Departure tax burdensome
Departure tax burdensome
We are foreign investors who have had to stay in Jakarta to
monitor our new investment. I believe that our business here is
genuine and within Indonesian government guidelines.
There are plenty of capable people in Indonesia who will
eventually be able to take charge of the business, but time is
needed to transfer the necessary skills. Getting local people to
take charge of the business depends on two factors. The first is
the ability of local people to do the job. The second is the
trust I have in them. That is not to say that I think Indonesian
people are untrustworthy, but the value of teamwork is essential
and takes time to develop. That is why I have to stay here and
return monthly to my head office to meet with my companies
management team.
Doing business properly is not an easy way to make money. My
company pays tax and sometimes, has also to make some less
official payments. Doing business is full of risks.
The increase in the departure tax to Rp 1 million for a
foreign investor who holds a KIMs visa and who is a frequent
traveler is quite burdensome.
ANDREA NG
Bekasi, West Java