Indonesia under pressure to delay mineral ore export ban

PRESSURE is mounting in Indonesia to delay a ban on unprocessed mineral ore, which is due to take effect next month.

On Monday, top political and business officials urged Parliament to at least allow limited exports of unprocessed mineral ore, which earns the country US$10 billion a year in government revenues.

Indonesian vice-president Boediono said that while the ban was the law of the land, its full implementation could undermine an economy that is expected to slow significantly next year. Foreign investors are likely to hold off committing capital to South-east Asia's largest economy until after the presidential election to be held in July 2014.