Indonesia🕣
State in the Malay Archipelago and the western part of the island of New Guinea. Official name – the Republic of Indonesia. Population – 278.6 million people (as of 2020). Capital – Jakarta. Official language – Indonesian/Malay. Government type – unitary state with a presidential system. Main religion – Islam.
Indonesia
Greeting
In Indonesia, a greeting is a leisurely, formal, and rather lengthy procedure. The accepted form of greeting is a light and prolonged handshake.
Muslim traditions are very strong in Indonesia, as the vast majority of the country's population practices this religion. As is known, physical contact between genders is not accepted among Muslims, so businesswomen coming from abroad should remember that during a greeting, their male partners are not ready to initiate a handshake, as it is not customary in their culture.
The same applies to foreign men greeting women during a business meeting. A woman is more likely to simply nod her head (a kind of light bow) rather than extend her hand for a handshake.
Some men in Indonesia, as a sign of greeting, place their hand on their chest over their heart. Businesswomen (both Indonesian and foreign) usually exchange handshakes among themselves.
In Indonesian culture, a person's status is of great importance. High status is indicated primarily by their position, rank, or age. If among your partners there are people belonging to one of these categories, it is important to show special respect towards them.
When greeting a group of colleagues, start with the most senior in position/rank or by age. In addition to a handshake, it is important to exchange a few formal courteous phrases with this person.
When greeting close relatives, Indonesians exchange handshakes and kisses (on both cheeks).
Introduction
When addressing an Indonesian partner, do not forget to mention their position, professional qualification, or academic degree (title), if any.
If you do not know the title/degree, position, or qualification of your partner or if they do not have any, use the commonly accepted polite forms of address: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, followed by either the surname or the first name.
During...
Exchange of Business Cards
Exchanging business cards is an important ritual in Indonesian business practice. Business cards serve a representative function and thus they hold great significance.
Your business card should include your first name, last name, company name, position, and contact information. If your partner is a representative of government bodies, academic institutions, or simply an important person...
Small Talk: Overview
Building and maintaining relationships is of immense importance in Indonesian business culture. This is especially crucial in interactions with foreign partners. Therefore, pay special attention to social conversations with the Indonesian side, as initial contact and several subsequent meetings are usually dedicated to getting to know your partner better.
Indonesians generally prefer a ...
Preferred Topics
Weather, travel.
Mutual acquaintances and business contacts.
Indonesian culture, economy, and art – discussing these topics will demonstrate your interest in maintaining contact with the partner.
When discussing historical or political topics (which can also be part of small talk), you should avoid strong statements and instead take a soft, neutral position.
Any ...
Taboo Topics
Avoid discussing local political topics, especially those related to conflicts between ethnic groups.
Various religious issues, which are sensitive in Indonesian society, especially because the country has diverse religious orientations.
Topics of corruption and human rights should not be discussed in Indonesian society.
Anything related to sexual relationships and, in p...
Personal Space
The comfortable communication distance in Indonesian society is closer than in other cultures (such as the USA or the UK). During conversations, they stand quite close to each other. This distance is even shorter if the people talking are friends.
Try not to increase the distance between you and your partner during communication, for example, by stepping back. Your interlocutor is likel...
Communication Specifics
Indonesian society can be characterized as high-context. This means that a certain part of the information remains unspoken or implied, as all the necessary information either stems from the situation itself or is understood without words by all participants in the communication since it is embedded in the culture.
Sometimes non-verbal signals convey significantly more information than ...
Any questions? Contact us.
Ask a Question