.

As a key advisor to President Prabowo Subianto, he has publicly endorsed ambitious GDP expansion targets, stating in February 2025 that Indonesia could achieve 8 percent year-on-year growth by the final quarter of that year through enhanced investment and productivity measures.^[32] This stance aligns with broader recommendations for fiscal reforms, including the establishment of a dedicated state revenue ministry to centralize management of taxes, excises, and mining royalties, which he proposed in December 2024 to improve efficiency and revenue collection.^[44]In the energy sector, Djojohadikusumo has supported maintaining the state-owned utility PLN's monopoly on electricity distribution, rejecting privatization requests from private investors in February 2025 to ensure stable supply amid Indonesia's infrastructure demands, while simultaneously promoting a shift toward renewable sources.^[45] He has urged regulatory overhauls to facilitate business participation in emerging markets, such as calling for amendments to carbon trading rules established under former President Joko Widodo in February 2025, arguing that outdated provisions hinder the scheme's potential after it traded only 50,000 tons.^[46] These positions reflect a pragmatic approach prioritizing economic resilience over rapid deregulation, with Djojohadikusumo emphasizing in November 2024 a five-year strategy for at least 8 percent sustainable growth via foreign investment attraction.^[47]Djojohadikusumo's policy advocacy extends to international forums, where he has positioned Indonesia's business interests within global climate commitments.

He was born in Jakarta on 5 June 1954. He completed education equivalent to junior high school in London and high school in Singapore.^[9][3]For higher education, Djojohadikusumo enrolled at Pomona College in Claremont, California, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and economics.^[1][10] Following graduation, he undertook a one-year traineeship in investment banking, returning to Indonesia in 1978 to enter the family business.^[8]His formative influences stemmed from a family legacy of nation-building, including his father Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, a key Indonesian economist who emphasized pragmatic, evidence-driven approaches and provided early professional opportunities through a consulting firm where Hashim served as director.^[11][10]International education in Europe and the United States instilled a blend of global perspectives and business acumen inherited from his lineage, shaping his subsequent entrepreneurial path.^[1]

Business Career

Initial Ventures and Suharto-Era Involvement

Hashim Djojohadikusumo returned to Indonesia in 1978 following his education at Pomona College in California and a one-year traineeship at a Paris investment bank, initially planning to establish a small trading business amid challenges from political rivals inherited from his family's past.^[8] His breakthrough came in 1988 with the acquisition of a British-owned cement company, facilitated by family connections that secured regulatory approvals and financing, marking his entry into capital-intensive industries.^[12]Through the Tirtamas Group, which he developed in the early 1990s, Djojohadikusumo expanded into banking, cement production, petrochemicals, and power generation, positioning himself as a prominent pribumi (indigenous Indonesian) entrepreneur in an economy dominated by ethnic Chinese conglomerates.^[13][12] A key venture involved his Adaro coal mine, from which he supplied fuel to the Paiton coal-fired power plant—a major project under a consortium led by Italy's Edison—in exchange for a 5% equity stake granted without cash payment, reflecting the regime's favoritism toward connected local partners.^[8]Djojohadikusumo's ties to the Suharto administration stemmed primarily from his brother Prabowo Subianto's 1983 marriage to Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titiek), Suharto's youngest daughter, providing indirect access to elite networks for business facilitation, though he avoided the overt crony practices like demanding gratis shares in joint ventures common among other insiders.^[12][8] By the mid-1990s, his operations had amassed significant scale, but the 1997 Asian financial crisis exposed vulnerabilities, leaving Tirtamas with approximately $1 billion in debt as the rupiah depreciated by 90% and interest rates soared to 30%.^[13]

Development of Arsari Group

Hashim Djojohadikusumo founded the Arsari Group in 2006 upon returning to Indonesia, leveraging proceeds from prior sales in the energy sector, including Nations Energy and Nations Petroleum, to invest in projects aimed at national progress and prosperity.^[1] The group, named after his children, initially drew on his earlier experience managing the Tirtamas Group, which spanned cement manufacturing, petrochemicals, plantations, mining, banking, and commodity trading.^[14]By 2007, Arsari Group consolidated various companies under its umbrella and divested from oil interests, marking a strategic pivot toward diversified, sustainable investments.^[15] This consolidation facilitated expansion into multiple sectors, including agribusiness such as palm oil plantations, pulp and paper production, logistics, mining, trading, and aquaculture.^[2] The group's operations emphasized job creation and economic contributions, building on Djojohadikusumo's family legacy in Indonesian business and finance.^[14]Subsequent developments focused on mining and renewable energy, with PT Arsari Tambang emerging as a key subsidiary in tin mining and processing, committing to ESG principles and post-mining ecological restoration.^[16] In 2024, Arsari Group pursued international mining growth through a letter of intent with BARU Gold for a 10% stake in a gold project in Indonesia's Sangihe Islands, alongside plans for a Rp 7 trillion acquisition of a Canadian mine by mid-2026.^[17][18]Renewable energy initiatives accelerated, including a 2024 strategic agreement with Linyang Energy for large-scale solar and batterystorage projects, and the July 2025 inauguration of two green biorefinery factories in Sumatra for sustainable aren palm processing.^[19][20] Arsari Tambang further pledged 100% renewable energy usage, aligning with broader goals of carbon emission reduction and diversified national energy supply.^[21] These expansions reflect a shift toward environmentally responsible operations amid Indonesia's economic growth priorities.^[22]

Energy Investments and Shift to Renewables

Through Arsari Group, founded by Djojohadikusumo in 2006, the company pursued investments in energy sectors including mining and minerals, alongside bio-energy and renewable power generation.^[1][10] These efforts encompassed mineral processing facilities, such as tin smelters operated by subsidiary PT Arsari Tambang, which initially relied on conventional energy sources for operations in regions like Bangka Belitung and Sumatra.^[23] By the mid-2020s, Arsari expanded into sustainable energy practices, aligning production with environmental standards to reduce carbon footprints in extractive industries.^[24]A pivotal shift occurred in 2025 when PT Arsari Tambang transitioned its smelter facilities to 100% renewable energy electricity, sourced from certified renewable energy credits (REC) provided by Indonesia's state utility PLN, primarily hydroelectric and geothermal plants on Sumatra.^[23][25] This change enabled the production of low-carbon tin ingots, culminating in the launch of Envirotin on October 16, 2025, marketed as an eco-friendly product for global supply chains in electronics and clean energy technologies.^[26] The initiative reduced emissions associated with smelting, which traditionally accounts for significant energy use in tin processing, and positioned Arsari as a contributor to Indonesia's mineral downstreaming goals under ESG frameworks.^[27]Complementing this, Djojohadikusumo inaugurated two green factories in Sumatra on July 14, 2025, under Arsari Group, designed with low-emission technologies to support agroforestry and bio-energy outputs, further integrating renewables into operational supply chains.^[20] These developments reflect a strategic pivot from resource-intensive mining toward sustainable energy integration, driven by market demands for traceable, low-carbon materials amid global transitions in battery and solar sectors, though challenges persist in scaling due to Indonesia's grid reliability and regulatory hurdles on local content.^[21]

Philanthropic Endeavors

Establishment of Foundations

Hashim Djojohadikusumo's philanthropic efforts began through family-led social initiatives, primarily driven by his wife, Anie Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who initiated aid programs more than 35 years ago.^[28] These early activities focused on community support and gradually expanded, leading to the formal establishment of the Hashim Djojohadikusumo Family Foundation (YKHD) to manage growing operations.^[28]In 2009, the YKHD was restructured and renamed the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD), honoring the family's children—Aryo, Sara, and Indra—from whose names "Arsari" is derived.^[28]Hashim serves as chairman, with the foundation operating under the family's oversight and emphasizing self-reliance in beneficiary communities rather than direct handouts.^[29] By 2012, YAD had already funded projects targeting Indonesia's poorest regions, providing resources for sustainable development while avoiding dependency-creating aid models.^[29]The foundation's establishment marked a shift from ad hoc family philanthropy to an institutionalized entity, enabling collaborations with government bodies and experts in areas such as education, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and social welfare.^[30] Headquartered in Indonesia with field operations in regions like West Sumatra, Riau, and East Kalimantan, YAD prioritizes verifiable impact through scholarships, habitat protection for endangered species, and heritage site research.^[28][30] This structure allows for scalable interventions, including the 2016 launch of the Arsari Orangutan Protection Area in East Kalimantan.^[31]

Key Initiatives and Social Contributions

Hashim Djojohadikusumo, through the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD)—originally established as the Hashim Djojohadikusumo Family Foundation (YKHD) and renamed in 2009—has channeled family-led philanthropic efforts initiated by his wife Anie over 35 years ago into structured programs addressing education, environmental conservation, social welfare, and cultural preservation.^[28] The foundation, involving family members including children Aryo, Sara, and Indra (reflected in the name "Arsari"), prioritizes self-sustaining community development in Indonesia's poorest areas, drawing funding primarily from Hashim and Anie alongside targeted donations.^[29] Affiliated initiatives under Wadah Titian Harapan extend these efforts, emphasizing empowerment over temporary aid, as recognized by Forbes as a "Hero of Philanthropy" in 2011 for contributions to marginalized communities and heritage preservation.^[30]In education, the foundation provides scholarships to over 52,000 students, alongside book donations, school renovations, and support for preschooltraining and educator welfare, including nutrition programs to enhance student outcomes.^[30] Specific projects include constructing a school in Penjaringan serving 324 children with 14 tutors, establishing libraries such as a two-story learning center in Parung, Bogor with 24-hour internet access, and offering lifelong scholarships from primary to university levels.^[29] These initiatives, managed by trained community coordinators who submit monthly reports, aim to foster knowledge-sharing and institutional collaborations.^[28]Environmental contributions focus on wildliferehabilitation and habitatprotection, including the Dharmasraya Sumatran TigerRehabilitation Center in West Sumatra and the Riau Conservation Center, alongside rescues of species like sun bears and Sumatran elephants.^[28] A flagship effort is the Orangutan Sanctuary Center on Kelawasan Island in East Kalimantan, operational since 2016 and housing five orangutans across 254 hectares with diverse tree species; in 2025, the foundation plans to develop an artificial island cluster in Balikpapan Bay, Penajam Paser Utara Regency, as a refuge for non-releasable orangutans, incorporating education, research, and ecotourism, with initial transfers (e.g., orangutans Dodo and Nungki) scheduled for February to March.^[31] Additional measures include a new animal clinic established in 2025 and public awareness campaigns.^[30]Social and health programs support seven impoverished communities with clinics (impacting over 30,000 beneficiaries across three facilities), orphanages, disaster relief—such as earthquake-proof school rebuilds on Nias Island—and infrastructure repairs for places of worship like churches and mosques.^[30][29] The Wadah Cooperative provides economic aid through loans and savings to over 25,000 individuals, while health initiatives deliver over 6,000 meals in 2025 and fund midwife scholarships; "life-changing gifts" like $120 for sewing machines or clinic supplies enable self-reliance.^[30]Culturally, YAD funds preservation of historic buildings, renovation of Javanese kings' tombs, and digitization of ancient texts, aligning with Hashim's 2025 appointment chairing a trustees board for Indonesian museums and heritage sites to attract corporate social responsibility funding from philanthropists.^[28] These efforts underscore a commitment to long-term societal resilience, with programs evaluated for sustainability in areas like post-disaster recovery and community training.^[29]

Intellectual and Public Engagement

Column Writing and Economic Commentary

Hashim Djojohadikusumo has expressed economic views primarily through public speeches, interviews, and advisory discussions, emphasizing aggressive growth strategies amid Indonesia's post-pandemic recovery.

It includes a proactive program to promote deeper understanding and closer relations between the United States and Southeast Asia.

Other notable achievements include: the backing of programs to save the orangutan and honey bears of Kalimantan (Borneo), and the welfare of the wild elephant population of Sumatra.

As a noted businessman and philanthropist, Hashim has devoted the past twenty years to a variety of pressing social issues in Indonesia.

He has repeatedly projected an 8 percent annual GDP growth target as achievable by late 2025, attributing potential gains to state-led initiatives like the free school meal program (MBG), which he estimates could add up to 2 percentage points to growth via multiplier effects on agriculture, nutrition, and consumption.^[32][33] This program, budgeted at an additional Rp 100 trillion in early 2025, targets children and pregnant women to address stunting while stimulating rural economies.^[33]In advocating fiscal expansion, Djojohadikusumo has endorsed raising Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio toward the 60 percent statutory limit under Law No.

17/2003, arguing it would fund infrastructure and social spending without risking sustainability, provided revenues from untapped sources materialize.^[34] He identifies Rp 660 trillion in potential additional state revenue through enforced taxation on non-compliant businesses, carbon credit sales, and digital economy levies, framing these as low-hanging opportunities overlooked in prior administrations.^[35] Djojohadikusumo positions himself as a capitalist favoring market-driven efficiency, contrasting with his brother Prabowo Subianto's perceived socialist leanings, yet supports state intervention in key sectors like housing, which he views as a multiplier for employment and construction amid 27 million families in substandard dwellings.^[36][37][38]His commentary also addresses inequality, noting that Indonesia's 10 wealthiest families hold more assets than 114 million citizens, while pushing downstreaming (hilirisasi) and clean energy transitions as pragmatic paths to inclusive growth without abrupt decarbonization.^[39][40] Critiquing international frameworks, he has labeled the Paris Climate Accord as inequitable to developing economies, prioritizing domestic energy security over stringent emissions cuts that could impose "economic suicide."^[41] These positions, often voiced in forums like economic summits, align with a "daring" policy stance to elevate Indonesia's global standing, though some analysts deem 8-9 percent growth projections overly optimistic given structural constraints.^[42][43]

Advocacy for Business and Policy

Hashim Djojohadikusumo has advocated for policies emphasizing accelerated economic growth, regulatory simplification, and strategic state intervention to bolster Indonesia's business environment.

Up to this day, Prabowo’s company is owned by Hashim.

After successfully saving Prabowo’s company, Hashim Djojohadikusumo also achieved control over the concession of forestry land, around 97 acres, in Central Aceh. Hashim’s other interests include equestrian sports, and he is a founding member of the polo association in Indonesia.

Columnist

Since early 2014, Hashim has been selected to write an occasional column for the Huffington Post.

Hashim Djojohadikusumo has been linked to various controversies.

By September and October, authorities extended seizures to bank accounts linked to Djojohadikusumo's family members, including his nephew and nieces, as part of efforts to recover portions of the outstanding amount.^[74]