Generalizes on the best strategy to enter the market, e.g., visiting the country; importance of relationships to finding a good partner; use of agents.
Last Published: 2/4/2019

•U.S. companies must visit the Indonesian market in order to properly choose an appropriate agent or distributor in Indonesia. Appointment of a representative requires care, since it is difficult to terminate a bad relationship. Qualified representatives will not take U.S. principals seriously unless they make a commitment to visiting the market on a regular basis. Patience, persistence and presence are three key factors for success in Indonesia.

•Important factors affecting purchasing decisions in Indonesia are pricing, financing, technical skills, and after-sales service. Firms should be prepared to invest in training for their local staff, from entry-level personnel to experienced managers.

•Indonesian non-financial firms often depend on trade financing with nearly 50% of their financing obtained from abroad via loans, bonds, and other credit.  U.S. Ex-Im Bank and OPIC are active providers of trade and investment financing for local projects.

•Although it is possible for U.S. companies to sell directly to the government and state-owned companies, local agents or distributors are often critical (and at times, required by law) for successful project development and delivery of products or services. Many government tenders are awarded based on the proven track record of providers or long-established relationships between the government agency and an agent or distributor.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


More Information

Indonesia Trade Development and Promotion