VINANSIA.COM - Tomy Winata, born Oe Suat Hong, is a prominent businessman in Indonesia. He was born on July 23, 1958, in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Despite a very challenging start in life, Tomy has built an impressive career. 

He grew up in poverty and lost his parents at a young age, but his determination and hard work helped him achieve great success.

Early Life and Challenges

Tomy Winata was born into a very poor family. As a child, he faced many difficulties, including becoming an orphan. 

Despite these tough circumstances, Tomy was determined to change his life. At the age of 15, he began working with the Indonesian military. His bravery paid off when he was trusted to build a military office in Singkawang.

Tomy also became a supplier of goods to various military bases across Indonesia. He received contracts from the military in Papua, Makassar, and Ambon. In Papua, he met Yorrys Raweyai, and his business relationships with military officers grew stronger. 

He was often trusted with projects such as building barracks and schools for soldiers and delivering supplies to military bases in places like Ujungpandang and Ambon.

Career Growth

Tomy’s career took off when he started working with the military. Although he faced several failures and bankruptcies in various projects, including those in Papua and West Kalimantan, Tomy did not give up. He continued to work hard and eventually succeeded in establishing businesses in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Jakarta. 

His business ventures now cover many sectors, including real estate, construction, trade, hospitality, banking, and telecommunications.

Tomy founded the Artha Graha Group, which includes many subsidiaries. His business spans a wide range of fields, from banking to real estate and infrastructure. Despite experiencing two bankruptcies, Tomy persevered and eventually succeeded in his ventures.

The '9 Naga' Group

Tomy Winata is a key figure in the group of influential Chinese-Indonesian entrepreneurs known as the "9 Naga" or 'Gang of Nine'. This group has a significant impact on Indonesia’s economy. 

Tomy is known for his extensive business network, including founding the Artha Graha Group, which consists of many subsidiaries. His businesses cover banking, real estate, infrastructure, and social foundations like Artha Graha Peduli.

Major Projects

One of Tomy’s major projects is in the property and infrastructure sector. Through PT Jakarta Internasional Hotels and Development (JIHD), he owns the Borobudur Hotel in Jakarta. Another significant project is the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD), developed by his company PT Danayasa Arhatama Tbk. 

SCBD, the first business district in Indonesia, spans 45 hectares and includes the Indonesia Stock Exchange building.

Environmental Conservation

Since around 1997, Tomy has focused on environmental conservation. He established the Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation (TWNC), a 45,000-hectare forest and wildlife reserve, along with a 14,500-hectare marine protected area in southern Sumatra. 

TWNC has successfully released five Sumatran tigers into the wild. In early 2012, TWNC collaborated with Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to offer a nature-based rehabilitation program for former drug users. 

This initiative received attention from the UNODC Executive Director, Yuri Fedotov, and was later presented at the UNODC Annual Session in Vienna in March 2013.

Rempang Eco City

Tomy is also involved in developing the Rempang Eco City project in Batam, Riau Archipelago. His company, PT MEG, plans to transform Rempang Island into an eco-friendly industrial area. 

This project includes the construction of the Rempang Tower, which is expected to cost up to Rp45 trillion and will become the tallest building in the region.

Conclusion

Tomy Winata is a successful Indonesian entrepreneur who has risen from a challenging background to become a major figure in business.

His ventures span numerous sectors and have a significant impact on Indonesia’s economy. Tomy continues to contribute to various strategic projects, including environmental conservation and infrastructure development.