Global Scans · Indonesia · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Indonesia's GDP is forecast to grow at 5% a year over 2016-2020, supported by strong growth in consumer demand and infrastructure investment. She is likely to be among the star economic performers for at least the next decade but at the same time faces great challenges to overcome past political and social issues.

• [New] Indonesia temporarily blocked Elon Musk's Grok chatbot on Saturday due to the risk of AI-generated pornographic content, becoming the first country to deny access to the AI tool. The Guardian
• [New] Indonesia's Ministry of Communications said it is temporarily suspending access to Grok to protect women, children, and the entire community from the risk of fake pornographic content generated using artificial intelligence technology. Business Insider
• [New] Indonesia has become the first country in the world to block Elon Musk's Grok chatbot over the risk of fake, AI-generated pornographic content. Al Jazeera
• [New] Proposed measures, expected to take shape in 2026, include financial verification for travelers, closer monitoring of visitor activities and length of stay, as well as potential minimum spending requirements and visitor quotas. / Indonesia Trawick International
• [New] Asia will take the lead on mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation in 2026, with bills in play in Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand. JD Supra
• [New] On the supply side, Indonesia is expected to drive global production growth and remain the top refined nickel producer for a longer period of time. Informist Media
• [New] E-commerce is forecast to expand by around 20% annually, with retail e-commerce revenue potentially reaching $70 billion by 2030 - ranking third in Southeast Asia after Thailand and Indonesia. https://vir.com.vn/
• [New] The large population coincides with Indonesia's demographic dividend, projected to peak between 2020 and 2030. Antara
• [New] Indonesia's vast farmland and marine resources create strong potential for agribusiness and aquaculture. Lets Move Indonesia
• [New] Tourism contributes close to 5% of Indonesia's GDP and is expected to generate more than 5 million jobs by 2033, creating long-term opportunities across hospitality, transportation, and services. Lets Move Indonesia
• [New] Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasized that Indonesia has grown 35% over the past seven years, despite facing global uncertainty, trade disruptions, and geopolitical shocks. Lets Move Indonesia
• [New] Indonesia expects to sign a tariff deal with the US in early 2026 after reaching an agreement on all substantive issues. AzerNews.az
• [New] Under the proposed framework, the United States will provide tariff exemptions for key Indonesian agricultural exports, while Indonesia will facilitate U.S. access to its critical mineral resources, which are vital to the global green energy transition. METRO TV
• [New] Several ASEAN members have set ambitious net-zero emissions targets - e.g. Malaysia by 2050, Indonesia by 2060, Vietnam by 2050 - and 2026 will need to see concrete steps like scaling up renewable energy capacity and phasing out coal plants. The Diplomatic Insight
• [New] Governments will focus on stimulating domestic growth - for instance, Indonesia's new administration is raising public welfare spending to boost consumption while hedging against global volatility. The Diplomatic Insight
• [New] Indonesia will begin work in 2026 on seven power plants operating on the processing of solid municipal waste. TV BRICS
• [New] Global nickel supply is expected to remain in surplus through 2026, primarily driven by Indonesian production, which accounts for 60% of global output. ANI
• [New] Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are expected to see rapid growth, while Singapore remains dense with computing power. The Business Standard
• [New] Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia) will see robust growth. Creatives
• [New] Indonesia will assign $1 billion to the BRICS-led New Development Bank, further boosting ties with the group of developing nations. Bloomberg

Last updated: 12 January 2026