RI remains anti-foreigner<\/p>\n
This is a reply to your article Investors or retired people?
\npublished in The Jakarta Post on June 9.<\/p>\n
After reading the indignant reaction to a suggestion that
\nIndonesia let elderly foreigners retire in Indonesia, I think
\nthere may be some short-sightedness when looking at issues
\nconcerning immigration, investment, etc. Clearly both threats and
\nbenefits exist and those may be different for different layers of
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
A few decades ago in Europe, Spain used to be among the
\npoorest backwaters. Then Spain opened up and many well-off
\nEuropeans went to retire there, bringing lots of capital, buying
\nhouses and creating work in the local services and Small and
\nMedium-sized Businesses (SMB) industries. As a result, more
\ninvestments were made, both by locals and foreigners in larger
\nindustries like banking, building, transportation, retail etc.<\/p>\n
At the same time, many studies have shown that an SMB base is
\nvital for economic growth and as a foundation for other
\nindustries. Now the question becomes: Is that a type of scenario
\nthat Indonesians would want? The answer is no. They want \"big\"
\ninvestors because the elite classes want to become managers and
\ndirectors -- if possible in several companies at the same time.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the answer would be different when asked to the
\nunderprivileged and poor Indonesians? Please wake up to reality.
\nReal \"big\" investors aren't charitable organizations. The type of
\nbig business Indonesia is targeting would rather go to China or
\nVietnam where wages are lower and the cost of doing business is
\nalso lower because there is less profiteering. These investors
\ncare about know-how, experience and efficiency when it comes to
\nmanagerial functions, but most of all about profit. At best, they
\nprovide many low-paying jobs and very few other jobs.<\/p>\n
Then what about the large high-tech multinationals? IT
\ncompanies for instance? I read that there was some interest in
\nMicrosoft opening a large site in Indonesia. Forgive me for my
\nskepticism, and I hope that I am mistaken, but I fear this is
\nmainly a PR stunt because the government wants to look good and
\nMicrosoft wants to get some money out of the countless pirated
\ncopies of their software.<\/p>\n
My experience with those type of \"Centers Of Excellence\" in IT
\nis that they are usually bustling dynamic places populated by
\npeople of different nationalities, of different ethnic groups and
\nreligions, with the most diverse backgrounds that strive to reach
\nopen-mindedness, creativity and healthy competition.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is inward-looking, anti-foreigner and anti-
\nimmigration. That is in a way understandable when looking at its
\nhistory. But even after so many decades since independence,
\nIndonesia does everything to make foreigners unwelcome -- even
\nthose with Indonesian families or of Indonesian descent.<\/p>\n
Of course, the Indonesians with a voice don't like elderly
\nbules (or expatriates) sitting on their buttocks in their
\nparadise with several servants and drivers to take care of them.
\nThat probably reminds them of colonial times. And isn't that the
\nprivilege of the Indonesian elites after all?
\n
\nLESLIE GOODMAN
\nZaventem, Belgium<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-remains-anti-foreigner-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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