Rachmad Gobel
Rachmad Gobel is an Indonesian businessman and politician from Gorontalo. His family controls the company, Gobel Group which is now called PT. Panasonic Gobel Indonesia, an Indonesian division of Panasonic. He is also the former Minister of Trade and the Indonesian President's Special Envoy to Japan. Currently, he is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Early life and education
Gobel is the fifth child and first male son of entrepreneur Thayeb Mohammad Gobel and his wife Annie Nento Gobel from Gorontalo. Thayeb Gobel was well known as the founder of the business group and pioneered electronics industry in Indonesia. From childhood he was educated to become the heir and leader of the Gobel business group, founded and led by his father. After graduating from high school in Jakarta in 1981, Rachmad Gobel chose to continue his studies in Japan at the Chuo University. After four years he completed his studies at the Department of International Trade.In 1984, Gobel attended Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan where he graduated with a Bachelors of International Trade Studies. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctorate from the Takushoku University. In 2014, he received another honorary doctorate from Takushoku University.
Business career
Panasonic
In 1989, Gobel returned to Indonesia and was appointed assistant to the President Director of PT. Panasonic Gobel. The company is a joint venture between Japan with Indonesia in the field of industrial manufacturing of electronics, which was established in 1970. In 1991, Gobel was officially appointed as member of the board of directors to oversee company's management planning.In 1993, he was appointed Vice President Director of PT. National Gobel. Since 2002, Rachmad has served as Commissioner of PT. National Gobel. He is also the principle at PT. Apple Indonesia.