Doing business with China

Doing business with China

The chairman of China's National People's Congress, Li Peng,
recently visited Indonesia, opening up opportunities for
increased bilateral economic ties that both sides must properly
and quickly seize.

In the New Order era, ethnic Chinese businesspeople were
intentionally placed between the ruler and the people. During
this period, Indonesia's economy grew impressively but was
tainted by rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism. In this
context, ethnic Chinese businesspeople have often been accused of
holding a share of the blame for the collapse of Indonesia's
economy.

Actually, these ethnic Chinese businesspeople are not entirely
to blame, because business is business and business goals will be
reached by hook or by crook.

Thankfully, Indonesia's present political and economic
situation has done away with much of this adverse stigma. Like it
or not, Indonesia must make use of China's rapid economic
development. An overly dominant Chinese economy will cause a
crisis in Asia.

Businesses run by ethnic Chinese will be the backbone of
Southeast Asia's business development and prosperity. If these
businesses enjoy enough freedom and prosper, the countries where
they operate -- Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, for example --
will be economically sound and stable.

In Indonesia, ethnic Chinese businesspeople often enjoy
freedom, but sometimes they are intimidated. That's why the
country's economy is swinging back and forth.

Ethnic Chinese businesspeople are assets to the country and
must be cashed in on in facing global competition, particularly
in dealing with businesspeople from China.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta