DR. GIDEON HARTONO WINS ASIA PACIFIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS - APEA 2015

During awarding event of Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards VIII 2015, on Wednesday. 9 December 2015, The CEO who is also the Founder of PT. K-24 Indonesia, dr. Gideon Hartono, won APEA Award 2015 in Outstanding Category. This award was granted to dr. Gideon for his effort to build PT. K-24 Indonesia since 2002.

This award was a form of appreciation towards dr. Gideon Hartono in building and developing Apotek K-24 retail pharmacy for the last 12 years in Indonesia. Until today, the franchise retail of Apotek K-24 had launched more than 350 outlets which are expanded in 96 cities/regencies in 23 provinces in Indonesia. In improving his business, dr. Gideon gets three lessons. First, a failure in a way can be changed to a success in other way. Second, idea and business system can be found anywhere (it does not have to be in large city like Jakarta), and it can be developed if it is done professionally and well systemized. Third, a successful business can be started from a simple idea which is supported with good will.

After successfully establishing Apotek K-24, the man who was born in Yogyakarta 52 years ago, always tries to improve his business in various sectors, such as health and education. In 2007, dr. Gideon Hartono who likes photography since he was young, also founded clinic laboratory HI Lab Diagnostic Center. Then, in 2011, dr. Gideon Hartono also established PT. Ka Dua Empat (KDE) which is a company that distributes pharmacy - Pharmaceutical wholesalers (Pedagang Besar Farmasi) in Yogyakarta. In 2013, through Pelita Bangsa Foundation, a foundation of Medical Faculty Gadjah Mada University alumnus year 1990, he founded Pelita Bangsa Health Vocational School in Yogyakarta. In the same year, he also founded PT. Brilian Dinamik Gumilang, a company that focuses on information technology and software development with the brand “Bridge Healthcare System Solution”. In 2014, along with his ophthalmologists colleagues, he founded Klinik Mata Sehati (Sehati Eye Clinic). In 2015, dr. Gideon also started to build herbal factory “Odixa Pharma Laboratories”, beauty clinic “Ergia Klinik Skincare & Research”, JKN Plus Clinic, Adult Vaccination Center, and Hemorrhoids center. In the middle of his bustle in controlling various business in health and education, dr. Gideon Hartono is also actively involved in social organization, and participated as the treasurer of Indonesian Red Cross DIY and the chief of Board of Trustees of Budya Wacana National Education and Teaching Foundation, Besides, he is also the advisor of Association of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs in DIY.

dr. Gideon also added that this award motivates him to keep improving his business in pharmacy, health, and education so that Indonesia can be more advanced. Meanwhile, dr. Gideon Hartono also hopes that young entrepreneurs will always have vision, smart working, and keep investing so that they can build a bigger business world.

The secretary of Ministry of Cooperative and Small-Medium Entreprises, Ir. Agus Muharram,MSP who also attended the awarding ceremony stated that all businessman should always stimulate people to have entrepreneurial spirit so that there will be more advanced business climate, because it will be in line with vision and mission of the Ministry of Cooperative and Small and Medium Entreprises.

Asia Pacific Entrepreneur Awards - APEA is an amazing regional awards for entrepreneurship. APEA was built by the idea of businessmen who keeps innovating and maintaining their leadership. That is why there have to be three elements that support the benchmark towards practice, past confession, and recent efforts and continuous publicity to public’s attention.

According to Dr. Fong Chan Onn, the chairman of Enterprise Asia, APEA provides real platform for companies and government to acknowledge and be acknowledged as entrepreneurship priority, This activity is useful to improve larger innovation, fair practice and entrepreneurship growth. As regional award, APEA will be able to unite entrepreneurs’ mission, leading all area together, as the strong voice and creating the best chance for a network.

Since 2007, more than 1200 companies and high level businessmen from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and China were granted with this prestigious award.

Dato William Ng, the president of Enterprise Asia stated that APEA Program keeps developing on other Asia countries. APEA focused on continuous effort to know and give appreciation to people who show their entrepreneurship spirit in leading, growing, and giving contribution to people and the country.

By achieving APEA 2015 award, besides completing other awards received before, dr. Gideon Hartono and PT. K-24 Indonesia, as the entrepreneur in pharmacy, health, and education, locally, nationally, and internationally, are thankful to everyone for trusting and cooperating all this time.