Apa Kabar? from Indonesia!

Our guide to Jakarta is Batara Sianturi, Citi Country Officer for Indonesia.

An archipelago of more than 13,000 islands in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country with over 255 million residents. As the largest city in the country and in Southeast Asia, with a population of 10 million, Indonesia's economic, political and cultural capital of Jakarta is home to more than 300 ethnic groups and sub-groups who speak some 500 languages in addition to immigrant minorities. As a centuries-old regional trading port, the modern metropolis of Jakarta has evolved into a bustling global business hub where the rich heritage and complex cultural influences of former colonial powers like the Dutch are still in evidence today.

Citi first established its presence in Indonesia in 1968, when it offered institutional and retail banking services to customers at its first office in Jakarta, established in the Hotel Indonesia with just 15 employees. Almost a half century later, Citi is now one of the largest foreign banks in Indonesia measured by assets with 20 branches and more than 100 ATMs located in the nation's six major cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang, Medan, and Denpasar.

While Citi's strong record of growth in the nation and the region has made it one of the leading financial services providers in Indonesia, Citi Indonesia has also become known and is widely admired for our contribution to the community. In 2014, Citi Peka, a unit which coordinates all of Citi Indonesia's corporate citizenship and community outreach activities, disbursed a total of $900,000 in Citi Foundation grant funding to implement programs focusing on financial education, youth entrepreneurship and micro-entrepreneurship. Each year, more than 1,500 colleagues volunteer in Citi Peka's programs.

As a testament to its leading position in the country, Citi Indonesia has also won numerous awards for the quality of our financial services, including 'Best Foreign Bank in Indonesia', 'Best Service Provider' and 'Best Foreign Commercial Bank' from a number of major financial publications, both locally and regionally.

National Language: Indonesian. "Apa Kabar?" is a common greeting: "How are you?"

Currency: Rupiah (IDR)

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Indonesia and Jakarta is from May to September when the weather is dry and less humid. However, since the nation is located close to the equator, the temperature does not vary significantly and average temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F).

Best Local Dishes: A melting pot of culinary experiences, Jakarta offers distinct specialties from many of the 13,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago. From premium five-star restaurants to exciting street food, some popular dishes include the national dish nasi goreng (fried rice), bakso (savory meatball noodle soup) and sate ayam (chicken skewers dipped in peanut sauce). Yet another unique local dish is kerak telor, a traditional spicy egg omelet made from glutinous rice fried with duck egg and topped with shredded coconut, fried shallots and dried shrimp. In the past, this dish was considered a luxury and food for the wealthy.

Historical Sites: There are many tourist attractions in Jakarta representing Indonesia's diverse ethnic groups. The National Monument or "Monas" (seen above), is a 132m-high tower located in the center of Merdeka Square in Central Jakarta, which was constructed in 1961 and opened to the public in 1975 to commemorate the country's struggle for independence. With the top of the tower shaped like a flame and covered with gold foil to represent the undying and "un-extinguishable" spirit of the Indonesians, the standing pillar of Monas symbolizes a rice pestle while the cup symbolizes a rice barn, reflecting and memorializing the country's deep roots as an at-one-time largely agricultural economy.

Besides Monas, another noteworthy attraction is Jakarta Old Town, officially known as Kota Tua, the former headquarters of the Dutch East India Company in the 1600s, where Jakarta's rich Dutch colonial roots can be explored through the architecture, museums and buildings found in the ancient quarter, which presents a unique snapshot of what the Jakarta cityscape looked like before the construction of its many modern buildings and skyscrapers.

Another prominent historical site is the Jakarta Cathedral, the largest and most intricately designed church in the city, instantly recognizable by its twin ivory colored spires that point 60 meters into the sky. The cathedral also serves as a museum that outlines the history of the Catholic Church in Indonesia and is a landmark representation of how many different religions can co-exist peacefully.

Why I Enjoy Living in Jakarta: Jakarta is a vast sprawling metropolis that is not only Indonesia's economic and cultural center but also the hub of nation's finance and trade. Vibrant and unique, Jakarta is a sprawling metropolis with much to explore that continues to transform itself in remarkable and unpredictable ways. As a resident I look forward to watching this great urban center scale to even greater heights and grow in prominence both in Asia and the world.