Astra Foundation Develops SMEs and Human Resources to Strengthen Automotive Ecosystem
The Astra Foundation is participating in the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2026, held at ICE BSD, Tangerang, from 30 July to 9 August 2026. Through a collaboration between the Astra Foundation - Dharma Bhakti Astra Foundation (YDBA) and ASTRAtech under the Astra Foundation - Astra Bina Ilmu Foundation (YABI), Astra is strengthening the automotive industry ecosystem by fostering SMEs and small industries (IKM) and developing competent human resources (HR).
These initiatives were introduced during a press conference at the Astra Foundation Booth in the Nusantara Hall, ICE BSD, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. The foundation’s presence at GIIAS 2026 carried the theme ‘Astra Foundation Supports the Automotive Industry Ecosystem’.
Regarding the strengthening of business players, Rahmat Samulo, Chairman of the Astra Foundation - YDBA, stated that the automotive industry must be supported by a robust supply chain, from Tier 1 down to Tier 4. He noted this would encourage the development of the local components industry, thereby reducing dependence on imports. Through its focus on fostering IKM, the foundation encourages small businesses to upgrade and become suppliers to the automotive industry. Samulo explained this is achieved by strengthening business mentality, improving quality, managing costs, and ensuring delivery precision to meet the standards of large companies. ‘So the Astra Foundation, especially YDBA, prepares small businesses so they can become Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier 4 component makers,’ Samulo said on Tuesday.
The coaching process requires a lengthy period. Samulo noted that not all fostered businesses succeed, as some still face obstacles in maintaining quality and consistency according to industry standards. Nevertheless, through a continuous mentoring process, 400 fostered companies have successfully entered the automotive component industry supply chain. These companies produce around 1,700 components with a transaction value reaching Rp 5 trillion in 2025.
One of the Astra Foundation - YDBA’s fostered companies is PT Arkha Industries Indonesia. Owner Mad Ali Haris said the company, established in 2014, initially had only 60 employees with a monthly turnover of around Rp 500 million to Rp 1 billion. The main challenges at that time were product quality, delivery precision, and the production management system. After receiving coaching from the Astra Foundation - YDBA in 2022, Arkha strengthened aspects of business mentality, quality management, cost efficiency, and production systems, enabling it to enter Astra’s supply chain through PT Astra Komponen Indonesia (ASKI). Now, the company’s turnover has increased to approximately Rp 8.5 billion per month, with 310 employees and a production area of 17,000 square metres. ‘Alhamdulillah, from the Astra Foundation - YDBA, they provided several training sessions. First, for basic mentality, because this is important, we were shaped to have a fighting spirit to compete with other competitors,’ Ali said.
With these achievements, the Astra Foundation - YDBA will not only focus on automotive manufacturing coaching in the future but will also expand its programmes to the four-wheeled general workshop, handicraft, culinary, and agricultural sectors. Additionally, the foundation is developing a Training for Trainers programme to produce more SME coaches.
Meanwhile, from the human resources development side, ASTRAtech Director Henri Paul said the institution implements the ASTRAtech Dual System concept. This vocational education method combines theoretical learning on campus with hands-on practice within the Astra Group’s industrial network. Through a curriculum that directly involves industry, students become accustomed to industry standards such as quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) before entering the workforce. Students also gain field experience through internship programmes, including at companies fostered by the Astra Foundation - YDBA, supported by cooperation with various domestic and international associations. ‘With that, we can build the ecosystem or competencies of our students in a real way,’ Henri said.
Furthermore, ASTRAtech runs the Meister programme as an effort to improve the competency quality of vocational workers in the automotive field. This German-standard certification programme equips participants with skills that not only support professional careers in the industry but also enable them to start businesses, mentor apprentices, and become educators. To date, ASTRAtech has graduated 69 participants through the Meister programme. The programme covers various materials, from technical and managerial aspects to finance and leadership, with a total of 400 learning hours based on German standards through cooperation with HWK Koblenz, ZDK, and AHK-EKONID. Graduates of this programme are now spread across and contributing to various companies within the Astra Group.
One Meister programme alumnus is Wisnu Prasetyo, who now works as a Workshop Supervisor at BMW Astra Serpong. He said that through the Meister programme, he not only gained the ability to repair vehicles but also learned how to handle customers, perform repair estimations, and resolve complaints.