Java key no more

ONE of the most iconic images in Indonesian popular culture is a scene from the propaganda film Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (September 30 Betrayal by the Indonesian Communist Party). It shows PKI chairman Dipa Nusantara Aidit uttering the iconic line “Jawa adalah kunci” (Java is the key). The whole scene may be a fictionalised event but it perfectly describes the oversized role Java has played in Indonesia’s political history.

The whole of Java accounts for only 7% of Indonesia’s territory, but it is home to 60% of the country’s 270 million people. The large number of inhabitants translates into better infrastructure and more advanced industry, which caters to the needs of an ever growing population. For business players, it may be enough just to sell their products within Java.