INDONESIA - KUR - BNI Syariah becomes supplier KUR

CIREBON, KOMPAS.com - The government will add to the ranks of banks appointed as a distributor People's Business Credit (KUR) of 32 banks to 33 banks.
This is possible because the middle of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Bank ready to finalize the entry process, as one of the new bank dealers of KUR.  (source)

INDONESIA - EVENTS - Ministry Ecomomics encourages use of halal food

Vivanews - Government support to improve the delivery of certification of halal products in the country. It aims to drive economic growth in Indonesia is better in the future.

According to Coordinating Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa, halal certified products now has its own market share in the world. Until now, 20 percent of the world's food products are halal. (source)

INDONESIA - MICRO FINANCE - KUR - "Micro-Credit Loans to Be Raised to Rp25 Trillion": Hatta

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesia plans to raise the amount of KUR micro-credit loans to Rp 25 trillion this year, from the previous Rp 20 trillion figure allocated, top economic minister Hatta Rajasa said over the weekend.

“This is a request from President Yudhoyono,” said Rajasa after a dialogue with businessmen in Pasar Baru, Bandung, yesterday. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Indonesia to issue import permits for 180,000 cattle

INDONESIA has announced it will issue permits for the importation of 180,000 cattle and foreshadowed a campaign to upgrade the standards of its slaughterhouses.

The release of the permits for so many beasts just two days after Australia lifted its month-long suspension of the live cattle trade was welcomed by industry figures and surprised some insiders with its speed. (source)

HALAL - MUI to stage halal products expo (24-26 June Jakarta)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Cosmetic and Food Research Division of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) is to hold a Halal Products Expo (Indhex) next June 24-26 at the Smesco building in Jakarta, a source said.

"The exhibition is designed to increase awareness among Indonesian Muslims about the importance of halal food certification," Director of LPPOM MUI Lukmanul Hakim said on Monday. (full story - antara news)

BANKING - Gulf lenders eye Indonesia acquisitions (ABG - QIB - AFB - StanChart saadiq)

Dubai: Albaraka Banking Group and Qatar Islamic Bank aim to acquire Sharia-compliant lenders in Indonesia as the central bank estimates the nation's Islamic assets will increase by as much as 55 per cent this year.

Albaraka, Bahrain's biggest publicly traded bank, plans to spend $100 million on an acquisition, Chief Executive Officer Adnan Ahmad Yousuf said in a March 28 interview in Istanbul. (full story)