrace of hot money. Foreign multinationals which bring in more stable financing are retreating. BHP Billiton is surrendering almost all its energy exploration blocks in the country. Wal-Mart recently ended its joint venture with Bharti Enterprises.

The high-profile departures have their roots in red tape and business-unfriendly policies. BHP lost its nerve over delays in obtaining security clearances. Wal-Mart is upset by rules requiring it to source at least 30 percent of its goods locally. Arcelor Mittal and South Korea’s POSCO scrapped separate steel projects in India in July after failing to acquire land.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/india-needs-hot-money-as-mncs-head-for-exit-andy-mukherjee/1186696

ndonesia is on course to meet its annual investment target as overall investment growth has been maintained at above 20 percent in the third quarter, with robust growth in domestic direct investment (DDI) compensating for the slowdown in foreign direct investment (FDI).

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) reported on Wednesday that total investments had jumped 23 percent year-on-year to top Rp 100.5 trillion (US$8.9 billion) in July-September, the highest ever recorded, despite the capital outflows and financial market turbulence that took place during that period.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/24/indonesia-investments-stand-tall-despite-market-turbulence.html

“Deepening the trade relationship with the EU is a win-win situation, as the EU and Indonesia have complementary economies. Indonesia enjoyed a healthy €5.7 billion trade surplus with the EU last year,” he said.

“Concluding an agreement will increase overall trade by improving market access and just as importantly, it will attract even more European investment to Indonesia, by providing for a transparent and predictable regulatory framework through a CEPA.”

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) vice chairman Chris Kanter pointed out that – different from other bilateral relationships – Indonesia and the EU shared complementary interests.

“We need European investment and the Europeans need emerging markets. That’s a perfect match.” Kanter said.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/22/ri-eu-urged-focus-economic-deal.html

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said trade between Indonesia and China could rise to US$100 billion in value if China succeeds in its program to create a consumption based economy .

Currently trade between China and Indonesia is valued around US$52 billion a year.

“The annual trade value could increase to US$80 billion – US$100 billion in the coming several years after China changes its economic structure, Gita said here on Thursday.

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/91152/indonesia-china-trade-target-set-at-us100-b

South Korean and Indonesian businesses inked more than $4 billion in trade deals Friday as Korean President Park Geun-Hye lobbied to fast track a free-trade agreement with Southeast Asia’s top economy.

Indonesia and Korea have agreed to more than treble trade from US$29.6 billion (S$36.9 billion) in 2012, and both governments have expressed hope of finalising a free-trade agreement by year-end. “We need a firm institutional framework if South Korea and Indonesia are to achieve the goal of expanding trade volume to $100 billion by 2020,”.

http://www.malaysiasun.com/index.php/sid/217787593/scat/303b19022816233b#sthash.q3ZQmt84.dpuf

In the first seven months of this year, America’s trade deficit with Asia came in at $241 billion – nearly two-thirds of its total trade gap. That was the contribution America’s feeble domestic demand made to the fastest-growing segment of the world economy.

And this is by no means an exceptional event. Last year, for example, Washington’s net contribution to Asia’s economic growth was $426.4 billion, or 58 percent of its total shortfall in trade of goods and services with the rest of the world.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101109100