Investing in Indonesia: News outlets to follow

Kickstarting off the Southeast Asia Business Journal, our first article highlights news publishers and reliable information resources for staying informed about Indonesia. Whether you're tracking market trends, policy changes, or economic updates, this guide will point you to informative sources for Indonesian news.

3/31/20256 min read

Investing in ASEAN

Tempo (English Edition)

Tempo is one of Indonesia’s most respected news magazines, known for its investigative journalism and in-depth reporting. Today, Tempo covers a broad range of news with a focus on politics, economics, and social issues, targeting well-educated decision-makers who value independent, credible coverage​. Their presence on Youtube (via their channel Tempodotco) also features timely and in-depth insights into critical local events.

Tempo maintains an English-language digital portal (accessible via Tempo English) that presents its reporting to international readers. This English edition is a useful resource for foreign investors, offering translated news articles, analytical pieces, and interviews from Tempo’s Indonesian newsroom. By providing high-quality journalism in English, Tempo’s digital platform allows investors to follow Indonesia’s current affairs and policy developments with confidence in the outlet’s reliability.

Bloomberg Technoz

Bloomberg Technoz is a relatively new player on the Indonesian media scene, launched in 2023 as a collaboration between Bloomberg Media and a local partner​. This digital-only platform leverages Bloomberg’s global resources to deliver business and financial news tailored for Indonesia. Notably, Bloomberg Technoz disseminates content in the Bahasa Indonesia language, aiming to give local audiences access to “world-class business reporting” across web, television, and print channels​.

For foreign investors, Bloomberg Technoz can be a valuable source of market news and data on Indonesian finance and economy – especially when used with translation tools or English summaries. It covers the latest market movements, economic policies, corporate news, and technology updates in Indonesia, backed by Bloomberg’s trusted reporting standards. While its content is primarily in Indonesian, the platform’s strong pedigree and focus on business make it a noteworthy resource. Foreign investors monitoring Indonesian market trends often find Bloomberg Technoz useful for its up-to-date coverage of stocks, commodities, and economic indicators from a Bloomberg-backed outlet.

Algo Research (Algoresearch.id)

Algo Research (algoresearch.id) is an emerging digital platform that offers data-driven analysis of Indonesia’s financial markets, industries, and economy. Branded simply as “Algo,” it provides in-depth research and curated commentary on economic trends, making heavy use of data visualizations and charts. The site aggregates industry and company reports from local and global institutions and presents bite-sized insights on trending news, supported by data​. It also features ideas and opinions from independent contributors, adding expert perspectives to its coverage​. For international investors, Algo’s content is valuable in understanding the story behind the headlines – for example, explanations of market movements, policy changes, or sectoral developments in Indonesia. The platform’s articles (published in English) delve into topics like monetary policy shifts, stock market fluctuations, and major investment projects in the country. While some content may require free sign-in, the analyses available are insightful and tailored for those looking to grasp the context and implications of economic news in Indonesia. In sum, Algo Research is a useful analytical resource that complements regular news outlets by focusing on interpretation and data-rich commentary.

The Jakarta Post

The Jakarta Post is Indonesia’s largest English-language daily newspaper and a staple source of news for foreign audiences. Founded in 1983, it has long served expatriates, diplomats, and investors in Indonesia by providing comprehensive coverage of national news in English​. The Jakarta Post covers a broad spectrum of topics – from politics and policy to business and the economy – through daily news reports and opinion pieces. It is known to be fiercely independent in its editorial stance and is often regarded as the newspaper of record for Indonesia’s English-reading community​.

For investors, the paper’s Business section and Economy news are particularly useful, offering reports on market regulations, economic indicators, key industries, and significant business deals. The Jakarta Post’s online edition is updated frequently, making it a go-to for real-time news. Its target audience is explicitly the foreign English-speaking community in Indonesia​, which means the reporting often includes context and explanations that international readers find helpful. Whether you are tracking Indonesia’s macroeconomic trends or political developments that could affect the investment climate, the Jakarta Post provides reliable reportage and is considered a primary reference among English-language sources.

The Jakarta Globe

The Jakarta Globe is an all-digital English-language news outlet that offers another window into Indonesian current events and business. Launched in 2008 as a daily English newspaper, it transitioned to a fully online publication by 2015​. The Globe delivers breaking news and feature stories on Indonesia, and it particularly emphasizes topics of interest to professionals and investors. Its coverage spans current affairs, business, markets, tech, and lifestyle issues in Indonesia.​

Readers of the Jakarta Globe will find up-to-date articles on economic policy changes, major investments or corporate developments, stock market updates, as well as broader political and social news. The outlet also publishes opinion pieces and analysis, which can provide foreign investors with local insight into market sentiment and business climate. Known for its authoritative reporting in English on Indonesian matters​, the Jakarta Globe is a valuable resource to consult alongside the Jakarta Post. It often features stories on Indonesian startups, infrastructure projects, and regulatory changes, making it relevant for investors seeking a well-rounded understanding of the environment. The website’s user-friendly interface and focus on digital content ensure that news is updated continuously, catering to readers who need timely information.

Indonesia Investments

Indonesia Investments is a comprehensive information portal dedicated to Indonesia’s economy and investment environment. Unlike a traditional news outlet, Indonesia Investments is a platform specifically designed to help foreign investors understand and engage with Indonesia’s market. It provides a mix of daily news, weekly columns, and in-depth reports on topics such as macroeconomic developments, market analysis, government regulations, and key industries. The platform is run by a consulting company that offers market research and advisory services, and it produces its own analyses and monthly reports on Indonesia’s economy, politics, and social developments​. As a result, the content often goes deeper into the implications of economic data or policy changes than standard news articles. For example, Indonesia Investments might publish an analysis of a new foreign investment law or a quarterly economic outlook, giving context on how these affect investor interests. The site is entirely in English and is tailored to an international investor audience – many of its readers are looking for actionable insights or background information for business decisions. Additionally, Indonesia Investments maintains sections on practical matters like how to set up a company in Indonesia, and it tracks indicators (currency rates, stock indices, commodity prices) relevant to investors. With its blend of news and analysis, this platform serves as a one-stop resource for staying informed about Indonesia’s investment climate.

IDN Financials

IDN Financials is a digital platform focused on Indonesia’s financial markets, particularly the stock exchange (IDX). It publishes news and data in English about publicly listed companies, market movements, and financial sector developments. IDN Financials describes itself as a “video and technological platform” for Indonesia’s stock exchange, partnering with data providers and news sources to deliver timely information​. The site’s mission is to better educate and inform both Indonesians and regional investors about the Indonesian stock market​, promoting transparency in the financial industry. On IDN Financials, foreign investors can find daily market news – such as stock index updates, corporate earnings reports, IPO announcements, and regulatory changes – all in English. It also offers tools and sections (e.g., market hints, bond calls, exchange rates) that can help investors track market signals. Notably, IDN Financials aims to be “the premier destination for local and regional investors” seeking up-to-date news on Indonesian public companies​. This makes it a highly practical resource for those actively monitoring investments in Indonesia’s equity and bond markets. The platform is updated multiple times a day, ensuring real-time coverage of market-moving news (for example, reporting when foreign investor trading patterns impact the Jakarta Composite Index). With its specialized focus, IDN Financials complements general news sites by drilling down into finance-specific information useful for portfolio management and investment research.

ANTARA News (English)

ANTARA News is the official Indonesian news agency and a key source for real-time national news, including economic and business updates, in English. Established in 1937, ANTARA is state-owned and serves as a primary wire service for Indonesian media. Its English-language website delivers translations of its news dispatches, making government announcements and press releases accessible to international readers. ANTARA covers everything from high-level policy decisions and investment deals to breaking news on events across the archipelago. For foreign investors, ANTARA’s feed can be especially useful for staying informed about official developments – such as new regulations, government investment incentives, central bank announcements, or major agreements signed with other countries. Because it operates as a wire service, the reporting is straightforward and factual, often providing the first reports on any given topic. According to its site, ANTARA “delivers realtime information on various events from Indonesia and around the world”​. Investors might use ANTARA to catch early news (for instance, a ministry’s statement on a policy change) before more detailed analysis appears in newspapers. While ANTARA’s content lacks the commentary or depth that newspapers and analysis sites provide, it is a reliable and fast source of news – essentially Indonesia’s equivalent of Reuters or AP in a local context. It ensures you won’t miss any major official news that could impact Indonesia’s market or regulatory landscape.

In conclusion, navigating Indonesia’s dynamic market requires staying informed through trustworthy sources. The outlets above – ranging from long-running English newspapers like The Jakarta Post to specialized platforms like IDN Financials – offer foreign investors a well-rounded information diet. By regularly following these English-language news sources, investors can keep abreast of market trends, policy shifts, and economic developments in Indonesia. This foundation of news will support better-informed investment decisions and a deeper understanding of the Indonesian business environment. As The ASEAN Investor continues, we will build on this knowledge base and explore specific trends and insights across Southeast Asian markets. For now, bookmarking these sites is a great first step toward informed investing in Indonesia.