17 Facts About Soedarpo Sastrosatomo

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was an Indonesian businessman, diplomat and journalist.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was born in Pangkalan Susu, in what is today Langkat Regency of North Sumatra on 30 June 1920, the seventh of nine siblings.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was of Javanese origins, and his father was a clerk for the civil administration of Dutch East Indies.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was noted as Indonesia's "first government PR officer".

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo joined the Indonesian Socialist Party upon its formation in 1948, and helped launch a Dutch-language weekly paper Het Inzicht in addition to working at English publication Voice of Indonesia.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo worked at the Ministry of Defence under Amir Sjarifudin.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was sent to New York as a press officer in 1948 and he later became part of the Indonesian delegation at the 1949 Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo became the Indonesian representative to the United Nations Security Council.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo obtained contracts and import licenses for military vehicles.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo borrowed money from Hamengkubuwono IX to purchase a 75 percent stake at Dutch-owned shipping company Indonesian Shipping and Transport in 1953, and became its managing director.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo acquired Dutch stevedoring firm Stroohoeden Veem in 1956.

In 1964, ISTA and the stevedoring companies under Soedarpo Sastrosatomo's control were merged into a single firm, Samudera Indonesia.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo founded insurance company Asuransi Bintang and Bank Niaga in 1955.

Dutch historian Thomas Lindblad noted that Soedarpo Sastrosatomo "reputedly became the single most successful indigenous capitalist of the Sukarno period".

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was a member of Rotary International, becoming one of its district governors.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was married to Minarsih "Mien" Wiranatakoesoemah and has had three daughters: Shanti Lasminingsih Poesposoetjipto, Ratna Djuwita Tunggul Hatma, and Chandraleika Mulia.

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo was buried in the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery.