Your Week in Asia
Thailand reopens, Kakao Pay IPO and Indonesia GDP
Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events
Indonesia
G20 Summit
Indonesia's Widodo seeks to cure vaccine disparity at G-20
Indonesian president resumes overseas visits after nearly 2-year hiatus
Commodities
Indonesia's Mind ID posts $690m net income
Surging coal and metal prices reverse 2020 losses at mining holding company
Telecommunication
Telecom tower company Mitratel aims for Indonesia's biggest IPO
Proceeds of up to $1.76bn could break Bukalapak's record for top IDX debut
Coronavirus
Asian economies take $1.7tn hit from COVID in 2020
Tourism and other service sectors suffered most
Transportation
Indonesia and Foxconn in talks over electric vehicle investment
Jakarta says plan in place, but iPhone assembler only confirms discussions held
Business trends
Giant theme park and smart city to open near Jakarta in 2024
Amusement facility will be one of Southeast Asia's largest
Climate Change
A new kind of cool: Can 'slow fans' help Indonesia beat the heat?
HVLS manufacturers hope to steer consumers away from air conditioners
IPO
Indonesia's GoTo bags $400 million from Abu Dhabi ahead of IPO
Investment part of fundraising round said to be targeting total of $1.5bn
Climate Change
Indonesia needs $200bn a year until 2030 for net-zero emissions
Cutting fuel subsidies and selling carbon units are options to boost coffers
Arts
Fistfights and impotence recall Indonesia's troubled history
Pulp film exploring patriarchal society draws international plaudits
Opinion
Biomass offers Indonesia a way out of its net-zero emissions dilemma
Carbon neutral fuel can help offset set overreliance on coal
Economy
Bali reopens to travelers from 19 countries in monthlong program
Visitors must quarantine for 5 days in designated hotels
COVID vaccines
No jab, no entry: Singapore highlights rise of vaccine mandates
New COVID rule at city-state's shopping malls adds to growing trend in Asia
Belt and Road
Indonesia turns to state coffers as China-led rail project's costs soar
Belt and Road deal sours amid mounting delays for Jakarta-Bandung line
Commodities
Indonesian and Indian coal miners rally amid China energy crisis
Stock investors drawn back to unloved fuel despite global push for green energy
COVID vaccines
China's global vaccine gambit: Production, politics and propaganda
How Beijing has shaped the world's COVID immunization drive
Business deals
Grab stake in Indonesia's Ovo reduced with help from new investor
Move helps Singapore superapp comply with regulation governing local ownership
5G networks
5G pushes crowded Indonesian telecom field toward 3 big carriers
Low margins and high capital spending spark industrywide shakeout
Interview
Asian Development Bank to fund closures of coal power plants
Asakawa says move would shut facilities five or 10 years earlier than planned
Energy
Solar gets a boost in Indonesia's new $35bn renewable power plan
State utility PLN aims to phase out coal from 2028 over several decades
Environment
Indonesia, India below average in plastics management ranking
Japan comes second but Asia lags behind despite producing half world's plastics
Economy
Bali to open to some foreign travellers from mid-October
Arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea may be permitted but list not finalized
Business deals
Grab takes 90% share in Indonesian digital wallet OVO
Superapp needs partner to skirt rule against foreign majority e-payment stake
Startups
Indonesian stock platform Ajaib becomes country's latest unicorn
Company, backed by SoftBank and Li Ka-shing, rides retail investor growth wave