Business Opportunities in Facebook

Outside the dark side is now highlighted in the media area, the most popular social networking functions universal, Facebook, has grown far more varied than when first created. Not only encompass a friend, but also can be a money machine.
In fact, now more and more that do business via Facebook. You who have Facebook accounts may already know this, for sure they have ever diadd (asked to join) by the online stores.
Variety of goods offered, starting clothes, bags, until the hotel room. How to market it was no different from when you mingle through Facebook, create an account first, then upload the pictures of goods sold.
The seller then had the goods to tag photos so that goods Facebooknya friend to see people who are not friends of the seller online. After that, welcome to "shop online."
"At first since seen many books that discuss trading through Facebook, so we are interested in trying," said the Princess Andita Yulita, skipper Full Aisuki Shop.
This single woman selling through Facebook since five months ago. Earlier he used to offer jualannya Multiply it.
Princess selling clothes, wallet, purse, cell phone place, watches and accessories, but he was reluctant to mention the origin of the goods of this jualannya.
Experienced a similar experience Nurul Widaninggar Sagiastuti, owner Dasterholic Shop online store, which was also originally set up shop online at Multiply.
"A long time I thought that not all of my customers have an account in Multiply. Finally, I tried to expand my business to the Facebook," said Wiwid, so call this woman daily.
Customer satisfaction
Although already has stores in cyberspace, online store owners still want to have a shop in the real world.
"There are plans to open stores in front of my house, God willing, next year come true," said Karmilasari, owner of online store Faris Collection.
Currently Mila, greeting familiar, are building a house, and have designed the store layout.
Princess even expanded to take advantage of all the other popular social networks, Twitter.
Online store run by Wiwid, Princess and Mila, scattered on the social networking Facebook. They have a trick to competition, to promote an active, diligent updating of goods, and serves as fast and as accurately as they could.
They are optimistic people. They all believe there is a fortune already set so no need to do business with a dirty way, otherwise remain honest to the consumer.
Customers often complained that the goods are ordered often do not comply with their wishes.
"If customers ask for goods exchanged for being too large in size, those who bear the shipping cost," said Mila who sell the clothes.
Conversely, if the goods damaged in transit, which bear the loss penjualah it. They are spoiling consumers, because for them, satisfaction is the main consumers.
"Although not our fault, but we still exchange goods with the new," said the Princess.
For time
They're at home. The difference, the third house the young women are now changing as commercial terminal, where buyers and sellers meet.
And different from ordinary business, online store was quiet from the vote, while the vendors work not bound by time, let alone to be staring at a computer eight hours a day as an office clerk made public.
One more thing, they can deal with playing with children, cooking, or performing the duties of other households.
Both Wiwid and Mila were married. Both are selling while working on the natural functions of women, a homemaker.
They are expected to remain good with time. Wiwid say, divide their time between household and business is tricky. Wiwid yourself a new online after her son came home from playgruop (play groups).
Do Sepelekan the role and support of her husband.
"My husband is very supportive, until he bought a laptop and plug the Internet," said Mila.
Mila's husband who worked as an architectural kosultan do want to stay home to take care of their two hearts.
Other Wiwid husband who initially did not support his wife's dream.
"At first I was pessimistic husband what can not, but eventually my husband saw the ability and support," said Wiwid.
Wiwid husband turns even just watching the kids when Wiwid wayangnya busy serving customers online.
"Hopefully I'll be wearing assistant," said Wiwid, which is currently alone manage its online store.
According to the three young women, online business offers tantalizing benefits.
"If another busy month earnings could be 25 millions," said the Princess Andita Yulita.(AntaraNews)

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Investment in Indonesia more conducive

Is the investment climate in Indonesia more conducive? This statement should be addressed in a realistic and reasonable professional or not only by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) but also by the Center BKPMD or embassy / RI representatives abroad.
This is because realistically the challenges, opportunities and competition more keen to be able to realize the entry of foreign investment (PMA).
The challenge is always to face Indonesia, including the 100-day post-initial performance of United Indonesia Cabinet (KiB), is the quality of economic institutions that facilitate the rapid and extensive spread the benefits of cultural productivity.
Still many problems in treaty agreements with other countries both in bilateral face, call, JIEPA (Indonesia Japan Economic Partnership Agreement) is proposed by the Japanese since 2003, but only signed August 20, 2007 and ratified in July 2008 for implementation.
In addition, the agreement states a free market society views China Southeast Asia (ASEAN China Free Trade Agreement / ACFTA) with effect from January 1, 2010, the process until an agreement has agreed since 2001.
By engaging in real entrepreneurs with mature plans and programs, including public relations pemuktahiran facilities (public relations), to team work (team work) and network (networking) worked out in terms of the various shortcuts the time of initial
until the determination of the application requires a set of clear information, such as tax holidays are clear (there or not), organizing permits, and utilization of information technology, especially Internet facilities.
With the observation that grows in East Asia, then all parties should have an understanding that since the early 1990s paradigm has emerged that the export-oriented industrialization is a better strategy and not to export raw materials rather than import substitution.
Indeed the strategy of export orientation by warriors economists and policymakers originally considered economic development does not make sense (unthinkable). Stages and types of industrialization policy which was introduced the following classification:

   1. The first stage of import substitution (Import Substitution 1 / IS 1), to produce consumption goods; protection rules applying to develop the industry grows,
   2. The second stage of import substitution (import substitution 2 / IS2), to produce valuable goods and consumer guides,
   3. Export orientation of the first stage (Export Orientation 1 / EO1), with production-oriented labor-intensive goods for the enterprise-scale producers of goods lightweight,
   4. Export orientation of the second stage (Export Orientation 2 / EO 2) and the export orientation of the complex (Complex 2 Export Orientation / EO2-complex), to produce technology-laden goods / capital-intensive knowledge-based industries, to develop service industries - especially financial, and restructuring technology running.

Fourthly it is recorded in detail Edward KY Chen (1988) in "The economics and Non-Economics of Asia's Four Little Dragons", at the University of Hong Kong, then he memantapkannya in 1997 in "The Asian Model of Economic Development: Policy Implication for the 21st Century" Institute of Developing Economies' Tokyo , Japan).
One wanti-wantinya Chen is about international trade, and especially the movement of factors (factor movements) that depends on what he calls the hardware and software related to international issues. Hardware side, including transportation and communications infrastructure necessary to coordinate production and trade activities.
For Indonesia warned Chen not seem to be realized by doing "leap without experiencing sustained growth". Therefore, Indonesia needs to adopt an appropriate set of policies as a condition / conditions that are important to the success of the process of economic development.
Pernting conditions is an institutional framework that encourages a variety of policy by recognizing a number of institutional factors, such as culture, especially political culture.
In addition, various groups in this country need to examine the linkage between trade and investment in micro-economic level (Microeconomic level) very carefully in the interest of investors in the sense that the trade creation effect is driven by the investment.
The nature and form of inter-networking company that is the estuary of the growing investment: the beginning of "parent-subsidiary" which is a vertically nature and form of interest.
Later in the development of a mutually supportive experience became less are to be inter-affliliate with greater autonomy by the company's subsidiaries belonging to the company.
On the Government side, BKPM and the relevant agencies and local support BKPM need constantly to improve the investment to develop stratetgis step with Capital Investment Law the new regulations.
As a state law, then the set of rules set out in the form of law to be an absolute prerequisite. In the investment world of legal certainty which is not easily interpreted by officials unilaterally should be the reference.
Some neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are heavily attract potential investors, among others, expressly provide tax incentives, the efficiency of management time management of a residence permit investors to the country of origin plus an attractive value for investors.
In general, investment opportunities for foreign investors in Indonesia are many. However, it does not mean all inaccessible areas of foreign investors. There are several business sectors that are still closed to them. Consideration, the government intended to protect the perpetrators for the field logal certain areas.
Any investor interested in entering the funds necessary to understand the signs. So there still exists dni (Investment Negative List) that can be obtained at the BKPM.
Natural resources in Indonesia is still the main attraction compared to other countries of ASEAN in the position of natural resources and human resources. In fact, the state should benefit from quality improvement infrastructure readiness, people, knowledge, and physical.
However, today it is still not prepared to meet the need for professionalism and good quality of public governance in the investment services to uphold the rules as stipulated in the Law on Capital Investment.
Mobility of capital and technology to dramatically menguubah how various countries into the global production system flow. For developing and developed countries such changes bring change risks and opportunities.
For Indonesia as a developing country opens the opportunity to participate in regional and international production by increasing employment opportunities and purchasing power. But, resikopun may arise from the weakness of policy and direction of regional economic phenomenon.
Drove the market environment encouraging innovation, specialization and product differentiation. Here the new environment needed flexibility in terms of economic policy on the basis of win-win (win-win) is reasonable. Ready to party with a single customs window, especially professional services in the areas of official duties and responsibilities of the role of fluency in customs?
Investments are expected to not be used hidden means traffickers to strengthen the rights and privileges of assets or assets that have been accepted by the investor.
Therefore, the precision necessary in the negotiation implementation potential, especially in areas such as Special Economic Zones (KEK) are planned realization by Indonesia in various areas.
On the one hand the interests of the negotiators of expertise Indonesia with the support of a team of experts in formulating the conditions following the agreement of the echelon of professional competence medium (middle management) in the central office or (embassy) and the region as the proceeds practice a challenge in creating a one stop service in this country . These are real challenges. (Bob Widyahartono M.A )

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Time eyeing Indochina, Indonesian ICT markets

Time Engineering Bhd, a government-linked company involved in information and communication technology (ICT), intends to move in aggressively to capture the Indochina and Indonesian markets.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Steven Lim Kee Seng, said the firm had identified Loas, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia to market its products and services with emphasis on ICT security-based software, among others.

He said the flagship outfit of the UEM Group had progressed leaps and bounds, over the last eight months, since he took over the company.

" We are now in the midst of restructuring Time Engineering. We are also building our domestic market with the e-dagang flagship. We are also emphasising the e-learning segment. We have successfully implemented the e-learning project for 10,000 schools nationwide," he told Bernama in an interview recently.

He said while the company pursued its aim of making a mark in the local market, the last few years, the time was now ripe for it to set its sights abroad.

" The markets we have identified are just moving into ICT. These are untapped markets with huge opportunities. It is not only about selling our ICT products but also forming strategic alliances in the fields of transport, health and education.

" Although we want to move into these markets, we will also keep an eye-out for other markets. Everything is going electronic now but what is lacking is cyber-security and this is where we need to capitalise," he added.

Lim also said Time Engineering hoped to launch its cyber security products, involving financial institutions, to Indochina and Indonesia in the near future.

It intends to leverage on the expertise and experience of more than 50 ICT engineers under its fold who are all trained and certified in the field of cyber security.

To achieve this, the company signed several teaming agreements with world renowned firms like 3Com, Oracle and Sumitomo, which are all major ICT industry players.

"We also have a new product which provides wireless Internet service for a two kilometre radius and this product would be affordable. As a government-linked company, we aim to go forward. We are the first Malaysian ICT company to boldly venture into these markets.

" To attack the Asian region, we need to have close and cordial relations with the authorities and the business community in these countries," Lim added.

Time Engineering has already acquired a project in Vietnam, funded by the European Union, and it involves e-learning.

"We have the experience and expertise and there is no reason why we should not venture outside of Malaysia. This itself speaks volumes of our efforts to broaden our horizon. Action speaks louder than words.

"A month ago we were shortlisted for another big project also in Vietnam. This Project is to be funded by the World Bank. This shows that these countries have big potential in the ICT market," he said.

Lim said Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar were like Malaysia in the 1980s, when the market for ICT related products were booming.

He also pointed out that Time Engineering placed sole emphasis on profits but also wanted to share knowledge in the field of cyber security and e-learning with these nations which were now slowly, but surely, embracing ICT in the way they conduct business.

Asked on his advice to Malaysian ICT firms wanting to venture out of the domestic market, he said they would first need to identify a niche product to market.

"Go out and plant the seeds. You would be able to reap the fruits of your labour in a year or two," he said.

Between January and September last year Time Engineering reported a higher pre-tax profit of RM26.299 million (US$1=RM3.4) from RM26.205 million chalked up in the same period last year.

The company`s revenue, however, declined to RM94.369 million from RM120.592 million in the previous corresponding period. (AntaraNews)

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Flight into "Safe-haven", Melonjak Dollar Against Euro

Dollar surged against the euro on Friday (Saturday morning GMT), amid concern at the Greek budget deficit and the weak U.S. economic data is encouraging investment flight to "safe-haven" (safe haven) greenback.

The euro fell sharply to 1.4385 dollars at 2200 GMT from 1.4501 dollars late Thursday in New York, falling below the psychological level of 1.4400 for the first time in a week.

The European single unit to reach the lowest intra-day 1.4356 dollars, its lowest since December 21.

But the dollar fell against the Japanese currency, other safe-haven, menjhadi 90.82 yen from 91.23 yen a day earlier.

The market is very disturbed by the fear that kept that debt other euro zone members could face the same fate as the debt and deficit that hit Greece.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday denied that he had berusahamengkritik Greece a day earlier with the prediction that the euro will face "very difficult phase" because the budget crisis of Athens.

In a rare critical statement made on Wednesday, Merkel has voiced concern that "the euro is in a very difficult phase for many years to come" because of the failure of Greek debt have prompted speculation about the cohesion of the euro zone.

Weak U.S. economic data this week also showed that the recovery in the world's largest economy may not be as strong as earlier thought, triggering a flight from risky assets such as stocks to the dollar considered more secure.

Wall Street stocks suffered their biggest decline in about a month as investors ignored a fourth-quarter profit that "handsome" from the leading chip maker Intel and the banking giant JPMorgan Chase.

"Avoidance of risk finally hit the foreign exchange market following another round of weak U.S. economic data, said Kathy Lien, director of currency research at Global Forex Trading.

"The dollar rallied against a currency that gives a higher yield because there are a lot of disappointment that the market can be taken before the optimism fades," he said.

"We're getting more and more evidence that the U.S. recovery not so strong as previously thought, especially compared with other countries in the world."

Friday the U.S. economic data failed to excite investors.

Consumer sentiment measured by the University of Michigan was under expectations, while industrial production in December rose 0.6 percent, the same steps the previous month after a revised down November report.

December consumer price growth was also slower at 0.1 percent, according to a government report which "confirms that the discounts caused weak consumer spending last month," said Lien.

In late New York trading, the dollar rose to 1.0260 Swiss francs from 1.0182. British pound fell to 1.6260 dollars from 1.6332. (AntaraNews)

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Google Launches Mobile 'Killer' iPhone

Giant in the online business, Google, has launched its first mobile phone product is called the Nexus One and because of sophistication by many called the "iPhone killer" (killer iPhone), Apple smartphone comes first on the market.

Nexus One was released on Tuesday. The phone is designed and manufactured by HTC of Taiwan companies are Google's partners, reportedly will be marketed through a new online store owned by Google, so the page is written in today's Technology Review.

Not only marketing Nexus One, through the online store also sold a variety of future devices based on Android, the software operating system Google's mobile hers.

Consumers can buy the Nexus One online and take advantage of a service plan T-mobile network.

The name for the phone is superphone (mobile super). Mario Queiroz, a Vice President of product management at Google said the company wanted to make a phone to demonstrate whether it is possible to run a mobile phone platform Android.

One emphasized that Nexus is the first in a series of product series. Vice President of Google's mobile platforms confirmed that the phone was sold memalui Google's online store will always demonstrate the best experience with Google.

Nexus One includes a gigahertz processor, a faster than a smartphone that already berprosesor fastest on the market today, Verizon Droid berprosesor example of 550 megahertz, and the iPhone is expected to have a processor speed of about 600 megahertz.

"With this hardware, we thought we were getting half the story," said senior product manager of Google, Eric Tseng.

According to Tseng, Nexus One processor allows this phone to work in a multi-application occurs simultaneously with no slowdown, and supports a framework thanks to the 3-D Android version 2.1.

Tseng demonstrated several applications displaying graphical display 3-D Nexus One, including the features of the full version of Google Earth. The phone will guide you with mapping software (maps) in the popular three-dimensional view, exploring the area and zoom in appearance.

"We really want to push 3-D capabilities that you can with the chips to the limit of high-quality end," he said.

Tseng also show some advanced voice capabilities, built on the software sound (voice) which is Google provided previously. In the Android 2.1, each text field will accept voice input, will allow users to send e-mails, text messages, and update (update) Twitter and Facebook without touching the phone.

The job will be handled by Google servers. Tseng added that the software remains accurate sound for each user (the user).(AntaraNews)

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Free Trade Area/ FTA

Year 2010, the domestic market will be increasingly inundated with technology goods from the outside, as the enforcement of free trade areas (free trade area / FTA) between Asean manufactured products to China.

A number of business associations such as the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) to actors in the SME sector enterprise (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) requested FTA agreement with China was postponed.

"Not a single Indonesian products in the manufacturing sector that could hit the market in China. In fact, precisely the opposite is true, we are going to increasingly become a market," said the chairman of Apindo Sofjan Wanandi.

Indonesia's ability to export into China market is in the field of raw materials or raw materials such as natural resources of gas, coal, or oil palm, while for products to be considered helpless.

Powerlessness against China it's been a long time. And FTA only confirmed the raid Indonesia helplessness manufactured goods, not only from China, but also from developed countries including the neighboring countries of ASEAN.

One Who?

Is there something wrong with the scientists and researchers in the country due to calm the nation deal with the powerlessness of this constant?

Secretary of State Ministry of Research and Technology Lakitan Benjamin admitted that not much research in the country, adopted by the industry and that people prefer to buy goods and technology from abroad.

"A lot of research in the country who do not salable, it could be because many technology products whose development is not oriented to the real needs of society," he admitted.

He asserted that it was not 100 percent wrong if more people chose technology from abroad, because the technology of vacuum in the country.

According to him, there are often differences in definitions of `anything-that-useful` between the researchers and industry, plus researchers are often preoccupied itself and not sensitive enough to the real problems and needs.

Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant Diffusion and Dissemination of State Ministry of Research Science and Technology, Santoso Yudo Warsono, remain optimistic in 2010 and welcomed the importance of innovation to increase the added value of export commodities.

"The need to innovate can not be separated from the conditions of our export commodities are still dominated by products of raw materials or intermediate goods. In fact, if the product will be processed first increase added value," he said.

According to him, actually had hundreds of innovations that have been developed by universities, R & D institutions such as BPPT, LIPI, Batan, industry, and even the general public, who are ready to be applied in the production sector.

"Whether in an effort to increase efficiency in poduksi processes, improve product quality, even to provide added value from natural raw materials with new product development," he said.

Examples of innovations that potentially penetrate the world market is what has been produced by Linawati Hardjito from IPB that has been developed to extract, process, use and formulation of mangrove seeds as a sunscreen active ingredients.

"The potential of our natural resources that one is often forgotten, but our society is traditionally much use of mangrove seeds to protect from the sun," he said.

Although it still needs some improvements like aroma that is preferred by consumers, but the results of this innovation has been targeted by foreign companies from Germany, he said.

In addition, any current BPPT has produced many innovations that not only can replace imported products in the country but also a market abroad, one of which is the Floating Pipe of Natural Rubber.(Dewanti Lestari)

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Women In Business With Heart

Women do have a distinctive touch that is different from men. Touch with feelings from the heart. World Bank assessing companies owned by women grew faster than the business carried on a man.

One of the benefits of women is a tendency to manage money well and not corruption, said Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu.

"At the age of 13-18 years is an important period in the life of women to get their rights to education and access to businesses, thus women will be able to reduce poverty," he said answering a Stanford University student who came to Jakarta.

Ministry of Women Empowerment record of 46 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is known approximately 60 percent of managers are women.

With a considerable amount of it, the role of women entrepreneurs become large enough for economic survival, because it can create jobs, provide goods and services cheaply and overcome poverty.

His business, women entrepreneurs manage their business with care so that the potential to be greater in the credit repayment discipline.

In fact, the repayment rates of women's businesses reach nearly 100 percent. Therefore, women are the potential and the assets in nation-building.

Doing business with the heart
Femina Group chairman, Svida Alisjahbana, said that most women entrepreneurs start their businesses with the heart, based on pleasure or personal interest, so be great.

"Many women entrepreneurs are in business not to enrich themselves. In the course of their business, both naturally and with full awareness, sharing, devoting attention to social, as well as humanity, and the environment," he said.

Based on his observations, has been generally women entrepreneurs to start business from pleasure or personal interests as a hobby that evolved into a professional business.

He saw a young woman with an age range 25 to 40 years have a lot of creativity to start a business in accordance with their interests. That is, according to a motor Svida Indonesian women's empowerment.

According to him, the business or businesses that can develop, usually beginning with a passion, who lived with his heart. Femina noticed a lot of women entrepreneurs in the travel business, naturally, and with full awareness to share, and energy devoted to the extraordinary, to do things in a social, humanitarian and environment.

Two successful women entrepreneurs who do business with the heart is Suzy Hutomo (CEO of The Body Shop Indonesia) and Susi Pudjiastuti (owners of seafood processing plants and airlines Susi Air).

Suzy Hutomo with her husband pioneered the business of taking a license under cosmetic products and body care home eco-friendly English. Now he built his own business empire by opening 52 outlets in cosmetics, five department stores, six restaurants and a health food supermarket semiwaralaba.

Not only proficient in business, Suzy had committed businessmen to the environment. As a Board Member of Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Indonesia Climate Project Advisor, Suzy eloquently explained about global climate change and its implications. Green lifestyle is also applied in the office, so the company became the winner of Jakarta Green Office 2009.

Femina two businessmen were invited to share stories with other women entrepreneurs in business discussions with themes of inspiration Doing Business With a Heart held in commemoration of Mother's Day.

Around 200 women entrepreneurs whose businesses Femina observed in the last three years to gather, share information, experiences and build networks, and listen to inspirational efforts of the two successful businessmen.

Growing rapidly
In a report the world's leading consulting firm, Ernst & Young, in the United States, the number of women who start their own business recorded more than twice as men.

Based on research from the Center for Women `s Business, women in the U.S. has created more than 23 million jobs, or about 16 percent of all employment in the country.

In Indonesia, the community of women entrepreneurs has increased rapidly, at least it was also recorded in Femina magazine readers data from Nielsen. In 2009 was about 15 percent of the community of readers is an entrepreneurial magazine. The figure includes 80 percent of readers who become women worked.

However, rapid development is not without obstacles. So far the women entrepreneurs in Indonesia often have difficulties in access to capital, mostly related to their status as wives.

Chairman of the Indonesian Business Women Association (IWAPI) Rina Fahmi Idris, shortly after the election in November and said that when women are large-scale entrepreneurs, especially micro, small, and medium (SMEs) applying for a loan for working capital or fixed investment should be through the knowledge of her husband.

"That's the difficulty. Therefore, the future we will make a collective loan to help overcome the problem of capital access," he said.

Most members IWAPI that about 40,000 people are SMEs managers and only two per cent which is a big business. To further encourage the growth of women entrepreneurs in Indonesia, Rice said IWAPI will hold Upper Level High School (high school) to build the entrepreneurial spirit early on.

"The mindset of school children should be changed. No more, they think after school looking for work which, but think what started the business," he said.

Therefore, IWAPI, he said, will teach the students create a business plan and inspire them to produce a marketable goods.

Currently, Indonesia has a population of more than 230 million people with the percentage of women of 49.9 percent. It shows great potential to involve women in the economic field.(Eko Listyorini)

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CAFTA -China-ASEAN Free Trade Area

A few days before we enter the year 2010. There is one thing that seems worth the attention of policy makers, including the banking business with the financial and transportation to support the physical facilities.

They need to evaluate in detail the implementation of the program's readiness for free trade area with China Association of Southeast Asian Nations (CAFTA).

2006 year-end meeting of the officials association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) and China held in Nanning city, Guan Xi Province, China. One of the agenda is to establish a common vision within the framework of the Free Market in China-ASEAN Region (China-ASEAN Free Trade Area / CAFTA).

The Indonesian delegation in the meeting chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accompanied by Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister for Trade which was recognized during the business world are familiar with China and East Asia.

Then, the Indonesian businessman, elite observers Indonesia poliik and of course there is the question, namely what the rest of the meeting that CAFTA?

The idea of formation of CAFTA for the first time agreed in the Summit (Summit) ASEAN-7 in Bandar Sri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, in November 2001. When it approved the establishment of the ASEAN CAFTA in 10 years, who formulated the ASEAN-China Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation which was enacted in the next ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in November 2002.

Since then many reviews appear. One was from Sheng Lijun, a researcher from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in Singapore in 2003. Lijun write the study report "China-ASEAN Free Trade Area: Origins, Development and strategic Motivations". Sheng Lijun of China described the idea that CAFTA can be traced backward in 1995, when the very first time China proposed a special economic zone, in the form of a free trade zone (Free Trade Area / FTA) with the southern provinces of China.

As a follow since the early 1997 began the scientific discussions among academics who explore the various modes of special economic zones along the Yangtze River and Pearl River (Pearl River) which involves academics from Japan, South Korea, North Korea (Tumen River economic zone), Russia, ASEAN, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

The concept of special economic zone that is different from the previous economic zone of China initiated the early 1980s, when China started its economic reform.

In 2000 the leaders of China supported a variety of scientists from various research centers of China initiated a more focused discussion, which proposed the formation of CAFTA (China-ASEAN Free Trade Area). Prime Minister of China, Zhu Rongji, who delivered the proposal on the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in Singapore in November 2000.

Although in a matter of time entering the sixth year at this time there seems to be a series of these forces can begin to create anxiety and fear witnessed when watching the movement of the balance of power (balance of power) toward the Middle Kingdom (Middle Kingdom).

Just imagine, when the idea emerged that CAFTA China agreed with ASEAN to begin implementation during the year 2010 will be the integration of the economy that includes 1.8 billion consumers (1.29 billion from China and 550 million from ASEAN) and not to mention that included Japan (population 127 million) and South Korea (population 48 million). This is recorded in the "2004 Economic Outlook for East Asia", Institute of Developing Economies / JETRO, Japan.

ASEAN and China approved the establishment of CAFTA in two stages of time, namely 1) the year 2010 with the founding of ASEAN, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines; 2) in 2012 there were five other countries in ASEAN include Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Indonesia considered as part of CAFTA China regionalisme. Because of its territory and its ability, China is also intended to establish a free trade zone with Japan and Korea.

Since the beginning of 2004 Indonesia handed over a list of 400 categories of products containing comparatively higher sensitivity and berkepekaan (sensitive and highly sensitive goods) to be excluded from CAFTA liberalization scheme. In the sensitivity list includes 348 tariff categories of the field of automotive and electronic industries, including components industry, some sectors of the textile and chemical industries.

Meanwhile, high berkepekaan list includes 50 categories of tariffs, including rice, sugar, soybeans, and corn. In addition there are several other food groups.

At trial AEM (ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting) to 36 in Jakarta in September 2004 occurred negotiations with China that produces trade agreement in goods and services and the main points of solving some problems later formalized into the meeting in Laos.

In the framework of CAFTA most goods traded between Indonesia and China implementations reduction / elimination of tariff of 5250 made the product categories and time to follow the scheme as follows:
1. Early Harvest Program (EHP) which came into effect as of January 1, 2004 in stages over a period of 3 (three) years, tariff duties include product introduction EHP some 449 products to zero percent (0%).

2. Normal Track I, a number of product categories to 3913 reduction in tariffs to zero percent (0%) starting in 2005.

3. Normal Track II, some 490 categories of products with a reduction in import duties beginning in 2012.

4. Sensitive / Higly many as 398 categories of sensitive products that the number of concessions were negotiated in more detail.

Ministry of Trade Republic of Indonesia in 2004 noted that the tariff classification is based on a six-digit category of the ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN).

In this case the Indonesian business people should understand and observe that the imposition of CAFTA, the country will enjoy a reduction in non-tariff barriers (non-tariff barrier / NTB) for various export products to China.

Today there are as many as 13 (thirteen) of NTB-affected commodities, including refined oil, wood, polyester, acrylic fibers, natural rubber, tires (rubber), sodium cyanide, refined sugar, chemical fertilizer, tobacco and cigarettes, and quotas and tariffs on cocoa beans to China valued at 10%, while zero percent of Malaysia. For oil palm is not clear imposition and cause competition from coming from other countries.

Of the ten products, Indonesia still has a market share large enough in China. Unfortunately due to weakness in competitive with fellow ASEAN, many of these commodities began to lose market share. Indonesian products are weakening its competitiveness because most business people in this country still focused on that market is not experiencing growth or are not aware that China began to squirm businesses to empower the internal potential that had not worked.

In relation to Indonesia, the China is very aware of and understand the availability of natural resources as raw materials for industry in China.

Data non-oil exports to China in Indonesia in 2005 showed that the more significant exports are coconut oil, pulp, natural rubber, balata, copra, copper, and raw materials other natural resources.

Indonesian businesspeople seem to realize and understand that Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines as a fellow member of ASEAN commodity exports accounted competitor to China. In addition, Indonesian businessmen should not close their eyes that there still exists a number of barriers to enter China's market, like NTB constraints that each time change. Today NTB was a quota, the system permits the entry of refined oil products, timber, natural rubber and some other commodities.

Lots of business elites with the national in this country have not quite reliable use of regional negotiations to acquire or deepen their market share over a number of products that become the seed into China.

One thing that should be observed among the Indonesian elite and businessmen is that during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, China's foreign exchange reserves it has since increased further. In fact, Bamboo Curtain country, according to various studies have recorded reserves at the end of 2009 reached approximately 2.2 trillion United States (U.S.). Increasing foreign exchange reserves showed competence and capacity of China, especially in terms of exports.

Service Indonesian bureaucracy that "better quality, faster, and cheaper" (better, faster and cheaper) should be no political slogans. For the sake of business efficiency from the center to areas of potential need to fill in CAFTA. On the business side must continue to be managed with productivity, including the empowerment of middle management and increasing not boring.

Indonesia ready to face the CAFTA? Or do they need to re-negotiate to delay the measures more detailed and substantial, such as CAFTA began in 2012? This is a series of challenges for us all, especially among business and political elite and government observers. (Bob Widyahartono)

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