Indonesia

Brief Fact File

Capital	Jakarta
Currency	Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Language(s)	Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Local time	GMT + 07:00 in the west to GMT+ 09:00 in the east
Telephone code	62
Major cities	Surabaja, Medan, Bandung, Semarang

Economy
Indonesian economy was one of the fastest growing economy in Asia, but it was highly impacted by the financial crisis of Asia in 1997. The country has to face several challenges, like the high external debt and inflation rate. The agriculture sector provides about 17% of the GDP and it employs approximately 44% of the population. It is the only Asian country to be an OPEC member with a supply of 5% of total OPEC's production. The top three export and import partners are Japan, US, Singapore and Japan, Singapore, China respectively. The key areas for its long-term growth are oil and gas sector, value added manufacturing and tourism.

Major Exports:

• Animal and vegetable oils
  
• Electrical Appliances
  
• Plywood
  
• Textiles
  
• Rubber
  
• Foodstuffs and live animals
  
• Beverages and tobacco
  
• Raw materials, inedible
  
• Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
  
• Chemicals

Major Imports:

• Machinery And Equipment
  
• Chemicals
  
• Fuels
  
• Foodstuffs and live animals
  
• Beverages and tobacco
  
• Raw materials, inedible
  
• Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
  
• Animal and vegetable oils and fats

Business Practices

Business dress

• An umbrella is essential in rainy season between September - February.
  
• Women should wear long-sleeve blouses and skirts that cover the knee.
  
• Women meeting in a more formal office should wear a suit with hosiery.
  
• Men should wear coat and tie.
  
• Men usually wear dark slacks, long sleeve and light colored shirt, and tie (no jackets).
  
• Women must always cover their upper arms when wearing a casual blouse.
  
• Jeans may be worn for very casual occasion.
  

Communication Guidelines

• Shake hands upon greeting and leaving, and always using your right hand. The handshake lasts for 10-15 seconds.
  
• For religious reasons (Muslim and Hindu) men and women do not touch each other in public.
  
• Men do not offer a handshake to woman. However, reciprocate if she takes the initiatives.
  
• Indonesian Chinese may bow, or do both, bow and handshake.
  
• Greetings are not to be rushed. They carry importance and formality.
  
• Presenting your business card follows introductions. A person's name is very important. Pay close attention during introduction.
  
• Present a business card to each person you are meeting. Your right hand holds the card, with your left hand supporting your right wrist. Your card will be received with both hands.
  
• They take time to read the card. Follow the same rule.
  
• Never write on a business card.
  
• Never carry your business cards, or place another person's business card in a back pocket.
  
• Print your business cards in English and Indonesian in the reverse side.
  
• Address each person using his/her title plus full name. Rank and status is very important in this culture.
  
• Mr., Madam, Mrs. or Miss is used if a person does not have a title.
  
• Married Chinese women keep their maiden name.
  
• Selamat means peace and is a traditional greeting.
  
• "Yes, but" means no when someone is speaking to you.
  
• Be soft voiced.
  
• Do not use red ink when writing, or having printing done.

Business Hour
8.00 am to 4.00 pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm - Offices (Monday to Friday with additional hours on Saturday mornings)
8.00 am to 2.30 pm - Banks (Monday to Friday)

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 52/53, 3rd Floor
Jakarta 12950
Tel.: +(62)-(21)-5252194
Fax: +(62)-(21)-5261086
Website: http://www.dprin.go.id

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
Jl. Rasuna Said
Kav S1, Kuningan
Jakarta, Indonesia
Tel.: +(62)-(21)-5204150
Fax: +(62)-(21)-5204160
Website: http://www.embassyofindiajakarta.org

Consulate General of India
19, JL Uskup Agung A
Sugiopranoto Medan-20152
Indonesia
Tel.: +(62)-(61)-4531308, 4556452
Fax: +(62)-(61)-4531319
E-mail: cgimedan@indosat.net.id
Website: http://www.congendiamedan.or.id
Office Hours:
8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Monday - Friday)
9.00 am to 10.30 am - Consular Services

Visiting this Country

Business Visa Rules for Indonesia

• To gain entry into Indonesia, foreign nationals need to have in their passports with at least 6 months of validity and appropriate visas.
  
• Visa application process is carried out at the Indonesian Embassies or Consulates overseas nearest to the applicants' domicile. The application is made by filling out appropriate application forms, available from the Embassies or Consulates, and by enclosing 2 colour passport-size photographs and a valid passport, along with supporting documents.
  
• A fee is payable in local currencies for the visa application. Please note that the fee should only be paid in cash or by postal order and is not refundable. All queries regarding the amount of the visa fee should be referred to the Embassy/Consulate where the visa application is filed. Decisions on many of the types of visa applications are normally made within 24 hours.
  
• Visa that has been issued is valid for maximum of 90 days. If the applicant fails to enter Indonesia within the 90 days period after the visa is issued, the visa will be declared invalid.
  
• Please note that the possession of a visa does not guarantee entry into Indonesia. Permission to enter the country is the authorization of the Immigration Officer at the point of entry.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Local Name	Detail
New Year's Day	January 1	Tahun Baru
Chinese New Year		Tahun Baru Imlek	Date varies
Eid ul-Adha		Idul Adha	Date varies
Hijra		Tahun Baru Hijriyah	Date varies
		Hari Raya Nyepi	Date varies
Good Friday		Wafat Isa Al-Masih (Jumat Agung)	Date varies
Ascension Day		Kenaikan Isa Al-Masih	Date varies
		Maulid Nabi Muhammad SAW	Date varies
Vesak		Hari Raya Waisak	Date varies
Independence Day	August 17	Hari Proklamasi Kemerdekaan R.I.
		Isra Mi`raj Nabi Muhammad SAW	Date varies
Eid ul-Fitr		Idul Fitri	Date varies
December 25	Christmas Day	Hari Natal

Travel Tips

• All visitors to Indonesia must hold passport which are valid for a least six months after arrival and have proof of onward journey, either return or through tickets.
  
• Entry and departure must be through the airport Polonia (Medan), Ngurah Rai (Bali), Batu Besar (Batam), Simpang Tiga (Pekan baru), Tabing (Padang), Soekarno-Hatta (Jakarta), Sam Ratulangi (Manado) Pattimura (Ambon), Frans Kaisiepo (Biak), El Tari (Kupang), Sopeadio (Pontianak), Sepinggan (Balikpapan) and Juanda (Surabaya).
  
• Or through the seaports of Belawan (Medan), Padangbau and Benoa (Bali), Batu Ampar and Sekupang (Batam), Tanjung Priok (Jakarta), Tanjung Perak (Surabaya), Tanjung Emas (Semarang), Tanjung Pinang (Riau), Bitung (Manado), and Yos Sudarso (Ambon).
  
• Customs allow on entry a maximum of two liters of alcoholic's beverage, 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 100 grams of tobacco and reasonable amount of perfume per adult.
  
• Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions, TV sets, radio / radio cassette recorders, pornographic object / publications, printed matter in Chinese characters and Chinese medicines are prohibited. Advance approval has to be acquired for bringing in transceivers. All movie film and videocassettes will have to be deposited for review by the Indonesian Film Censor Board.
  
• There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies in cash, traveler's cheque and other bank instruments, which are fully convertible to rupiahs and vice versa. There is, however, a limitation on the movement of Indonesian rupiahs in or out of the country and normally Rp. 50,000 is allowed.