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Articles by Eko Sumando
Cleaning up Indonesia requires systemic reform
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s 2026 clean-up campaign, which calls for a coordinated national clean-up movement, has drawn attention to Indonesia’s waste crisis and placed waste management firmly on the government’s policy agenda. While clean-up efforts can reduce visible litter, lasting progress will require systemic reform across the waste-management chain.
Indonesia’s path to scaling nutrition responsibly
President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to India in January 2025 was more than a diplomatic gesture. It signalled Indonesia’s desire to learn from India’s celebrated school feeding program, PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman). Formerly the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, PM POSHAN has boosted student attendance, lowered malnutrition rates and improved academic outcomes. Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meal program (‘Makan Bergizi Gratis’, or MBG) aspires to deliver similar benefits.
Reducing Java's dominance in national procurement
ndonesia’s economy has demonstrated resilience over the past few years, even amid significant challenges like the global pandemic. In 2020, Indonesia's economy contracted 2.07 percent but gradually recovered to achieve stable annual growth of around 5 percent by 2022-2023. One of the key drivers of this recovery was efficient management of the state budget (APBN), with government spending continuing to grow despite economic slowdowns.
Cambodia’s China policy a balancing act for Phnom Penh
The prevailing arguments about Cambodia’s close relationship with China have centred on three key propositions. First, there is the notion that China has ‘captured’ the Cambodian ruling elites through underhanded business deals — second, that Cambodia has enjoyed economic benefits from China without paying a high political cost. Finally, there is the argument that the United States has failed to engage politically with Cambodia, pushing it closer to China.
Whose business is it to shape the Mekong’s geopolitical landscape?
The Mekong subregion is a geoeconomic hub within ASEAN, comprising Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Its strategic location and abundant resources have enhanced its appeal to multinational corporations and great powers, situated at the intersection of major infrastructure development programs such as the Asian Development Bank’s Economic Corridor projects and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Indonesia strategically shaping international cooperation through foreign aid
Indonesia is actively enhancing its global influence and refining its approach to economic diplomacy through its Indonesian AID program. The program demonstrating its commitment to international development by consistently providing technical assistance in the Pacific region. The Indonesian AID initiative is driven by two main factors: Indonesia’s strong economic performance from 2015–19 and the need to navigate global challenges, such as trade tensions and conflicts.
The ethics and efficiency dilemmas of central bank digital currencies
Policymakers globally have shown great interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Encouraged by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and Bank for International Settlements, over 130 countries are exploring the concept of CBDC development. But global experts have expressed concerns that CBDCs may potentially pose significant problems. Experts from the International Monetary Fund and the Bank for International Settlement have issued warnings about how CBDCs are regulated.
Hamas has little influence over Indonesia’s terrorism landscape
Hamas conducted one of their most lethal and impactful operations on 7 October 2023. The attack not only killed over 1200 Israelis and took more than 240 people hostage, but also increased Hamas’ credentials vis-a-vis their rival, the Palestinian National Authority. So far, the response of Indonesian terrorist organisations has been muted when compared to the period after the Islamic State’s (IS) June 2014 declaration of a caliphate across IS-held territories in Syria and Iraq.
Depoliticising Indonesia’s capital grant allocation
The equitable allocation of intergovernmental transfers is a pillar of fiscal federalism and crucial in defining a country’s socioeconomic landscape. But political interests can influence these transfers, resulting in allocation biases. Indonesia, known for its high level of decentralisation, relies primarily on intergovernmental transfers as the main revenue source for subnational governments, with little change in this dependency pattern two decades after the 2001 decentralisation ‘big bang’.
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