Indonesia is a member country of the G20, which represents the world’s major economies. With a population of nearly 250 million people, Indonesia has the 4th largest population in the world. These promising conditions make Indonesia a very attractive market for investment from around the world.
Government regulations in Indonesia could classify it as a very bureaucratic country. In relation to foreign investment, it is regulated and monitored by a government institution called the BKPM (Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal or Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board. All legal arrangements, including company registration, business licenses, and other licenses are issued through the BKPM.
Foreigners intending to establish a business in Indonesia should be aware of few points:
Foreign investors are only allowed to undertake a company registration process in Indonesia in the form of a Limited Liability Company – Foreign Direct Investment, which is called as PT. PMA (Perseroan Terbatas – Penanaman Modal Asing). First, it is important to verify the business field on the Negative Investment List (DNI), which is issued by the BKPM, to confirm that the sector is open to foreign investment, closed to foreign investment, or open with restrictions.
The laws governing PT. PMA establishment are UU No. 25 / 2007 of Capital Investment as well as UU No. 40 / 2007 of Limited Liability Company. The characteristics of PT. PMA are as follows:
The process of PT. PMA registration takes around 1.5 months, however a PT. PMA enables the company to perform business activities in Indonesia.
Since 2020, the process of registering a company is quicker. It takes as fast as four weeks to get your PT PMA up and ready to run. The following table elaborates the timeline of PT PMA registration in Indonesia:
| No. | Procedure | Duration (working days) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Approval of company name at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights | 1 |
| 2 | Preparation of Article of Association by Notary | 3 |
| 3 | Approval of Deed of Establishment at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights | 3 |
| 4 | Obtaining Taxpayer Registration Number | 2 |
| 5 | Obtaining Certificate of Domicile from local district office (except for Jakarta) | 10 |
| 6 | Approval of Business Registration Number (NIB), Business Permit, Commercial/Operational Permit, Location Permit, Environmental Permit and BPJS through the Indonesian Online Single Submission (OSS) System | 2 |
For foreign investors interested in exploring business opportunities in the Indonesian market, a representative office might be an efficient way to begin. To open a representative office, there should be an existing parent company overseas to manage the representative office in Indonesia. A majority of representative offices focus on conducting market research activities as well as marketing and promotion through selling or buying agents. Some foreign investors prefer to set up a representative office first to grow the market in Indonesia before establishing a PT. PMA.
Advantages of a representative office:
Disadvantages of a representative office:
Setting up a business in Indonesia must be done correctly and carefully. Considering the changing regulations and heavy bureaucracy in Indonesia, it is crucial to engage professional partner who understands local regulations and the culture in Indonesia.
Cekindo is providing one-stop services for foreign companies and entrepreneurs from various industries to enter Indonesian market. We will assist you in setting up your business in Indonesia, supporting your daily operations and administration, and representing your company in Indonesia.
Please send your question related to company registration in Indonesia by filling in this form below. Our consulting team will quickly answer you via E-mail. You can visit our office to know more details about our services.
