PRESS DIGEST-Indonesian Newspapers - Aug 12

Following are some leading stories in the main Indonesian newspapers on Aug 12.

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JAKARTA GLOBE

- CPO EXPORT VOLUME TO INDIA EXPECTED TO RISE BY 10 PCT

The export volume for crude palm oil (CPO) to India is expected to increase by 10 percent next year following the Asean-India Free Trade Agreement, said Derom Bangun, vice chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Board.

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JAKARTA POST

- PAPUA INCREASES WOMEN'S PROTECTION AGAINST HIV/AIDS

The Papua HIV/AIDS commission has intensified a campaign promoting the use of female condoms especially for mothers and housewives following increasing infections in these groups over the past two years, said chairman Constant Karma.

- TOURISM SEEN DECLINING AFTER BOMBINGS - MINISTRY

Bombings at two luxury Jakarta hotels last month had forced the culture ministry to revise dowm its tourism target this year to its minimum target level of 5.5 million from an expected of 6.5 million, said Cultural Minister Jero Wacik.

- GARUDA SHOULD SETTLE DEBT BEFORE IPO - ANALYSTS

State flag carrier, PT Garuda Indonesia, has been urged to settle its $670 million debts before an initial public offeringin June next year, in which Garuda is expected to raise about $400 million, analysts said.

- PERTAMINA TO RAISE PRICE OF LPG CANISTERS

State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina plans to gradually increase the price of 12 kg liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters until it reaches the current market price, said State Enterprises Minister Sofyan Djalil.

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INVESTOR DAILY

- LONDON SUMATRA POSTS 40.7 PCT DROP IN H1 NET PROFIT

Indonesian plantation firm, PT Perusahaan Perkebunan London Sumatra Tbk (LSIP.JK), has booked a 40.7 percent decline in its net profit in the first half to 286.7 billion rupiah ($28.93 million) from 483.7 billion rupiah a year earlier.

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KONTAN

- GOVERNMENT MAY RAISE ITS 2010 BUDGET DEFICIT BY 5.6 TRLN RUPIAH AS BUFFER FUND

Indonesia may add some 5.6 trillion rupiah to proposed 98 trillion rupiah budget deficit next year as a buffer fund to anticipate uncertainties in the global economy, said head of finance ministry's fiscal policy board Anggito Abimanyu.

- MEDIA NUSANTARA CITRA TO ACQUIRE ASIAN MEDIA FIRM

Indonesian media firm PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk (MNCN.JK) is carrying out due diligence on an Asian media firm and is expected an acquisition this year via its China-based subsidiary Linktone Ltd (LTON.O), chief director Harry Tanoesoedibjo said.

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BISNIS INDONESIA

- GOVERNMENT TO LIMIT CIGARETTE PRODUCTION

Indonesia plans to limit cigarette production to 260 billion cigarettes per year by 2015 to control consumption and distribution, said Benny Wachjudi, a senior official at the industry ministry.

- FOREIGN CONTRACTORS WILL BE ALLOWED MORE CONTROL

The government will allow foreign contractors to have up to 67 percent shares in joint venture firms, from 49 percent currently, said Sumaryanto Widayatin, the head of construction and human resources in the public works ministry.

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