Martua Sitorus

A former economics student who now owns property with Gama Corporation, along the way Martua Sitorus became the world’s biggest palm-oil trader.

In 1991, he co-founded agri-business firm Wilmar International with another businessman, Singaporean Kuok Khoon Hong. The duo worked to see Wilmar’s expansion, with more than 300 manufacturing plants, and distribution across the globe in more than 50 countries. The company became the world’s most prolific processor of palm oil, as well as the eighth-largest sugar producer. In 2020, Sitorus became one of the wealthiest people in Asia, with a net worth of around US$1.9 billion in September 2020.

In 2018, Sitorus stepped off the board of Wilmar to work with his brother, Ganda Thio. The two set up Gama Corporation, which focuses on property business. Part of this endeavour is erecting the Gama Tower, the tallest building in both Jakarta and Indonesia since 2016, whose 20 uppermost floors are occupied by the Westin Hotel.