Remembering Rachmat Gobel: The Business Leader Who Shaped Panasonic Indonesia

JAKARTA, Jakartaweekly.com—Businessman and politician Rachmat Gobel passed away on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the age of 63. The news was first announced by his family on his official Instagram account, @rachmatgobel_rg.

Born in Gorontalo, Rachmat Gobel is remembered as a hardworking leader with deep compassion for those around him. He was widely respected for his ability to build relationships and unite people across Indonesia’s political landscape.

NasDem Party Chairman Surya Paloh described Gobel as one of the most trustworthy and capable individuals he had ever worked with. Paloh even said he regarded Gobel as his own younger brother.

“During his time in the NasDem Party, he was entrusted with serving as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and previously as Indonesia’s Minister of Trade. He was hardworking, approachable, and I feel as though I have lost a younger brother,” Surya Paloh told reporters at the funeral home.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung also remembered Gobel as a warm-hearted person with genuine concern for others. According to Pramono, the two maintained a close friendship and met regularly every two weeks.

“He was very friendly, caring, and an incredibly kind person. We have all lost someone who served as a bridge between many different groups in the political world,” Pramono said.

Pramono also highlighted Gobel’s significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, noting that his years of education in Japan enabled him to play an important role in fostering bilateral relations.

Rachmat Gobel’s Business Career

Rachmat Gobel was born into a prominent business family and was raised to continue the enterprise built by his parents. Born on September 3, 1962, he was the fifth child of the late H. Thayeb Mohammad Gobel and Annie Nento Gobel.

His father, H. Thayeb Mohammad Gobel, had already established himself as a successful entrepreneur in 1954 when he founded PT Transistor Radio Manufacturing, the company behind the locally produced Tjawang transistor radio. The business later became the foundation of PT Gobel International.

In 1960, the company entered into a technical partnership with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Through this collaboration, PT Transistor manufactured Indonesia’s first black-and-white television sets, allowing Indonesians to watch the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta. The company also produced bemo public transport vehicles during its early years.

A decade later, in 1970, Thayeb Gobel signed a joint venture agreement with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. to establish PT National Gobel, now known as PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia.

Following his father’s passing, Rachmat Gobel became actively involved in the family’s businesses in 1984.

Between 1991 and 1993, the group established new manufacturing facilities and sales companies under the Panasonic brand. In 1993, Gobel officially assumed leadership of the Matsushita Gobel Group joint venture.

His achievements were recognized nationally in 1996, when President Soeharto presented him with the Primaniyarta Award for the company’s outstanding export performance.

Under his leadership, the Gobel Group continued expanding through a series of strategic joint ventures, including:

• Satake Gobel Indonesia (2013)
• Kaikoukai Indonesia (2013)
• Chateraise Gobel Indonesia (2016)
• Panasonic Homes Gobel Indonesia (2016)
• SMB Gobel Indonesia (2018)
• Pellegrini Gobel Services (2020)

During the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, when many Indonesian conglomerates struggled to survive, Gobel successfully kept the company afloat. In 2000, he also secured the renewal of the joint venture agreement between PT Gobel International and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

As one of Indonesia’s leading industrial figures, Gobel held numerous influential positions. He served as Chairman of the Indonesian Electronics Association, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), and in 2006 was appointed President of the Indonesia-Japan Friendship Association.

He also served as:

• President Director of PT Global International (1994–2004)
• Commissioner of PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia (2002–2014)
• Commissioner of PT Panasonic Gobel Indonesia (2004–2014)

In addition, Gobel held commissioner positions at PT SMART Tbk, PT Indosat Tbk, and PT Visi Media Asia Tbk.

Rachmat Gobel’s Political Journey

Rachmat Gobel’s success in business naturally brought him closer to public service and politics. Active in various organizations from a young age, he built a strong public reputation that eventually led President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to appoint him as Indonesia’s Minister of Trade.

However, Gobel served in the position for only 10 months before being replaced by Thomas Lembong during a cabinet reshuffle.

A year after leaving the cabinet, he joined the NasDem Party and became Chairman of the party’s Economic Affairs Division. Through NasDem, Gobel continued building his political career.

In 2019, he was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) for the 2019–2024 term, representing the Gorontalo electoral district.

For the 2024–2029 parliamentary term, Gobel served as Head of the NasDem Party faction within Commission VI of the DPR while also becoming a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP).

More recently, Gobel had been actively commenting on the South China Sea issue. He urged ASEAN member states to finalize the Code of Conduct (COC) to ease regional tensions and preserve stability. He consistently advocated dialogue as the primary mechanism for resolving disputes.

“In doing so, regional economic growth can be maintained, trade among ASEAN member states can remain healthy, and ultimately prosperity can be achieved for the people of every ASEAN country, including Indonesia,” Gobel said in a written statement on Friday (July 3).

Gobel also frequently voiced criticism of government policies. One notable example came during Indonesia’s cooking oil shortage in late 2021, when he urged the government to require cooking oil producers to share responsibility for ensuring sufficient market supply and stabilizing prices.

Educational Background

Although born in Gorontalo, Rachmat Gobel spent most of his education in Jakarta and Japan.

He graduated from:

• SD Republika Mexico Pagi, Jakarta (1974)
• SMP Negeri 11 Jakarta (1977)
• SMA Negeri 3 Jakarta (1981)

As a child, Gobel developed a strong work ethic through his father’s discipline. Every school holiday, he was required to work at the family’s factory and even spent time working as a factory janitor.

After graduating from high school, Gobel continued his studies at Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan. He reportedly chose Japan to better understand the country’s work culture, as Matsushita Group—the company behind Panasonic—was the Gobel family’s principal business partner.

He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Commerce.

Rather than immediately taking a senior executive role in the family business, Gobel underwent professional training at Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. in Osaka, Japan.

While he was still studying in Japan, his father passed away, forcing him to gradually assume greater responsibility for the family business. After completing both his university education and corporate training, Gobel began his career as a trainer at a battery manufacturing plant before eventually becoming Assistant to the President Director of PT National Gobel, now known as PT Panasonic Manufacturing Indonesia.