The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and the Network Indonesia are co-organizing a Business Forum entitled "Looking Beyond Jakarta - Doing Business in Regional Indonesia".

Despite the global economic crisis, the Indonesian economy has been showing positive signs of resilience. The economic reforms since the Asian financial crisis a decade ago have not only strengthened the country's economic foundation, but the accompanying economic decentralization has also enabled the regions outside of Jakarta to experience tremendous economic growth. In 2007, South Sulawesi registered a GDP growth rate of 6.34% while North Sumatra's grew by 6.90%. Fuelled by domestic demand and supported by rich natural resources, the growth in these regions present a good range of business opportunities to the savvy investors.

This Business Forum will attempt to address the nature of these opportunities and more importantly, how the growth pattern is expected to change with the coming presidential elections. This Business Forum seeks to give participants a better understanding of doing business in regional Indonesia, and will cover the current economic landscape, post-elections development and available business opportunities in regional Indonesia. The seminar will also feature rising business opportunities in resource-rich Aceh, which has emerged from the post tsunami reconstruction phase.