INDONESIA - REGULATIONS - Equipped Urges Regulation of Islamic Banking

www.investor.co.id - BANDUNG - Regulation and mechanisms of Islamic banking is very urgent to be completed so that it can better suit the unique characteristics of the banking system.

"There are still many challenges in realizing Indonesia as an Islamic financial center, one of which Islamic banking regulatory framework is not yet complete and in accordance with the unique characteristics of the banking system," said economist Prof Dr Veithzal Sharia in Islamic Economics Seminar, "Indonesia Toward Islamic Financial Centre" on Campus Unpad Bandung on Tuesday.  (source)

INDONESIA - EVENTS - MES Intensive Islamic Banking Research Forum FRPS

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Sharia Economy Society (MES) has intensified Islamic Banking held a Research Forum (FRPS). Once in Palembang and Yogyakarta 2010, the MES in cooperation with Bank Indonesia (BI), the Association of Islamic Economics (IAEI) and Forum Gathering and Islamic Economic Studies (FOSSEI), will be held FRPS IAIN 2011 in North Sumatra and Padjadjaran University. (source)

BANKING - CIMB Niaga can become larger than Mandiri by 2016 - BRI might surpass Mandiri this year

JAKARTA (IFT) - According to the IFT Research Department, in the next five years, state-owned banks may face tough competition from private banks, whose majority stakes are controlled by foreign investors.

Assets growth in PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk (BNGA) and PT Bank Pan Indonesia Tbk (PNBN) in 2016 will surpass PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI) and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BBCA). This is reasonable as CIMB Niaga and Panin Bank recorded the highest average annual asset growth among ten largest banks in Indonesia. (full story - indonesia finance today)

FINANCE - IDB Providing $3.3b to Help Indonesia Hit Growth Target

The Islamic Development Bank on Wednesday agreed to provide as much as $3.3 billion of financing through 2014 to speed Indonesia’s economic growth.

“We are focusing on poverty, health and infrastructure. In line with IDB’s strategic priorities, we are committing to provide soft loans for its member, including Indonesia,” bank president Ahmad Mohammed Ali said.  (full story)