Serving Students at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College INDONESIA Business Tips

Business Hours

Business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional hours Saturday mornings; Saturday hours generally end by 1:00 p.m.  Some businesses have a partial workday on Fridays; Muslim employees will take at least one hour off on Friday to pray.  Typically lunchtime is from 12:00 noon or 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; lunch is often the largest meal of the day.

Banking hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Most government office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule, with a half day on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Shop hours vary.  Most shops are open five or six days a week from 9:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

September through June is the best time to visit.  July and August should be avoided because of school, summer and national holidays that fall during these months.

The holidays in Indonesia represent an attempt to accommodate the celebrations of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.  Observant Muslims fast from dawn to sundown during the month of Ramadan; it is not polite to eat or drink in front of fasting Indonesians. 

Holidays

                 Independence Day                   August 17 
                 Ascension of Mohammad         November 16* 
                 Christmas Day                        December 25 
                 New Year's Day                       January 1 
                 Idul Fitri                                January 30-31* 
                 Idul Adha                               April 7* 
                 Good Friday                           April 10* 
                 Moslem New Year                   May 8 
                 Waisak                                  May 10* 
                 Ascension Day                        May 21* 
                 Mohammad's Birthday             July 7 

Exact dates change annually as holidays are based on the 13-month lunar calendar. 

Business Cards

Business cards should be printed (preferably embossed) in English; however, since ethnic Chinese constitute the majority of Indonesian business people, print the back of the card in  Chinese (gold ink is the most prestigious for Chinese characters).  The business card should contain as much information as possible, including the business title and qualifications.  Indonesians include all of this data on their card, as well as any titles of nobility.

The exchange of business cards can be quite stately in Indonesia.  After introductions are made, the visiting businessperson should offer a business card.  Make sure you give a card to each person present.  Present your card with both hands; the most deferential method is to present your card in your right hand, with your left hand lightly supporting your right wrist.  Give your card to the recipient with the print facing him or her so he or she can read it.  The recipient will receive the card with both hands, then study the card for a few moments before carefully putting it away in a pocket.  Never put a business card in a back pocket.  While it is useful to write information such as the pronunciation of a name on someone's business card, do not let the person see you writing on his or her card.

Meetings

Foreign businesspersons are expected to be on time for all business appointments, especially if meeting someone with a higher social rank than yourself.  In general, the higher the status of an Indonesian, the more he or she is likely to appreciate punctuality.  Executives and government officials will understand promptness but they still have a right to make subordinates wait. 

A majority of Indonesian business people are Chinese.  Their culture is very work oriented, and are likely to be prompt.  Other business people and the majority of government officials are Malays.  Their culture is different from that of the Chinese; they have a flexible concept of time. 
The casual Indonesian attitude toward time allows you to schedule appointments on short notice; large corporations require you to schedule appointments more than a week in advance.  Indonesian executives tend to be more accessible than executives in many countries.  It is common for an Indonesian CEO to meet with foreign businesspersons.

Promptness has never been a virtue in the Malay culture of Indonesia.  Many Indonesian laborers consider themselves punctual if they arrive within a few hours of the appointment.  The Indonesian term jam karet (rubber time) refers to the indigenous casual attitude toward time.  Only a true emergency, such as a death or serious illness encourages most Indonesians (ethnic Malays) in haste or punctuality.

In general, Indonesians arrive at social functions an hour late.  Status is also important at social events.  When invited to a social event, Indonesians try to ascertain is the most important guest.  They will then attempt to arrive later than lesser personages but earlier than more important ones.

Three calendars are in common use in Indonesia.  The Western,  Gregorian, calendar is the official calendar.  Islamic holidays are dated by the Arabic calendar, which loses about eleven days each year when compared to the Western calendar.  Finally, there is a Hindu influenced Javanese calendar.  Certain days when different calendars coincide are considered lucky. 

Indonesia spans three time zones.

Negotiating

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia.  Although many government officials will speak some English, they may prefer to hold meetings their native tongue; older Indonesians may understand Dutch.  An English speaking translator is usually available. 

All official correspondence with government officials must be in Bahas Indonesia and for many advertisements publications.  English is the language for many business transactions and much business correspondence in Indonesia.  Attempts to use Bahasa Indonesia are appreciated. 

Establishing a comfortable and productive relationship with the Indonesians takes time and decision-making can be slow.  Building a rapport outside the office is important, and businesspersons will be invited to a social event as a means of building a relationship.  Generally the purpose of the first meeting is to get acquainted.  The pace of business negotiations in Indonesia is far slower than that of the United States and requires patience, perseverance, and persistence.  Business deals generally take several trips over a period of months.  A deal is not complete until all the paperwork is signed; and the Indonesians may consult astrologers before signing an agreement.

Politeness is one of the most important attributes for successful relationships in Indonesia but does not deter Indonesian business people in getting their own way.  Everyone has status in Indonesia, and everyone has a ranking in importance.  In Bahasa Indonesia, a successful conversion with a person requires knowing whether he or she is your superior, inferior, or equal; even when the conversation is in English, Indonesians will not feel comfortable until they know the ranking of the businessperson.  For this reason, Indonesians will ask very personal questions about an individual's  job, education, and salary. 

Indonesians show great deference to a superior.  Employees will shield a person in authority from receiving negative information in public; it is important to develop an inside contact to get the truth in private.

Indonesians rarely say "no."  It is important to be perceptive enough to understand when a polite "yes meaning no" and not an actual "yes."  When there are any qualifications attached such as, "it might be difficult" or "yes but", the response is "no".  Sucking air through the teeth means "no" and evading may mean "no". 

Indonesians of all ethnic groups are comfortable with silence, in both business and social settings.  Allow a long period for response; do not complete the sentences of others. 

Smiles or laughter may hide embarrassment, shyness, bitterness, discord, and/or loss of face.  A person who loses his or her temper is considered unable to control himself or herself and loses trust and respect.

It is considered polite among Indonesian Chinese to offer positive and negative options when asking for a decision.  Questions may include "want or not want," "good or not," "can or can not".

Be cautious in asking an Indonesian Chinese a question.  English speakers would give a negative answer to the question "Isn't tomorrow a holiday?" by responding, "No" (meaning, "No, it's not a holiday").  The Chinese pattern is the opposite: "Yes" (meaning, "Yes, it is not a holiday"). 

In Indonesia, individuals are not singled out in public for compliments or criticism.  Individuals are expected to be part of a group, and it is the group that is addressed. 

Conversation Topics

Topics to avoid in conversation include criticism of Indonesian culture, religion, government, human rights, politics, sex, roles of the sexes, or personal success.

Appropriate topics for discussion include tourism, travel, plans for the future, organizational success, food (compliment Indonesian cuisine), attempts to learn Bahasa Indonesia, and population control programs and methods. 

There is little conversation while eating; silent meals are common. 

Sources:
U. S. Department of State
Small Business Exchange