Mourning news envelopes the nation. National businessman and senior politician, Rachmat Gobel, passed away on Friday (10/7/2026) at Brawijaya Hospital, Tebet, Jakarta. Born in Gorontalo on September 3, 1962, he passed away at the age of 63, leaving behind a deep legacy of service in both the industrial sector and the national political arena.
As the eldest son of Gobel Group founder Thayeb Mohammad Gobel, Rachmat was entrusted with the leadership baton at a young age following his father's passing in 1984. Equipped with international education from Chuo University in Tokyo, he successfully transformed the family business into a resilient conglomerate. One of his greatest achievements was maintaining a solid strategic partnership with Panasonic through PT Panasonic Gobel Indonesia, even when the 1998 monetary crisis struck the national economy.
Rachmat Gobel's career was not limited to corporate boardrooms. He was known as a technocrat with a deep understanding of trade and technology. His dedication led him to hold several crucial positions, ranging from Minister of Trade in the Working Cabinet (2014-2015), Special Envoy of the President to Japan, to serving as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia (DPR RI) from the NasDem Party Faction.
In the eyes of the people of Gorontalo, Rachmat Gobel was not merely a businessman, but a figure dubbed "Ti Bulilango Hunggia" or "The Light Giver of the Nation" for his social dedication and development contributions. Throughout his life, he was also active in various strategic organizations, including KADIN Indonesia, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and leading the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI).
The passing of Rachmat Gobel is a great loss for the nation. He is remembered as a person who successfully harmonized Japanese industrial discipline with Indonesian nationalism, strengthened the position of domestic products in the global market, and consistently served the nation's economic and political progress until the end of his life.
