NOTES TO GT:
NOTES TO GT:
Advertorial -- Gajah Tunggal
- GT receives award for its success in AIDS prevention program
"Don't let AIDS destroy our future!" reads a banner that greets visitors to the 250-hectare industrial complex of tire manufacturer PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk (GT) in Tangerang, Banten province, about an hour's travel from Jakarta.
Gajah Tunggal is one of six Indonesian companies that received an award in May this year from the Indonesian government and the International Labor Organization (ILO) for its success in implementing HIV/AIDS prevention in the workplace.
GT, which employs thousands of male workers, teaches them to use condoms as a way of preventing transmission of the virus. In addition, GT also provides one-on-one counseling about HIV/AIDS and provides regular viewings of film living with the epidemic, Staying Alive.
"Our next step is to educate and raise the HIV/AIDS awareness among workers, as well as people around our factories," said the company's director, Catharina Widjaja.
The spread of AIDS has to be stopped, or the disease will destroy our future, she said.
GT, which ranks among the top 20 tire producers in the world, is the largest in Southeast Asia. The company was established in 1951 and began tire manufacturing by producing bicycle tires.
At present, the company operates five world-class tire plants that produce many types and sizes of radial and motorcycle tires.
GT has been continuously improving its product quality, and this is reflected in its achievement in receiving the international quality certifications ISO 9002 and ISO 9001. In 2002, the company was the recipient of the prestigious automotive industry certificate, QS 9000, from TUV International.
GT has also received quality certification from many countries, including the E-Mark (European Community), the TUV CERT (Germany), the U.S. Department of Transportation, the BPS (the Philippines) and a similar certification from the government of Brazil.
GT has developed a strong distribution network of more than 5,000 retail outlets in more than 80 countries around the world. At the end of 2003, GT employed approximately 15,000 workers.
GT invests in promising employees by enrolling them in Gajah Tunggal polytechnic, a three-year vocational training school, which was established in 1981.
In May this year, GT signed a cooperation agreement with Michelin. This focused on the manufacture of passenger car tires for Michelin markets and on distribution within Indonesia.
Under the manufacturing agreement, GT will manufacture a selected range of Michelin Group-associated car tire brands (excluding the Michelin brand itself), including high-speed-rated tires, for a variety of markets served by Michelin.
Under the agreement, GT will distribute in Indonesia, via its extensive network, a selected range of Michelin Group passenger car and light truck tires, including Michelin and BFGoodrich brands, for the replacement market.