Home topics small-business-resources growth-import-export Growth | Import | Export Growth | Import | Export Exporting to Indonesia Joe Parkes July 24, 2008 Times are changing in Indonesia , bringing fresh trade and export opportunities . It’s time to ignore the negative stereotypes of the past and realise the potential of the Australia – Indonesia export relationship. Exporters need to avoid the impression that Indonesia and Australia are just like a couple of bad-tempered neighbours, yelling at each other over the back fence while ‘family’ members, such as media commentators, urge them on to ever greater expressions of mutual distrust. But speak to a bunch of exporters—especially SMEs, who make up the majority of people engaged in our bilateral trade—and you’ll discover that this is largely what it is: an impression. No one denies that critical events have impacted on the Australia–Indonesia relationship: the Bali bombings, attacks on Australia’s Jakarta embassy, the tragic fates of young Australian drug smugglers and worrying incidents like outbreaks of avian flu. Business people are also aware that Indonesia was hammered during the Asian financial crisis, necessitating a major financial rescue operation from the International Monetary Fund. Indeed, the last 10 years have seen enough negative reports emerging from Indonesia to keep even the most demanding pessimist happy. So, yes, Indonesia is a difficult market. But it’s also important to understand that things have been changing quickly—and sometimes radically—around that great archipelago to Australia’s north. Democracy in Indonesia Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati,