Profile Of Martua Sitorus: Raja Sawit Founder Of Wilmar International And KPN Corporation

YOGYAKARTA - Martua Sitorus is known as one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Indonesia who has succeeded in building businesses in various sectors. His name soared after establishing Wilmar International, the global agribusiness company that is now the largest palm oil producer in the world.

Under his leadership, Wilmar grew into an international business network spread across more than 50 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and America. Martua's success did not come instantly. He is known as a visionary who is able to read opportunities and dares to take risks in developing his business.

Martua Sitorus or Thio Seng Hap was born in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, in 1966. He came from a family of small traders who lived mediocre. Since childhood, Martua has been used to helping her parents sell shrimp and fish, and even became a newspaper to help the family's economy.

Martua studied at HKBP University Nomensen, Medan, with an economic major, which later became a strong basis for her business journey. After graduating from college, Martua started a small business in the field of palm oil in Medan, which became the starting point for her success.

In the 1980s, Martua met with Kuok Khoon Hong, a businessman from Malaysia who later became his business partner. The two of them co-founded Wilmar International, a company that initially focused on palm oil trading. It didn't take long for them to build their first palm oil processing plant in 1991 and acquire oil palm plantations in Sumatra.

With the innovative spirit, Martua continues to expand Wilmar's business scale to the international market. He also formed a strategic partnership with Adani Group from India, giving birth to Adani Wilmar's company which focuses on distributing food products. Wilmar is now one of the world's agribusiness giants.

Wilmar International is not only engaged in plantations and processing of palm oil, but also in the distribution of various food products. Under the direction of Martua Sitorus, the company introduced a number of highly popular packaged cooking oil brands, such as Sania, Fortune, Jubille, and Aadhar.

Wilmar's business expansion does not stop there. Martua is also expanding its business lines into the processed food sector, biofuel, and logistics of agribusiness. This diversification strategy makes Wilmar stronger in the midst of global competition and strengthens his position as the most influential agribusiness company in Asia.

In addition to the agribusiness sector, Martua Sitorus has also succeeded in building a business empire in the property sector through Gamaland, a company he manages with his brother, Ganda Sitorus. Gamaland is one of the leading developers in Indonesia with prestigious projects such as Gama Tower in Jakarta, Arandra Residence in Cempaka Putih, and a high-tech shopping center in Bandung.

Martua is also expanding its business to the infrastructure sector, one of which is through the plan to build the Solo-Yogyakarta toll road in collaboration with PT Adhi Karya. In the health sector, he developed the Murni Teguh Hospital network.

In 2018, after bringing Wilmar to the pinnacle of global success, Martua Sitorus decided to step down from the board of directors of the company. He then founded KPN Corporation with his brother, Ganda Sitorus, to continue his business work in various sectors. KPN Corporation is now focusing on oil palm, property, cement manufacturing, and health.

Under the KPN flag, Martua has again made a big achievement. cement company Cemindo Gemilang officially took the floor on the stock exchange in 2021, while Murni Sadar Hospital conducted its first public offering (IPO) in 2022.

According to Forbes records, in 2024, Martua Sitorus' wealth will reach US$3.4 billion or around Rp55.4 trillion. This achievement places him in 18th position on the list of the richest people in Indonesia and reinforces his reputation as one of the most successful business figures in Southeast Asia.