Building U.S.-Indonesia Mutual Understanding Since 1994

James Castle

The founder of CastleAsia, a business consultancy specializing in market entry strategies, economic and political analysis and public policy advocacy, in association with PT Jasa Cita. In nearly thirty years of work in Southeast Asia, Mr. Castle has advised in the establishment of over 25 foreign investment projects and acted as a consultant to many of the world’s largest corporations as well as many of Indonesia’s and Southeast Asia’s largest business groups. In addition to his experience with private sector clients, Mr. Castle has also managed or been consultant to numerous projects for governments and international agencies including the World Bank, IFC, ADB, USAID and the Indonesian government.

He is currently Senior Advisor to the USAID project “Growth, Investment, Agriculture and Trade”. He was one of two foreigners appointed to Indonesia’s thirty-member Tripartite Forum on Industrial Relations in 2001 and has convened numerous conferences and seminars on economic reform and public policy issues. He is active in the media through his interest in PT Jaring Data Interaktif, which operates two satellite television channels, Suara and Q-Channel. He has lived in Indonesia since 1977.

Positions and Activities:

  • International Business Chamber of Indonesia, Chairman (2000-2002)
  • Board Member (2000 – present)
  • American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, President (1990-1993; 1999-2001)
  • First Vice President (1994-1998)
  • Board Member (1985 – present)
  • US-Indonesia Society, Board of Advisors (1998 – present)
  • Coca-Cola Indonesia, Board of Advisors (1996 – present)
  • Journal of Southeast Asia Business (University of Michigan) Editorial Board (1990 – present)
  • Regent’s Visiting Scholar, University of Southern California 2003
  • National Tripartite Forum on Industrial Relations, member (2001)
  • The Nature Conservancy, Founding Governor, Member, Indonesian Advisory Board (1992-2000)
  • American-Indonesia Education Exchange Foundation (Fulbright), Board of Directors (1989-1996)
  • US-ASEAN Business Council, Vice Chairman, Indonesian Board of Supervisors (1989-1994)
  • US-ASEAN Center for Technology Exchange, Country Director (1983-1986)
  • USAID-Indonesian Investment Board (BKPM) Private Sector Project, Project Director (1983-1988)
  • Indonesian-American Friendship Association, Vice Chairman (1985-1989)

Publications:

  • Toward the New Indonesia: collected articles, Suara Pembaruan 2002
  • Directory of American Business in Indonesia, Editor/Publisher (11th Edition 2003)
  • Indonesia Year in Review (annual, 9th edition 2003)
  • The Indonesian Consumer, Author/Editor (9th Edition 2000) (syndicated)
  • Who’s Who in Indonesian Politics, Author/Editor (1999) (syndicated)
  • Indonesia’s Infrastructure, Editor/Publisher (1994, 1996) (syndicated)
  • Indonesian Health Care: Today and Tomorrow, Author, published by GP Farmasi (1995)
  • Indonesia’s Capital Markets, Editor/Publisher (1994, 1995) (syndicated)
  • Indonesia’s Health Care Challenges in the Decade Ahead, Author, published by GP Farmasi (1993)
  • The Role of Patents in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Author, Published by GP Farmasi (1991)
  • The Philippine Consumer, Editor/Publisher (1989) (syndicated)
  • The China Consumer, Editor/Publisher (1988) (syndicated)