INDONESIA

LANGUAGE

* The official language is Bahasa Indonesia, although many government officials and business people speak English.

INTRODUCTIONS

* As in most Asian countries, business cards are very useful for making introductions. Never pass or receive cards with the left hand, as this hand is considered unclean.

* General forms of address in Indonesia are "Pak" for a man and "Ibu" for a woman.

* It is conventional to give a light bow of the head when shaking hands or taking one's leave.

BUSINESS ATTIRE

* Indonesia has a very hot, tropical climate, so it is wise to always dress in light, cool clothing. Most of the time formal casual clothing is suitable.

* For business meetings, both men and women should wear a lightweight or tropical suit. Men should wear a jacket and tie when making official calls or attending formal occasions.

* Indonesia is an Islamic country so care should be taken care to avoid wearing revealing clothing.

* For certain formal occasions long-sleeved batik shirts are appropriate for men.

BUSINESS HOURS

* Government offices are open between 7am and 3pm on weekdays and are closed on weekends.

* Banks are open between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and until 1pm on Saturdays.

* Post Offices are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, and until 1pm on Saturdays.

* Department stores are open between 9am and 9pm Monday to Saturday.

TRAFFIC

* Although not as bad as that of Bangkok, Jakarta suffers from serious traffic problems and it is wise to avoid scheduling business appointments during rush hours. Plan no more than four appointments each day.

MONEY

* The official unit of currency in Indonesia is the rupiah, which is divided into 100 sen.

* Credit cards are really only useful in large hotels, restaurants and foreign companies, so it is inadvisable to rely solely on plastic money in Indonesia. Travellers' cheques and foreign currency, particularly US dollars, can be easily exchanged at banks across the country. If you are travelling beyond large Indonesian centres, try to attend to your banking before you go, or carry a supply of cash for currency exchanges.

POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

* The postal service in Indonesia is quite efficient, particularly from large centres such as Jakarta or Yogyakarta.

* International calls can be made from Wartel (Warung Telekomunikasi) offices across the country.

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

* Jakarta's international airport is located about 35 kilometres from the city.

* Always allow at least one hour for the journey, which can take longer in heavy traffic.

* A taxi from the airport to the downtown area should cost around $US12.

GIFTS

* The most important thing to remember when selecting gifts for Indonesian people is that Indonesia is a Muslim country and therefore, alcohol and products made from pigskin are unsuitable.

* Be particularly careful when selecting gifts for Indonesian women, as certain items of clothing or cosmetics may not be suitable for devout Muslims.

GENERAL

* Always take care to respect Muslim religious conventions. Although most Indonesians are Muslims, Indonesia is not an Islamic state and allows freedom of worship to all religions. Indonesia also contains large Hindu and Christian minorities.

* Always avoid pork and alcohol, as these products are not consumed by Muslims.

* Avoid lunch appointments during the holy Ramadan fasting month. This month is calculated according to the lunar calender and varies from year to year.

* Do not schedule meetings between 11am and 1pm on Fridays, as this is the time most Muslim people attend the mosque.

* Never shake hands or pass or receive objects with the left hand, as this hand is considered unclean.

* Never touch a person's head, or point with a forefinger, as this is considered impolite.

* Give ample time when requesting an initial appointment with a company. An initial telephone call should be followed up in writing with a dossier of information on the requesting company and the purpose of the meeting.

* Always avoid adopting a didactic position at meetings. It is better to take a low profile and whenever possible, let your host do the talking. Never be pushy or insistent.

* The offering of complimentary presents is not advisable at the first encounter.

Return to Asia Pulse's Guide to Business Etiquette in Asia

Return to our Page Added July 8, 1998