Indonesia is a very exciting place to be right now and is attracting interest from all over the world. As a G20 Member Indonesia has taken its correct position on the world’s stage, and the signs for continued success and development are strong.
I have been fortunate to reside and work here for nearly two years, which have been exciting, dynamic and fulfilling. As a country, Indonesia is very much open for business, keen to attract foreign investment and to develop trade partnerships. It has a position that many countries would envy; abundant natural resources and close to major markets for these resources; and a young, large scale workforce, ideal for developing manufacturing industry for both the local market and export. The strength and size of the local market meant that Indonesia only experienced a slowdown in growth during the recent global financial crisis, and has since gone from strength to strength. With consumer purchasing power growing, and a government committed to attracting the necessary investment and further improving the business climate, Indonesia’s future is worthy of all the attention it is getting.
Critical to Indonesia’s future success with be the SME sector, education and infrastructure investment. All of these are getting attention, and investment. If I can highlight just one of them, it is SME’s. SME’s form the backbone of the economy; provide employment and a base for entrepreneurs. Indonesia’s SME sector is vibrant and exists across all the regions of the country.
With the Government keen to promote the SME sector and the economic growth that is being experienced, SME’s offer many trade and investment opportunities.
This attention is important as Indonesia is not as well understood by international businesses as it needs to be. Many are simply out of date, referring to a country that existed over 10 years ago, that does not take into account the impressive reforms and growth that have taken place. Often this is due to a lack of information and an inability to access the information that is available.
That is why I am very pleased to endorse Global Business Guide’s initiative in Indonesia. It will fill an important gap in terms of providing information on Indonesia and on doing business here, providing a real platform for accessing partnership, investment and trade opportunities across a multitude of business sectors. With its web based format, use of videos and availability in multilingual format, it is up to date, modern and relevant and able to give a sense of real opportunities here.
I hope that Global Business Guide will correct many of the misperceptions about Indonesia and facilitate meaningful business and trade links in many sectors of the economy. Lack of knowledge should no longer be a valid excuse when it comes to Indonesia. The information is here, to be used and acted upon. I wish all potential business partners every success as they develop their business in and with Indonesia.
David Fletcher,
President Director of Permata Bank.
