Astra ranks 19th among most admired firms

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)