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Doing business & staying in touch

Business dealings should be conducted through an agent and tend to be slow. Business cards are widely used. It is conventional to shake hands and give a slight bow with the head on meeting and taking leave. Literature should be in English, but prices should be quoted in US Dollars as well as Pounds Sterling.

Office hours: 

Private office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 or 0800-1600.

Government office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600 and Sat 0800-noon

Economy: 

Following the Asian economic crisis in 1997, the economy stabilised again by 1999 and, since 2000, has resumed steady annual growth, which was at 5.9% in 2008. And in October 2006, Jakarta paid off its outstanding IMF debt, incurred during the crisis, four years ahead of schedule. Unemployment remains relatively high at 8.2% (2008).

Oil and natural gas are the most important raw materials produced by Indonesia. Tourism has become a major industry and vital source of foreign exchange, although it suffered in the wake of the Bali bomb attacks, as well as the tsunami; the government has estimated that the reconstruction of Aceh and North Sumatra will cost Rp58.3 trillion (£3,410 million). In May 2008 the government cut fuel subsidies leading to a 29% rise in the price of fuel.
There are hotels and centres to cater for conferences in all the major towns across the islands.

GDP: 

US$540billion (2009).

Main exports: 

Oil, gas, electrical appliances, textiles and rubber.

Main imports: 

Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuel and food.

Main trading partners: 

Japan, Singapore, USA, China (PR) and Korea (Rep).

Staying in touch in Indonesia

Telephone: 

Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. State-operated phone booths or offices (Telkom) and privately-owned companies (wartel, warpostel or warparpostel), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found in towns and cities throughout the country.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage may be limited to main towns and cities.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafés in all major cities and tourist destinations.

Post: 

Airmail to western Europe, the USA and Australia takes about 10 days. An express service is available.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1300 (hours may be longer in city centres).

Media: 

Media freedom increased considerably after the end of President Suharto's rule in 1998, during which the now-defunct Ministry of Information monitored and controlled domestic media and restricted foreign media.

Press: 

• Kompas and Pos Kota are mass-circulation dailies.
• English-language newspapers include The Jakarta Post and the weekly Tempo magazine.

Television: 

• Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) is a public broadcaster that operates two networks. Several provinces have their own stations.
• Other private stations operate such as Metro TV and Surya Citra Televisi Indonesia (SCTV).

Radio: 

• Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) is a public broadcaster that operates six national networks, regional and local stations, and the external service, Voice of Indonesia.

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