The face of Tifatul Sembiring has graced billboards in major Indonesian cities since the beginning of the year. "Let's welcome the era of Digital TV in Indonesia. Sharper, cleaner, crisper," read the one of the large advertisements, put up by Tifatul's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Since 2011, the minister has been heavily promoting digital TV in Indonesia. He has targeted 2017 as the last year for analog broadcasts. "Everything will be replaced by digital," Tifatul said.

A digital television system divides one radio frequency channel to broadcast television into more channels through a multiplexer device installed in a transmitter tower. The resulting audio and video quality, as Tifatul says, is indeed good. More importantly, digital broadcasting saves frequency, opening up content options for a single channel.

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Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan predicted that modern retail sales would exceed Rp150 trillion this year. His optimism was based on last year's sales figures of Rp135 trillion. "This is an indication that consumption is increasing," he said.

Food products comprise 65 percent of retail sales. Thirty-five percent of food purchases happen at hypermarkets, 35 percent at minimarkets and 30 percent are at supermarkets.

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The government is examining a plan to increase coal mining company royalties from 3-7 percent to 10-13.5 percent. At present, royalties are based on the calorie grade: 3 percent for low calorie, 5 percent for medium calorie, and 7 percent for high calorie.

Paulus Lubis, director for mineral and coal development, said royalty rates would be made uniform. "We're awaiting the economic analysis," he said. The provisions would be issued as a government regulation, he said.

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The 2012 tax revenues contributed to the total amount at Rp981 trillion.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Audit Agency (BPK) Director Hadi Poernomo said the government gained Rp 1,338 trillion in revenues in 2012. The amount was 10.5 percent higher than 2011 revenues at Rp 1,210 trillion. "The revenues covered 98.5 percent of realized budget at Rp 1,358 trillion," said Hadi during the release of the 2012 Central Government Financial Statement, Tuesday, June 11.

The 2012 tax revenues contributed to the total amount at Rp 981 trillion or 96 percent of the budget target at Rp 1,016 trillion.