Djony Bunarto Tjondro: Astra Strengthens Foundation Towards Seven Decades

Jakarta — Approaching its 70th anniversary, PT Astra International Tbk has affirmed its strategy of strengthening the foundation of corporate values, developing human resources, and diversifying its business portfolio as key to maintaining business sustainability amid global dynamics.

Astra’s President Director Djony Bunarto Tjondro, in an interview with Chief of Corporate Affairs Boy Kelana Soebroto, stated that Astra’s 69-year journey reflects not merely business growth but also sustained contribution to the Indonesian nation.

“Sixty-nine years is not merely a measure of time, but a story of millions of steps that grow and move together with the nation,” said Djony.

According to Djony, the core foundation enabling Astra to endure and remain relevant since its establishment is the “sprawling tree” philosophy bequeathed by founder William Soeryadjaya. This philosophy depicts Astra’s role as a company that not only grows strong but is also capable of delivering broad benefits to society.

This philosophy is realised through the values of Catur Dharma, which serve as a guide in every corporate decision. Djony stressed that Catur Dharma is not merely a normative principle but a value lived out in daily operations.

“This value serves as a compass for all Astra personnel, ensuring the company’s direction remains clear amid various dynamics,” he said.

In its implementation, Astra translates these values into a 3P Roadmap strategy encompassing Portfolio, People, and Public Contribution. This strategy is designed to balance business performance with sustainability aspects whilst strengthening corporate resilience in the face of change.

Djony added that, beyond values, the human element or people legacy is an important factor in maintaining Astra’s continuity from one generation to the next. According to him, a company is not built solely by systems and strategies but by the people who implement them.

“Astra continuously seeks and develops new talent, whilst preparing leaders who possess not only competence but also character and integrity,” he said.

Human resource development is conducted through various programmes, including cross-business line rotation, strategic assignments, and gradual increases in responsibility. This approach aims to provide comprehensive experience for prospective Astra leaders.

Djony emphasised that leadership succession at Astra is conducted in a planned manner and is not abrupt. Leadership succession has been prepared several years in advance to ensure organisational continuity.

“Every era has its person, and every person has its era,” he said.

In terms of performance, Astra has recorded consistent growth over the past six years. The company’s net profit increased from Rp16.2 trillion in 2020 to Rp32.8 trillion in 2025. This growth occurred despite Astra facing various challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to global economic dynamics.

In 2020, the pandemic exerted significant pressure on almost all of Astra’s business lines, accompanied by concerns about employee health and safety. However, in the following years, Astra was able to adapt and strengthen its business resilience.

Djony explained that this resilience is supported by a well-diversified business portfolio, decades of operational experience, and a commitment to maintaining product and service quality.

Currently, Astra has 321 subsidiaries supported by more than 190,000 employees, an increase from 236 entities in 2020. All entities are distributed across seven primary business lines: automotive and mobility, financial services, heavy equipment, mining, construction and energy, agribusiness, and infrastructure and information technology.

“Well-managed diversification enables performance stability across various economic cycles,” said Djony.

Beyond strengthening existing businesses, Astra is also expanding into new sectors adjacent to or different from its main business lines. These include increased investment in the used vehicle segment, development of multipurpose financing products, and digital banking services.

Astra is also exploring opportunities in the healthcare services sector and non-coal minerals as part of its long-term growth strategy. According to Djony, expansion is conducted selectively, considering the direction of Indonesia’s economic growth.

“Every expansion step is undertaken with the principle of prudence to ensure portfolio strengthening and long-term value creation,” he said.

Strategically, Astra divides portfolio management into three main groups: optimising existing businesses, developing related business lines, and investing in new sectors. These three aspects form the foundation for maintaining balance between short-term performance and long-term transformation.

On another front, Astra places considerable emphasis on social contribution as part of its vision of “Prosperity Together for the Nation”. Djony stressed that companies must deliver tangible benefits to society, not only economically but also socially.

One implementation of this commitment is through the Astra Prosperous Village programme, which encompasses four main areas: health, education, entrepreneurship, and the environment. This programme has reached more than 1,500 villages across 35 provinces.

Additionally, Astra has initiated the Astra Unified Spirit For (SATU) Indonesia Awards as a form of appreciation for young people contributing positively to society. To date, this programme has produced hundreds of inspiring youths from various regions.

In the humanitarian sphere, Astra operates the Astra Conscience programme, which focuses on channelling assistance to communities affected by disasters and emergencies.

According to Djony, all these initiatives reflect Astra’s commitment to delivering sustained and measurable social contributions.