Jakob wins Entrepreneur award
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Media mogul Jakob Oetama, president director of PT Kelompok Kompas Gramedia (KKG), was named on Thursday Indonesian Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young (E&Y) Indonesia, the local arm of the global accounting and consulting firm.
Jakob -- whose KKG is involved in a wide range of business activities, from the media to hotels -- will represent Indonesia at the World Entrepreneur Awards scheduled for May 2006 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
"This award is a team victory. This is for the (KKG) employees and the people. This is not the end of hard work, as hard work never ends," Jakob said in his speech.
E&Y Indonesia representative John Arnold said at a press conference prior to the presentation ceremony that the award was "to recognize entrepreneurs who have contributed to the development of the country's economy and have created job opportunities".
"Such people are rare, but that proves that we need them," he said.
Among the panel of judges who selected the winner were businesswoman Shanti Poesposutjipto, academic Hendrawan Supratikno, Jakarta Stock Exchange director Eddy Sugito, former finance minister Bambang Subianto and last year's winner, Sudhamek AWS.
The Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards began in 1986 and first came to Indonesian in 2001.
This year's Lifetime Achievement award went to Boenjamin Setiawan, president commissioner of pharmaceutical company PT Kalbe Farma.
The award, according to E&Y, is given to entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to the sustainability of their businesses.
Kalbe Farma hopes to increase regional sales by up to 10 percent in 2006 to maintain sales growth at between 18 percent and 20 percent.
The president director of PT Medco Energi Internasional, Hilmi Panigoro, was named Best Entrepreneur in Industry and Manufacturing.
Hilmi joined Medco, founded by his brother businessman-cum- lawmaker Arifin Panigoro, in 1997.
Oentoro Surya, the president director of shipping company PT Arpeni Pratama Ocean Line and chairman of the Indonesian National Shipowners Association, received the award in the service category.
E&Y also presented the Young Entrepreneur award to Susi Pudjiastuti, president director and owner of fisheries products company PT ASI Pudjiastuti. The award is given to businesspeople below the age of 40 who have an established business of more than two years old.
The Special Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit was presented to property magnate Ciputra, chief commissioner of PT Ciputra Development. Ciputra has been responsible for numerous real estate developments in Jakarta's suburbs, including Bintaro on the border between South Jakarta and Tangerang.
The Special Award for Corporate Social Responsibility was presented of Indra Abidin, CEO of media communications firm PT Fortune Indonesia.