Business as Usual with BritCham’s Chairman, Adrian Short
“British businesses have been in Indonesia for more than a hundred years!” exclaims Adrian Short, the man at the helm of the British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, BritCham. While BritCham hasn't been around for so long, it has been supporting and helping to develop British business interests in Indonesia since its inception over ten
Frivolous Decisions
I agree completely with the ‘cooling off period’ law when people want to buy guns. It means that, instead of flipping out completely and running to the nearest gun shop in order to buy the ultimate argument winner, people are forced to calm down and make rational decisions before they blow each other’s brains out.
A Lucky Escape
I had just made myself comfortable on my usual stool at the bar and I was waiting for the beer I had ordered to arrive, but after a long hard day it was taking far too long. “Make that two” I heard a familiar voice say, as my General Manager Chris Brown hauled himself wearily
NOW! Jakarta Contest: Java Jazz Festival 2017
Repost this picture given and stand a chance to win 2 tickets for Jakarta International BNI Java Jazz Festival 2017! HOW TO PARTICIPATE: 1. Follow @now_jakarta on Instagram. 2. Repost the picture given on your Instagram account. 3. Tag your friend who will accompany you to the event and tell us who would you like to watch the
Learning to Give
Every week in Grade 5 at JIS (Jakarta Intercultural School) we do “I-Time.” It’s an hour during which students are encouraged to make, do or research anything we’re interested in. This time, our teacher suggested we help someone else. We – Alina, Katrina, and Emily – had first planned on organizing a Food Drive at
Starbucks Takes Action to Commemorate World Water Day
Every year on 22 March, we commemorate World Water Day to take action in tackling the global water crisis. The official site of World Water Day (worldwaterday.org) states that 1.8 billion people worldwide don't have access to clean drinking water and instead have to resort to drinking water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk
The Quality of Life
Many years ago my Economics Professor at Edinburgh University unveiled a wonderful fact which no-one seems understand or work towards at virtually any level in society even till today! The fact: that “welfare” and “economic welfare” are not the same thing. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? But it’s not. “Welfare”, on a personal level, means the
An Interview with H.E. Patrick Herman, Ambassador of Belgium to Indonesia
H.E. Patrick Herman, Ambassador of Belgium to Indonesia for the past 2 1/2 years, recently talked to NOW! Jakarta’s Alistair Speirs about the relationship of the two countries on a political, economical and cultural level. Please tell us about the most important events for you since we last met in March last year? The Visit
An Interview with H.E. Rob Swartbol, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Indonesia
For more than seven decades, Indonesia and the Netherlands have maintained a close relationship. A new milestone was achieved when both countries signed a Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement in 2013, which signified the plans of a more tangible partnership. Not only is Indonesia the Netherlands’ strategic trading partner, but both countries also
The Results of the Latest Joint European Chambers’ Business Confidence Index 2016
BritCham and EuroCham unveiled the results of the latest Joint European Chambers’ Business Confidence Index 2016 at the Ritz Carlton Pacific Place in March. This is the fifth annual survey of European businesses to be presented to BKPM, European Ambassadors and senior executive representatives of businesses domiciled in greater Jakarta. It is the only survey
Introducing the World’s Best Education System to Indonesia
When Singaporean engineer Jaspal Sidhu first came to Indonesia almost three decades ago, he was alarmed by the country’s lack of good, affordable schools. Strongly believing that high-quality education should be accessible to anyone, he founded the SIS Group of Schools, which introduces the world’s best performing Singapore education system to Indonesia. Jaspal Sidhu spoke
Strengthening Economic Relations Between Indonesia and the Netherlands
Despite ups and downs, the trade and economic relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands are moving in a favourable direction. Dutch investment is among the top ten foreign investors in Indonesia and the ties have been strengthened further by the visits of both countries’ head of nations and leaders last year. Although the interaction is
A World of Tradition
I love traditions. Family traditions, national traditions, anything that is traditional in the true sense of the word. I guess it’s because they give me a sense of continuity in a rapidly changing world, a sense of my roots, an idea of who I really am and where I really came from. For example, in
