CAREER
Abdul Halim Ashari joined BW Plantation in January 2002 when the company was just seven hundred hectares of mature plantations, about 7,000 hectares planted, with no mill and when Indonesia was in the wild throes of the Asian financial crises.
From initially as Director Operations to his current role as Presiden Director, Halim has steered BW to almost seventy thousand hectares of plantations with a fourth mill to be completed soon.
In 2009 he brought BW to the Indonesian stock market and quickly into both the MSCI small caps & blue chip LQ45 indexes. As a listed company, famed for growth, yield, oil quality and mechanization, BW has won numerous awards, including being twice named as ‘The Best of The Best’ by Forbes magazine.
Halim’s passion for the industry was built over a thirty seven year plantation career, starting as a cadet through assistant manager with Kulim Bhd, then moving to Boustead as Seniar Assistant Manager sent Halim thru to head International operations in Indonesia, during which time he attended the prestigious Harvard Business School senior management training program.
FRIENDSHIP IN HARMONY
Abdul Halim Ashari is the President of Malaysia Chambers Jakarta (MCJ), a non-profit organization run by members of the Malaysian community in Indonesia on a voluntary basis.
MCJ has developed a more dynamic and vibrant platform for Malaysian to interact and collaborate in social and business activities not only amongst Malaysians but and also with the local and the international community here in Jakarta.
GOLF AND PHOTOGRAPHY
As a CEO, stress is something inevitable, but Halim knows well how to make a re-route. Redirecting stress to hobbies and favorite activities increases positive energy, reduces his personal stress level and gives him a refreshed positive mental outlook to his daily decision makings. Golf has been his favorite sport since he started at the age of 20 till today and he plays golf both for relaxation as well as personal and business networking.
In recent years, Halim has taken a keen interest in photography.This new hobby was introduced to him by one of his close friends. Since then he found taking photographs to be very therapeutic as well as a means of relaxing the tired mind.
He began to capture interesting objects wherever he travels abroad especially the beauty of nature and human expression.
FAMILY
Halim is a loving and proud father of four wonderful sons: Malek, Mirza, Mateen, and Muadz. He has been happily married to his wife Raja Elona Raja Safian for 15 years now and they have successfully build a strong foundation of their family structure based on trust, faith, and most importantly, love.
Halim and Elona always put family as their priority in life. Spending time together with their children is always a wonderful experience and moment with family are always cherished. As the head of the family, Halim believes honesty, respect and openness among family members are the essential values to nurture good characters and to create a wholesome family environment filled with love and laughter.
Halim and his family have been residing in Indonesia for more than 20 years.
Traveling is one of their favorite activities. They enjoy discovering new places and culture.
