Early Life
Bachtiar Karim was born on November 5, 1957, in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. His father, Anwar Karim, founded the Nam Cheong Soap Factory in 1932, which laid the foundation for the family's future business endeavors. Karim grew up in a supportive environment that instilled in him a strong work ethic and a passion for entrepreneurship. He attended Hwa Chong Junior College in Singapore and later pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore.
Rise to Success
Karim joined the family business in 1981, gradually assuming more responsibilities. In 1970, the Karim family ventured into the palm oil industry, establishing the first palm oil refinery in Indonesia. Musim Mas was officially established in 1972, and under Bachtiar's leadership, the company expanded significantly. He officially took on the leadership role after his father's death in 1997, transforming the company into one of the world's largest palm oil companies.
Key Business Strategies
Bachtiar Karim's key business strategies involved vertical integration and strategic expansion. He oversaw the expansion of Musim Mas across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The company’s growth included the establishment of plantations, refineries, and manufacturing facilities, ensuring control over the entire supply chain. In 2019, the palm-oil company's turnover reached US$6.6 billion.
Philanthropy
Bachtiar Karim is actively involved in philanthropic activities. He established his own entrepreneur and training center in Medan. He donated $2 million to the National University of Singapore, his alma mater, to establish a professorship on sustainability. In 2020, he donated $3.7 million to various causes in Singapore, including the Singapore General Hospital and the Alzheimer's Disease Association. The Karim Family Foundation, established by Bachtiar Karim and his wife, Dewi Sukwanto, has also made a generous contribution to set up the Karim Family Foundation Scholarship at SMU.
