Astra ranks 19th among most admired firms

JAKARTA (JP): The rank of PT Astra International shot up but that of Garuda Indonesia fell sharply on the 1996 List of Most Admired Companies based on an annual survey conducted by the Hong Kong-based Asian Business magazine.

The latest issue of the business magazine announced that Astra International, Indonesia's largest automobile group, climbed up to the 19th rank from the 49th last year while the Indonesian flag carrier fell to the 249th from the 220th.

The magazine's survey which covered 250 companies in Asia was based on questionnaires sent to 9,000 senior managers and chief executive officers and the results of the survey were analyzed by Asia Market Intelligence.

The survey asked respondents to rate companies on a number of qualities and the rankings were drawn in terms of overall admirability, quality of products and management, contribution to the local economy, record as an employer, potential growth and ethics and honesty.

Astra International gained the 5th rank in terms of best management behind Singapore Airlines, Samsung Co., Siam Cement and Charoen Pokphand.

In terms of best employer, Astra occupied the 3rd place behind Samsung Co. and Siam Cement. The publicly listed company also gained the 4th rank in terms of most honest and ethical category behind Siam Cement, Singapore Airlines and Acer.

The survey also covered several other Indonesian companies, including PT Indosat, PT Gudang Garam, PT Multi Bintang Indonesia, PT Unilever Indonesia, Bank Niaga, PT United Tractors, PT Indocement, PT Gadjah Tunggal, PT Bakrie and Brothers, PT Teijin Indonesia Fiber, PT Summarecon Agung and PT Tjiwi Kimia and PT Indah Kiat.

None of these companies, however, ranked among the top 10 ranks in terms of overall admirability.

However, Indosat ranked the 9th best in terms of potential for growth while Gudang Garam ranked 4th in terms of contribution to the local economy. (vin)