On March 24th (Mon.), 2014, a ceremony was held to present a Chuo University Honorary Doctorate Degree to Mr. Rachmat Gobel, Board Chairperson of the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association, and Chairperson of Panasonic Gobel Group.

On the Korakuen Campus, Mr. Gobel gave speeches at the graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the ceremony to present Master’s Degrees for the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. Afterwards, Mr. Gobel went to the Imperial Hotel, where an Honorary Doctorate Degree Ceremony was held at the Peacock Room.

Mr. Gobel is the 12th person to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Chuo University.

Following his father’s footsteps, Mr. Gobel has worked tirelessly to cultivate human resources and ensure growth in his native country of the Republic of Indonesia. He has also made significant contributions to friendly relations between the Republic of Indonesia and Japan, as well as to social welfare projects. The Chuo University Honorary Doctorate Degree was presented in recognition of these accomplishments.

The ceremony began with speeches by President Tadahiko Fukuhara and Acting Chancellor Akira Tohyama. Afterwards, Mr. Gobel was presented with an academic degree and commemorative academic gown. The ceremony concluded with a speech of gratitude by Mr. Gobel.

The presentation ceremony and after party were attended by Chuo University representatives including President Fukuhara, the Faculty and Graduate School Deans, Mr. Gobel’s former instructor, Professor Emeritus Mitsuhiko Tsuruta, and his wife. Also in attendance were more than 30 Indonesian VIPs including His Excellency Dr. Yusron Ihza Mahendra, the Indonesian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan. The events had a calm and cheerful atmosphere which promised a bright future for Japan-Indonesia relations.

On the following day, Mr. Gobel also gave speeches at the graduation ceremony and ceremony to present Master’s Degrees on the Tama Campus. He sent a strong message while bidding farewell to students on the verge of entering society as working adults.

Background and achievements of Mr. Rachmat Gobel

Mr. Gobel was born in Jakarta in 1962. He graduated from the Department of Marketing and Trade in the Faculty of Commerce, Chuo University in 1987. Afterwards, Mr. Gobel underwent practical training at Panasonic before returning to Indonesia in 1988.

His father Mohammad Gobel worked at National Gobel, a joint venture company founded in 1970 together with Japan’s Matsushita Electric Industrial. Mr. Rachmat Gobel learned much under the tutelage of his father and Konosuke Matsushita.

Afterwards, the Gobel Group grew dramatically through a joint venture company formed from 6 companies including Panasonic Gobel Indonesia. Under the guidance of Mr. Rachmat Gobel, the group expanded into a wide range of business including the production and sale of products such as home appliances, logistics, food industry, advertising and hotels. Currently, the Gobel Group has a total of 20 thousand employees.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Mr. Gobel accompanied President Yudhoyono on a visit to emergency shelters for disaster sites in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. As Board Chairperson of the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association, Mr. Gobel gathered 20 million yen in aid money from association members and former foreign students. The money was donated to 8 hospitals and 12 welfare facilities in the Tohoku region.

In this way Mr. Gobel’s achievements span a broad range including economic cooperation, interpersonal exchange and cultivation of human resources. He has contributed significantly to friendly relations between Indonesia and Japan.