Which one is rosier, Indonesia ? Philippines come of age

During the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s, Indonesia and the Philippines were bailed out by the International Monetary Fund.

This year, they showed the world how far they’ve come from those dark days by pledging a billion dollars each to replenish the IMF’s kitty.

With rapidly growing economies and rising incomes, the two countries are home to a large and young labor force, an expanding middle class and have stable, elected governments with policies inspiring investor confidence. They also have sturdy banks and enough foreign-exchange reserves — more than a year’s imports in the Philippines’s case — to rebuff a misguided run on their currencies.

In an economically vibrant Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines stand out as the region’s “New Tigers” with the potential to leave a bigger imprint on global growth for years to come while the developed world struggles with excess debt and traditional regional heavyweights China and India lose momentum.

“You have a real contrast, which is why these markets have been doing well,” said Andrew Swan, head of Asian fundamental equities at BlackRock. “We’ve had 3 to 5 years of great growth. But because there is so much room for growth, this can go on for so many more years.”

Each has also received credit rating upgrades since 2011, with Indonesia now rated investment grade by Moody’s and Fitch. Their stock markets are among the world’s best performing since the end of 2008 — Indonesian shares tripled during the period from beaten-down valuations, and are closely followed by Philippine equities.

Unlike the West, government finances are shipshape. Jakarta’s gross government debt was 25% of GDP in 2011, and Manila’s 41%, according to IMF data, leaving both enough room to boost their economies in case of need.

The Philippines has a current account surplus of 2.74% of its GDP, thanks to remittances from its vast diaspora. Indonesia swung to a deficit in the first half of this year as lower commodity prices hurt exports, and as imports of capital goods and machinery increased.

Agriculture employs at least a third of the workforce in both countries, and domestic consumption is an important driver of their economies. That protects them from external shocks to an extent — both escaped a recession in 2009, when the Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean economies contracted. But both also need tens of billions of dollars in foreign direct investment, especially to create infrastructure and pursue industrialization.

Stocks are more expensive than in north Asia, and the two nations are by no means immune to global shocks. But barring a post-Lehman Brothers-like blowout crisis — in or outside the euro zone — potential reward is seen outweighing risk on balance. Investors have embraced the local stock markets, driving shares in Indonesia up about 11% year-to-date, while Philippine stocks have climbed 22%.

“The earnings growth in these markets has also been very, very strong. That gives me the confidence that as long as the earnings growth trajectory is sustainable, which we think it is, the returns will be there to be made going forward,” said BlackRock’s Swan.

IndonesiaWith a GDP of nearly $850 billion and a population of 241 million people in 2011, Indonesia was by far the largest of the ASEAN economies. But half the country’s population still lives on less than $2 a day, according to the Asian Development Bank.

 

As the world’s largest archipelago straddling the equator in the Indian Ocean, it’s spread far and wide. The capital Jakarta is relatively more developed, but the country faces a serious need for infrastructure and connectivity. And despite frustrating delays to various projects, many observers seem confident President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono’s government is getting its act together.

Jon Lindborg, country director for the Asian Development Bank, said the ADB’s focus in Indonesia is on infrastructure development, and helping nurture public-private partnerships for various projects.

“This is a country that has moved from being the backwaters of the world to the global stage now. I think you have a government that is more confident and much more focused on what its agenda is,” he said.

For equity investors, meanwhile, the relatively small market size is a constraint. Despite being the ASEAN’s largest economy by far, at about $410 billion, Indonesia’s market capitalization is less than half that of Singapore and Thailand, and it is also lower than Malaysia’s.

Although corporate earnings are rising rapidly, the market needs breadth, and more stocks to ensure supply can match potential demand.

Credit growth remains strong — Bank Indonesia expects loans to grow 26% this year — but equity markets’ development is crucial for local firms to fund their long-term growth.

Between 2007 and the first half of 2012, 103 new listings in Indonesia raised $11.06 billion, according to Dealogic data. That is more than three times the amount raised by Philippine or Thai corporations during the period, but less than the $23.07 billion raised by Singaporean firms, and the $16.34 billion by Malaysian companies.

Alvin Pattisahusiwa, chief investment officer for Indonesia at Manulife Asset Management, said the country’s market capitalization has jumped tenfold in as many years as more companies listed their shares. Although several well-established corporations remain unlisted, the market now reflects the economy more accurately than a few years ago, he said.

Unlisted firms include, among others, palm oil major Best Agro International and detergents maker Wings Group.

“The economy is driven by domestic consumption, and so [is] the stock market. [It’s] mostly been driven by consumer stocks over the last three years,” said Pattisahusiwa.

PhilippinesAfter a weak 2011, the situation is again looking rosy for the Philippines. The stock market is booming, growth has improved, and the mood generally is upbeat, not least because of the Standard & Poor’s upgrade of the country’s ratings in July to BB+ — just one step below investment grade.

The change of pace is a welcome development after GDP growth more than halved to 3.7% in 2011 from 2010, as Manila cut expenditures to try to reduce its budget deficit. In the second quarter, GDP rose a forecast-beating 5.9% from the year-ago period. The economy is expected to slow in coming months unless the government loosens its purse strings.

President Benigno Aquino has committed to lowering the deficit to 2% of GDP by 2013, from 3.9% when he took office two years ago. Although generally seen as prudent, some view such austerity as unwise for a developing nation with a desperate need to create more jobs.

“The Philippines is in need of higher spending, not less. Tax-to-GDP [ratio] has to improve. Otherwise all this cutting of spending is going to prove detrimental,” said Sanjay Mathur, Royal Bank of Scotland’s head of research for Asia excluding Japan.

Mathur said a higher cost base relative to some neighbors makes the Philippines less attractive for manufacturing. But the business process outsourcing industry, where the country has already overtaken India, is a bright spark.

With millions of young, educated and English-speaking workers, the Philippines is a perfect place to host the world’s call centers. Philippines is the second youngest country in the ASEAN after Laos, with half the population under 23.1 years in 2012, according to CIA World Factbook estimates.

Revenue from the industry, which employs almost 650,000, accounts for about 5% of GDP. At the current annual growth rate of about 25%, analysts estimate industry revenues will top remittances within five years. Remittances from overseas workers make up about 9% of GDP.

“The BPO industry has made a positive impact [on Philippines’ current account surplus]. It has really been felt at the external position. The Philippine peso (US:USDPHP) has become one of the most stable currencies in Asia,” Mathur said.

Still, others point to the crying need to diversify.

“It needs employment generating manufacturing,” said Santitarn Sathirathai, an economist at Credit Suisse.

Sathirathai said low commodity prices are good for the country, a net importer of resources including crude oil, and is another reason behind the brokerage’s positive view on Philippines against the backdrop of weakening Chinese appetite for materials.

“We are most bullish about Philippines of the ASEAN … [there is a] lot of low-hanging fruit there,” he added.

(MarketWatch.com)

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Comments
  1. Hijjaz

    10 / 4 / 2012 1:31 pm

    I’ve been wandering to drink my thirst knowing of the next country having to be concerned in the euphoria of Asia economy growth. I just always wondered why Philippines is lesser to be subject. Thanks to this article eventually I’ve got sentence supporting my opinion.

    When IHSG grew following positive trend in which raise to top more than four thousand index, I initially thought the Indonesia stock exchange was the highest in the region. But once I looked up complete data by comparing each of ten-country index, PSEi has been being even the highest (now reaching more than five thousand index). That time I realized there must be further analysis to consider Philippines is amid prospective nation with genuine.

    Dating back to the past, both countries were (are) the same for some cases, authoritarian governance, corruption, labor diaspora, geographical condition, and perhaps character of citizens. I’ve been interacting with some people from ASEAN countries, I guess the Filipino is typically same to Indo by the way of thought, ambitious, attachedly self-esteem, and appearance. Even though, labor diaspora the Filipino is better well-known than Indonesian, a contrast that based on the government policy in securing their citizen.

    For further, if the stability comes through, it’s very possible the Philippines will follow Indonesia to lead the next title for Asian Tiger. Who knows :-)

    Reply

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