Surabaya · East Java · Indonesia

Chinese Investor Lawyer Surabaya — Investment Advisory for Chinese Businesses

Chinese investors considering Surabaya operations need advice on Indonesian company, licensing and contract requirements, not a separate nationality-based legal regime. Early review can connect the proposed sector, ownership plan, local counterparties and bilingual documents before funds or equipment are committed.

Request Private Consultation

Investment and M&A advisory in East Java.

The initial decision is what the Indonesian operation will do: manufacture, distribute, provide services, hold assets or acquire an existing company. That business description drives activity codes, foreign ownership analysis, licensing, land and workforce questions. A PT PMA (foreign investment limited liability company) may be relevant, but it is not a universal answer for every structure or activity.

For a China-linked investment, practical preparation includes identifying the ultimate owners, funding path, proposed directors, Indonesian counterparties, source-language corporate records and the intended contracting language. Translate and authenticate foreign corporate documents where required, and align names and ownership data across incorporation, bank, licensing and investment records. A bilingual deal file also reduces the risk that the Chinese and Indonesian versions express different obligations.

When you need this service.

A Chinese parent is evaluating a Surabaya manufacturing or distribution operation.
The proposed sector may have foreign ownership limits, special approvals or local participation conditions.
A local partner proposes a nominee arrangement or informal side letter for ownership or control.
The investor needs Chinese-language source documents reviewed for Indonesian incorporation or licensing use.
A supplier, landowner or joint-venture counterpart requests signature before the structure and authority are clear.

Investment law framework in Indonesia.

Foreign investment operates under Indonesia’s investment framework, including UU 25/2007 and the applicable business-licensing rules. Whether foreign ownership is permitted, limited or subject to conditions must be checked against the current positive investment list and sector-specific rules for the exact activity; country of origin by itself does not establish a special ownership entitlement. Current implementing rules should be checked before relying on an older list or portal classification.

A PT PMA’s incorporation and corporate acts engage UU 40/2007 and relevant administrative requirements. Contracts made in Indonesia should be reviewed for the Indonesian-language requirement under UU 24/2009 and its implementing rules, especially where a foreign-language counterpart is used. Counsel should verify the parties, transaction type and current rule application rather than assume that a translated contract automatically resolves enforceability or filing questions.

Legal References

How we advise investors.

We map the proposed activity and ownership chain, then check the current foreign-investment and licensing position before preparing an entity or acquisition structure. We flag any assumption about control, local partners, funding, land access or sector approvals for confirmation by the client and relevant specialist.

For execution, we coordinate bilingual corporate and commercial documents, check signing authority and organize the source records needed by notaries, agencies or counterparties. We provide a compliance checklist for filings and ongoing corporate decisions, while tax, customs, technical licensing and translation certification are confirmed with the appropriate advisers.

Our Services

Sector and ownership review

Map the intended activity against applicable foreign ownership and sector rules, with unresolved classification issues identified.

PT PMA and corporate coordination

Prepare corporate documents and coordinate incorporation and licensing work for a confirmed structure.

Bilingual contract review

Review Indonesian and Chinese- or English-language drafts for consistency, governing terms and signing authority.

Local partner and transaction documents

Draft or review JV, supply, distribution and acquisition terms, including control and exit mechanics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Chinese investor own all shares in an Indonesian company?

It depends on the exact business activity and current sector rules. Ownership conditions may differ across activities and can change through regulation, so counsel should verify the activity classification and applicable list before the investor commits capital or signs a partner arrangement.

Do Chinese corporate documents need translation or legalization?

Often foreign company records need translation and may require formal authentication or other supporting steps, depending on document type and the receiving notary, agency or bank. Prepare originals, current registry evidence and a consistent ownership chart early; confirm specific formality with the recipient before submission.

Can we use only a Chinese- or English-language contract in Indonesia?

UU 24/2009 raises Indonesian-language requirements for agreements involving Indonesian parties, subject to applicable interpretation and implementing rules. For cross-border transactions, parties commonly prepare parallel language versions, but counsel should check the parties, contract and current requirements and ensure both texts align.

What should we check before paying a local partner or supplier?

Confirm the entity’s legal identity, beneficial ownership information available to you, authority of signatories, bank-account name, scope of work, payment milestones and refund or termination provisions. For a JV, document ownership, reserved decisions, funding defaults, deadlock and exit rather than relying on informal assurances.

Request a consultation.

Describe your legal needs. A senior partner will respond within one business day.

info@integralaw.id

Jl. Juwono No.7-8, Darmo, Kec. Wonokromo, Surabaya