Get to know the conglomerate Mochtar Riady: Lippo Grub boss who met Jokowi in Solo

The 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, welcomed the arrival of Mochtar Riady, founder of the Lippo Group, during a meeting held at Jokowi's residence in Solo, Central Java, on Friday December 13, 2024, and became a historic moment considering the age of Mochtar Riady, which now reaches 95 years old.

The warm and friendly atmosphere is clearly visible in photos shared via Jokowi's personal Instagram account, which show them sitting at a long table with Riady's family.

In several uploads, Jokowi expressed his gratitude for the presence of Mochtar and his family. He said: “Especially Mr. Mochtar Riady, who at 95 is still in good health and trying to get through Solo. Thank you for coming, I really appreciate this friendship.”

Jokowi's appreciation for this friendship illustrates the importance of good relations between state leaders and businessmen in Indonesia.

Get to know Mochtar Riady better

Mochtar Riady was born on May 12, 1929 in Malang, East Java. You could say that his childhood was simple, growing up in a family that worked as a trader.

Mochtar's initial interest in banking arose when he saw the magnificent Nederlandse Handelsbank building in Malang. Although he dreamed of becoming a banker, he began his career running his in-laws' store in Jember at the age of 22.

After successfully running the store, Mochtar focused on Jakarta, where he started a small business before eventually joining Bank Kemakmuran. His banking abilities were immediately recognized and he was appointed director of the bank.

In 1981, Mochtar Riady founded the Lippo group after acquiring shares in Bank Perniagaan Indonesia. With its far-sighted business vision and strong management capabilities, Lippo Group has grown rapidly to become one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia. The diversification of activities achieved includes the real estate, banking, health, education and retail sectors.

Mochtar Riady's business is widely known through the development of independent towns such as Lippo Karawaci and Lippo Cikarang, as well as the management of more than 60 shopping centers. In the education sector, they have established several quality universities and schools such as the Pelita Harapan School.

Business values ​​and philosophy of Mochtar Riady

Mochtar Riady is known for having a deep business philosophy, which he calls “Lie Yi Lian Dje”. This philosophy emphasizes core values ​​such as hospitality (Lie), good character (Yi), honesty (Lian), and shame (Dje).

These values ​​form an important foundation in every business step he takes, creating great integrity in the business world.

During the Asian currency crisis of 1997, Mochtar demonstrated his ability to face major challenges. He implemented a mature strategy of diversification and risk management, maintaining the stability of the Lippo Group even in very difficult situations.

Mochtar also highlighted the importance of education and research as pillars of business and society development. He founded the Mochtar Riady Institute of Nanotechnology to contribute to the development of science in Indonesia, showing concern for the progress of education and research in the country.

The wealth of Mochtar Riady

Through his work and hard work, Mochtar Riady has managed to amass significant wealth, with Forbes announcing that his total wealth will reach $2.1 billion by 2024.

With this wealth, Mochtar occupies the 25th position on the list of richest people in Indonesia. However, his wealth is not limited to numbers; More than that, it instills values ​​of leadership with integrity.

Mochtar Riady has inspired many young entrepreneurs in Indonesia. With his success story, he shows that with hard work, a clear vision and dedication, one can achieve dreams and achieve success. His influence on the younger generation is one of the important legacies he left behind.

In conclusion, the meeting between Jokowi and Mochtar Riady in Solo was not an ordinary moment. This serves as a reminder that the relationship between politics and business in Indonesia has always been an important link for the nation's progress and development.

Mochtar Riady's legacy and innovation in the business world will always be remembered and serve as an inspiration to many on their journey to success.