Indonesia is an open economy and attributes huge investment opportunities to foreign companies to invest. There are lot of sectors in industry which are available for business and open for foreign investors, such as energy and mineral resources, culture and tourism, health, finance, communication and information, public works, education, transportation, trade and agriculture.

Energy and mineral resources
Business fields under this sector are offshore and onshore oil and gas drilling, power plant and transmission, electric power consultant, construction and installation of electric power instrument, development of technology of power plant equipment supplies, distribution of electric power and also nuclear power plant. In this sector, some of Australian big companies have established their operation in Indonesia; such as Santos, Newmont and BHP Billiton, to name a few.

Culture and tourism
This sector covers art gallery, art performance building, recreation and entertainment operator, hotel and resort, travel bureau for inbound and outbond tour operator, professional convention operator and cultural tourism object operator.

Health services
Indonesia is also open for foreign investments in health services development. This sector consist of pharmaceutical industry, private hospital services, clinic specialized medical services, supporting health services (clinic laboratory), health care support services including  medical check up clinic, hospital management services and assistance service in emergency medical evacuation and human evacuation, and also test laboratory for calibration, and maintenance and operation of medical equipment. At present, one of top Australian companies is investing in good way in health service in Indonesia is Ramsay Health Services. This company has operated and managed three big hospitals in Indonesia.

Finance
As business grow rapidly in Indonesia, financial sector has become increasingly important. Wide ranges of business fields are available in this sector with big profitable return. They are including leasing and non-leasing financing, venture capital, life and general insurance, reinsurance company, insurance and reinsurance broker, insurance appraisal and agent, actuary consultant, foreign exchange bank and non-foreign exchange bank, syariah bank and also money market. Two Australian companies have operated in banking business in Indonesia. They are the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ Bank. The Commonwealth Bank was established as single operation bank, meanwhile the ANZ Bank joined a local partner and operates under the name of ANZ Panin Bank. These two banks are growing significantly and becoming popular big foreign exchange banks in Indonesia.

Communication and Information
Under this category, works that are open for business are telecommunication network operator, mobile network operator with cellular and satellite, multimedia service operator including data communication system, internet interconnection service, telephony internet services for public demands and other multimedia services.

Public Works
This sector is one of the promising businesses in the country as there are a lot of infrastructure projects being implemented by foreign investors. This business includes construction, contractor services for hotel, commercial building, education and health building, bridges, elevated highways, tunnel, harbor, dam and other waterworks, toll road or motorway operator and drinking water operator. Australian companies with core business in this sector has run their business in Indonesia, such as the reputed Leighton Holding and Thiess.

Education
Indonesia is opening education sector for foreign institutions to involve in education services and development. This sector provide opportunities not only at the level of primary and intermediate education, but also higher education. Australian universities, colleges and schools can take part and establish their branch in cooperation with local institutions in Indonesia.

Trade
To support business development, this sector offer business opportunities to foreign companies to run business and management consultation services and direct selling through marketing network. Business and consulting firm are welcome to do business in this sector.

Transportation
This sector is often cited as one of growing business in Indonesia, also for foreign companies. This sector covers transport services; general cargos transport services, container transport services, heavy equipment transport services, scheduled domestic and international transport services and non-scheduled domestic air transportation. Other related businesses include airport services, air forwarding services, general sales agent (GSA) of foreign air transport services, support services for flight activities, domestic and international sea transportation, loading and unloading, and port facilities such as jetty, container terminal, liquid bulk terminal, dry bulk terminal and Ro-Ro terminal.

Agriculture
There are also some businesses offered in agricultural sector, such as corn, cassava and paddy cultivation with a coverage area of more than 25 hectares. In addition, food plants, excluding corn and cassava, are also seen as upcoming business activities.

Foreign companies and foreign investors interested in any kinds of business in industry sectors mentioned above can submit their applications to the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board or BKPM.

For more information and comprehensive guidance on business sectors please visit www.bkpm.go.id