Mobile Money in Indonesia

With T-Cash, Telkomsel subscribers can make many transactions, like buying vouchers to top up their cell phones and PLN tokens, paying Telkomsel postpaid kartuHALO bills, cable TV provider TelkomVision, PLN and state-owned regional water utility PDAM, and using it to pay at participating merchants. Users can also use T-Cash for cash transfers, allowing them to send and receive money quickly via their cell phones, which is very convenient, especially for those who do not have bank accounts and are far from any bank. Just access *828#.

Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, has granted a license for the T-Cash service, which currently has more than 260 partners across the archipelago offering various products and services (Indomaret, Tokobagus.com, Fuji Image Plaza, Universities featuring academic contents and others).

There are now more than 7,000 T-Cash sales points from Aceh to Papua.

- See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/02/tcash-a-new-payment-method-mobile-era.html#sthash.pvCRTOi6.dpuf
http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/02/tcash-a-new-payment-method-mobile-era.html

Permit required for online businesses in Indonesia

The draft new regulation, scheduled to be issued in February 2016, is currently being discussed by the Trade Ministry, Communication and Information Ministry and the Law and Human Rights Ministry. The Indonesian government is of the view that the regulation was a necessity as the current online trading practice was not supervised by the government.

http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/indonesia-pushes-for-permit-regime-for-online-businesses-10164/

List of mcommerce apps in Indonesia

In no particular order, here are a few mobile apps that can help average Indonesians sell online, categorized by business model.

https://www.techinasia.com/indonesia-mcommerce-apps-list/

Another Indian startup in Indonesia

India-based and Ratan Tata-backed CarDekho is on the lookout for acquisitions in the range of $1-5 million (Rs6-30 crore) in Southeast Asian market such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam and Thailand, The Economic Times reported.

Amit Jain, chief executive of CarDekho said, the Jaipur-based automotive classifieds portal is making a start in this direction by talking to a few players for potential buyouts.

If successful, CarDekho will join the bandwagon of Indian startups entering other emerging markets where local challenges are similar (to India) and technology ecosystem is not mature.

The company had recently launched CarBay.co.id in Indonesia to provide local information on new and old cars in the Indonesian language.

http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/india-cardekho-on-the-lookout-for-acquisitions-in-indonesia-other-se-asian-markets-9418/

Mobile Money in Indonesia

The electronic money system frees people from being tethered to a physical bank branch for the financial services he offers, but it took few adopters time to trust the mobile-based service. Indonesia remains a cash economy where paper money dominates transactions, and many people still don’t understand the value mobile banking.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/mobile-banking-struggles-to-gain-traction-in-indonesia-1437507127

Countries exempt from tourists visa

Indonesia lifted visa requirements for 45 countries to boost tourism.

http://www.indonesia-investments.com/news/news-columns/visit-visa-no-longer-required-in-indonesia-for-45-countries/item5702

Another startup focused fund in Indonesia

India-based venture capital firm Aavishkaar plans on bringing US$75 million of Series A funding to four countries with highest startup growth, and Indonesia is one of them.

As Aavishkaar’s Senior Investment Manager Adi Sudewa, the company’s representative for Indonesia said the Aavishkaar Frontier Fund (AFF) will be focussed outside India to provide Series A funding in farming, health, education, water and sanitation, and renewable energy sector.

There have been many big players entering Indonesia. Japan-based ones dominate the game, as names like SoftBank, CyberAgent Ventures andIMJ Investment Partner are supporting startups in the country. India and China-based investors seem to be interested as well.

http://e27.co/indias-aavishkaar-to-inject-us75m-into-indonesia-bangladesh-other-countries-20150703/