JAKARTA, Entrepreneurs and business leaders from Indonesia were named awardees of the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2015 at a glittering gala dinner at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta recently. Over 250 attendees were present at the by-invitation only event, comprising of industry leaders, leading entrepreneurs, dignitaries and the who’s who of the business world, including, Ir. Agus Muharam, Secretary General of Co-operatives and Small Medium Enterprises (UKM), Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia and Dato’ William Ng, President of Enterprise Asia. Didik Wahyudianto, Partner of RSM Indonesia was also there to receive the token of appreciation from Enterprise Asia as the Official Verification Partner.
The Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards, or APEA, is a regional recognition program organised by Enterprise Asia, the region’s foremost association and think-tank for entrepreneurship. The Awards are presented to a handful of entrepreneurs across Asia Pacific each year, with award ceremonies held in over twelve countries every year.
The Awards are often compared to the Olympics for the stringent entry criteria and highly competitive judging parameters. Nominations of the Awards itself is by invitation, either by past and current awardees, a supporting trade association or the organising committee of Enterprise Asia. Nominees are then subjected to a series of rigorous tests, including financial verification by an appointed audit firm. The nomination process is then followed by a compulsory physical site audit and interview, culminating in a secret balloting process by Enterprise Asia’s organising committee.
Awardees are expected to be torchbearers of entrepreneurship and business leaders in their respective countries, and adhere to a strict standard of personal and business ethics.
“We can say with certainty that the recipients of the APEA are like none others. Not only do they have to prove their entrepreneurial skills and experience in one of the toughest contests in the world, they also subject themselves to a pledge to uphold the highest standards of entrepreneurship, which includes allegiance to the two founding pillars of Enterprise Asia, namely Investment in People and Responsible Entrepreneurship”, says Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia.
For its sixth year in Indonesia, the APEA has recognised the business leaders of the region as the drivers and backbone of its economy.
The recipients in Indonesia were selected from among 200 shortlisted candidates, ranging from talented young entrepreneurs to experienced industrialists. It is through this recognition program that Enterprise Asia hopes to continue to encourage and stimulate economic growth throughout the region.
Dr Fong explained, “The APEA is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. Beyond recognising the efforts of these entrepreneurs, we hope to encourage them to continue taking their businesses to the next level, and in the process, providing more job opportunities to the people in the region, and help to drive the economy forward”.
The nineteen truly deserving individuals were awarded under the Most Promising, Outstanding and Special Categories of the Awards, representing various industries and focus areas.
RECIPIENT LIST OF ASIA PACIFIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS 2015 INDONESIA
== Outstanding Category ==
Halim Mina, Chairman, Bintang Delapan Group
Danang Sotyo Baskoro, CEO, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero)
Budiarto Halim, President Director, PT Erajaya Swasembada Tbk
Paul Janelle, President Director, PT HM Sampoerna Tbk
Dr Gideon Hartono, CEO/Founder, PT K-24 Indonesia
Lau Chia Nguang, President Director, PT Malindo Feedmill Tbk
Ir. Nanda Widya, President Director, PT Metropolitan Land Tbk
Harry Lukmito, President Director, PT Sekar Bumi Tbk
Sukrisno, President Director, PT Timah (Persero) Tbk
Hengky Setiawan, Founder, PT Tiphone Mobile Indonesia Tbk
Imelda Sundoro, Founder, Sun Motor Group
== Most Promising Category ==
Grace Tahir, Founder, Dokter.id
Arya Damar, President Director, PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta
Mufid Wahyudi, President Director, PT Boga Citra Cemerlang
Wachjudi A. Martono, President Director/CEO, PT Darma Henwa Tbk
Aris Boediharjo, President Director, PT Fortune Indonesia Tbk
Bari Hamami, CEO, PT Trakindo Utama
Djaja Suryanto Sutandar, President Director, PT Wahana Ottomitra Multiartha Tbk
Ronald Walla, President Director, PT Wismilak Inti Makmur Tbk
== About Enterprise Asia ==
Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organisation in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia work with governments, NGOs and other organisations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for future generations.
== About APEA ==
Launched in 2007 the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards are the region’s most prestigious awards for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation and sustainable leadership. The Awards provide a platform for companies and governments to recognise entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass twelve markets all over Asia.