Drs. Eddie Lembong

CCEVI / Indonesia Media

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Academic and Business Achievements

Eddie Lembong was born in Teluk Tomini, Central Sulawesi as Eddie Ong Joe San, in Mandarin Wang Youshan. He g raduated from the School of Pharmacy , Bandung Institute of Technology, ITB (May 1965) as Pharmaceutical Scientist & Pharmacist. After graduating, he has been active in the Pharmaceutical business, educational, social and professional activities. He is married with three children. All have received their University education in the USA .

Eddie Lembong is founder and President Director of PT. Pharos, one of the largest and leading pharmaceutical industries in Indonesia (revenues reported in 2002 are over 30 Million Dollars US in the first six months). PT Pharos Indonesia produces a wide range of ethical, OTC, generics, and specialty lines, including licensed manufacturing for multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Its annual production has reached : - 200 million tablets - 50 million capsules - 125 kilolitres of liquid - 15 tonnes of semisolids (cream and ointments) - 60 tonnes of powder Production is placed under strict quality assurance.

Chinese Indonesian Identity

In 1999, less than one year after the internationally condemned anti-Chinese riots took place in May 1998, Eddie Lembong founded Perhimpunan INTI ( the Chinese-Indonesian Association). It became clear from the May 98 tragedy that the racial divide between the Indonesian Chinese and Indigenous, inherited from the colonial period, is an impediment to the nation’s progress and development. From generation to generation the Indonesian Chinese have suffered various forms of discrimination and violence. Violence and harassment to the Chinese Indonesians have been so common to the extent that such occurrences are accepted as being normal and proper. On the other hand, Perhimpunan INTI is also conscious of the fact that a compounding factor to the Chinese Indonesian dilemma is the prevalent perception among the Indonesian people that Chinese Indonesians are not contributing their fair share in commitments and obligations toward the nation.

This perception, however, is not consistent with history. Chinese migrants settled in Indonesia many centuries before the Dutch and have contributed to shaping and enriching the region in different aspects of life, including religion, culture, economics and trade. They have also taken part in the struggle for independence in 1945. Therefore, Chinese Indonesians are an integral part of the Indonesian nation, and Perhimpunan INTI’s mission is to foster Chinese Indonesians to

• encourage their sense of nationalism
• be cognizant of both their obligations and rights as Indonesian citizens
• fully participate and take responsibility in all aspects (political, social and cultural) of the country’s development and rebuilding.

Nation Builder and Philanthropist

In 2006, Drs. Eddie Lembong founded Yayasan NABIL which stands for “ Yayasan Nation Building ”. He realizes that successful nation-building cannot be achieved without successful economic development and progress. While the number of wealthy Indonesians may have increased, the number of poverty stricken people is many times more. Therefore, from both economic and social points of view, the strong are obligated to help the weak without any discrimination.

With respect to the Indonesian culture, every ethnic cultural group has their own unique strengths and beauty. If the Indonesian people are able to meet the challenge of “Cross Cultural Fertilization”, then an enriched and cultured civilization will emerge.

In the quest for nation-building, Yayasan NABIL engages in the following projects:

• the publishing of books based on doctoral dissertations that contain elements of nation building
• scholarships for doctoral programs
• the presentations of the NABIL award to scholars whose scientific work have significant positive influence on nation building in Indonesia . The 2007 recipient of the NABIL award is Dr. Claudine Salmon, Director of Research Emeritus at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris , France on her research about the Chinese Indonesian’s significant contribution to Islamization in Indonesia .

Respected Academic and Visionary

In addition to holding titles at PT. Pharos, Drs. Eddie Lembong currently holds the following organizational positions:

• Founding Chairman of NABIL Foundation
• Board of Governors Chinese Heritage Centre Singapore .
• Learned Honorary Chairman/Founder The Chinese Indonesian Association (Perhimpunan INTI)

He is a respected member and conference contributor to FAPA (Federation of Asia Pharmaceutical Association and ISSCO (The International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas).