Jakarta. Chemicals and infrastructure solutions firm Chandra Asri Pacific recently said that its business diversification could help boost the company’s financial performance.

Chandra Asri made the statement when the company hosted the Launchpad to Success event in Jakarta last week. The event -- which embraced the theme “A New Era of Industry: Building the Future through Transformation and Competency” -- sought to introduce Chandra Asri’s new identity to the public.

The company has made some changes. Chandra Asri has acquired a variety of infrastructure assets particularly those related to water, electricity, and port. This newly founded infrastructure business will support the company’s chemical sector. Not only will this be a financial boon for the business, the diversification also aligns with the company’s commitment to becoming a growth partner for Indonesia.

According to Chandra Asri’s Legal and External Affairs Director Edi Riva’i, the diversification enables the company to provide a wider range of products. This will boost the company’s efficiency and productivity. The diversification will also help Chandra Asri be more competitive in the international market.

“It aligns with our goal to become a growth partner for our stakeholders, be it the government, customers, investors, employees, and the general public,” Edi said.

As the company makes these changes, Chandra Asri is honing its employees’ skills through training. Chandra Asri’s human resource (HR) system has also undergone digital transformation. Edi added: “We also involve our employees in the transformation process so that they can get direct learning opportunities.”

Suryandi, Chandra Asri’s Human Resources and Corporate Affairs Director, said that employees were pivotal to transforming a success. Employees are also key to enabling smooth business operations. He said: “That is why we allow our employees to grow and improve their competencies. So they can become part of the [company’s] growth.”

Philia Wibowo, who leads McKinsey’s People and Organizational Performance Practice in Southeast Asia, was also present during the conference. Philia shared what companies could do to develop their talents in today’s digital era.

“Employees have to learn skills and competencies in depth. Some skills are increasingly important too. The ability to get along with people and orchestrate the stakeholders to achieve a goal is also important soft skills that we should have,” Philia said.

Commitment to ESG and Sustainability

Chandra Asri took the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to sustainability as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. To promote sustainability, the company -- in partnership with other stakeholders -- has installed plastic asphalt spanning over 100 kilometers across the Indonesian archipelago. This plastic asphalt program seeks to show that plastic waste management can benefit the community.

Chandra Asri is also included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Global Standard Index for Emerging Markets. This index recognizes the company’s solid financial performance, strategic growth initiatives, and sustainability commitments.