Business climate

Business climate

As a European Union citizen I have found it impossible to open
a small (tourism) business in Indonesia, even though I have been
married 12 years with my Indonesian wife. It's difficult for me
to understand why this system is so obstructive.

Even small-scale businesses create jobs. Employers are also
consumers and they pay taxes -- and I pay my taxes.

In Indonesia, I experienced never-ending hassles with a
corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy. The immigration department
kept threatening me with expulsion and my children were not
allowed to attend a local school.

Why is this? In contrast, we had few problems with ordinary
people or our neighbors.

I have a dream: That one day I may get the same treatment from
officials as I did from my friends and neighbors.

U. BURGSTALLER

Vienna, Austria