TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government is threatening to annul the third generation cellular telecommunication service (3G) frequency licenses belong to PT Hutchinson CP Telecom Indonesia and PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler if the two operators do not provide their 3G services soon. Basuki Yusuf Iskandar, Director General of Post and Telecommunication at the Information and Communication Department, said so far the two operators have not yet started providing 3G services commercially.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) has secured a Rp1.1 trillion (US$110 million) loan from IFC (International Finance Corporation), the private sector arm of the World Bank, to encourage growth of small- and medium-scale enterpises (SMEs), a spokesperson said. The IFC believed BII would be able to open more credit lines to SMEs, IFC Global Financial Market director Jyrky Koskelo said here Thursday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Telecommunication operator PT Indosat`s business performance over the past nine months has experienced a backward trend. The declining trend was marked by downward gains in its net profit though its operational income was on the rise. In the nine months to September 2006, Indosat`s net profit fell by about 9 percent to Rp927.169 billion from a year earlier, according to Indosat`s Financial Report to the Jakarta Stock Exchange here on Thursday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State telecommunication operator PT Indosat is planning to spend more than US$1 billion mainly on the development of its cellular services next year, its marketing director said. "The greatest portion of the investment will go to development of cellular services, namely 70 percent to 80 percent of the total. The rest will be used to develop multimedia, data communication and Internet (MIDI) services," Wahyu Wijayadi said on Thursday.

Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN), a state-owned lender that focuses on providing mortgages, plans to set aside Rp 7.8 trillion (about US$855 million) to provide home loans next year to meet rising demand for housing. "But it (the allocation) will still need approval from the shareholders," BTN director Kodradi said Wednesday during a seminar on the prospects for the real estate industry in 2007.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Shares of PT Mobile-8 Telecom, the fourth largest of the country's mobile phone operators, jumped by 20 percent on their trading debut Wednesday on the Jakarta Stock Exchange. The company -- the mobile phone unit of PT Bimantara Citra -- saw its stock climb by Rp 45 to close at Rp 270. About 738.7 million Mobile-8 shares changed hands Wednesday, accounting for about two-fifths of the exchange's daily trading volume, according to Bloomberg figures.

There is still a long road to travel before Indonesia can even think of becoming a major Southeast Asian shopping destination, a mall developer has admitted. "The government needs to fix the chaotic transportation system, develop infrastructure and provide tax incentives for tourists," A. Stevanus Ridwan, a director of publicly listed property developer PT Pakuwon Jati, said Wednesday during a seminar on mall and shopping-center development in Jakarta.

Dubbed one of the most influential business gurus, Michael E. Porter, also a distinguished author and a professor at Harvard Business School, said Wednesday in Jakarta that the Indonesian government was placing too much emphasis on the privatization program compared to removing business hurdles.

The other day Kuku and I were discussing the point that a majority of Bules in JKT were oxygen thieves. They simply don’t perform at the level expected. They are brought in as Bules to over perform, and mentor and lead the locals. Instead many spend their time getting pissed and laid whilst they stagnate technically, apply decades old ideas, technology and management practices.

Originally posted by: chewwyUK what a load of bollocks! There may be loads of unskilled workers available in Indonesia but at management level there is a massive shortage of talent and companies find it difficult to replace people when they leave i agree. indonesians who can manage and lead are incredibly difficult to find. and keep. which explains why there are so many foreigners here in management roles.

"If those with jobs want to exercise their rights and be treated as equals then they risk being shown the door. Outside is a queue of desperate hopefuls who’ll be happy with less money and will promise to never complain. Indonesia is a bosses’ market – and they don’t need American textbooks to tell them how to make money." what a load of bollocks!

© Duncan Graham 2006 A major private bank in Indonesia has just abandoned one of its public relations activities. Since 2002 the bank has been sending welcome letters and useful information to selected top-end customers. This is considered good management practice overseas, a proven way to generate client loyalty. But not in Indonesia. Here the bank’s clients want their financial dealings kept secret – even from spouses and families.