Jakarta – December 10th 2009 at Ballroom - The Ritz Carlton - Pacific Place. MarkPlus Conference, the largest marketing event in Southeast Asia has returned.  This annual event that has been held every year in Jakarta, is presented by MarkPlus, Inc., visited by 4000+ participants, 400+ companies and 40+ speakers.  This time, this end of the year event carries the theme “MarkPlus Conference 2010: New Momentum, New Strategy.”

In his welcoming speech, founder and CEO of MarkPlus, Inc., Hermawan Kartajaya presented “Marketing in Indonesia 2010”, stating that Indonesia has successfully avoided the 2009 crisis as predicted by many.

In 2009, as the world’s economy has been impacted by the global financial crisis, Indonesia, Tiongkok as well as India only experienced an economic “downturn”.  These three countries are, in fact, considered as the leaders for the global economic development and growth in 2010.


Regarding the ASEAN economic integration matter, the decline in many import rates in various industry sectors are balanced with the increase of competition.  It should be noted that, in the middle of the global crisis, various investments from multinational companies in Indonesia still exists, taking advantage of Indonesia’s large economic scale.
 In 2009, we have faced a local challenge regarding political campaign issues and the general election.  We should be proud that Indonesian citizens have proven themselves to be wiser and not easily provoked.  Although the campaign season was full of friction, everything ended smoothly.

After successfully coping with the global economic crisis at the end of 2009, Indonesia’s golden economic period is starting to be visible in 2010.  Nevertheless, Hermawan has emphasized the importance of the existence of uncertainty, because uncertainty has become the new normality in this New Wave era.  Therefore, as said by Hermawan at the conference, ”The Sky looks brighter, however, uncertainty is the new normality.”

In the middle of the uncertainties that have become the new normality, Hermawan also pointed out the importance of staying connected to the changes, whether it’s a landscape change or a movement towards marketing itself.

Landscape changes have to be continuously observed and marketers are suggested to stay CONNECTed!  Marketers should also CONNECT themselves and realize that marketing has shifted from a vertical model to a more horizontal one, in accordance with the New Wave Marketing era.  As what has been said by Hermawan, “2012 will not be the end of civilization, instead, it will be a civilization of the old marketing, legacy marketing“

Hermawan has also taken the advantage of the occasion to launch his latest book entitled, “CONNECT! Surfing New Wave Marketing”, the first marketing book in Indonesia that was written communally and involving bloggers and readers.

Similar to previous years, MarkPlus, Inc., together with Indonesia Marketing Association (IMA), presented the Marketer of the Year Indonesia 2009 award that was won by Emirsyah Satar, CEO of Garuda Indonesia, this year.  Under his leadership, this national airline is able to fly through the year and landed smoothly.

As the champion, Singapore Airlines, suffered a financial loss due to their dependence to international routes.  Garuda’s profit, on the other hand, increased rapidly.  As other airlines lowered their price, Garuda “maintained” their loyal customers, since the start of the “difficult era” in Q1 this year.

Starting Q2, creativity started to emerge by with the introduction of more “new services” that has attracted customers who have already migrated to Low Cost Airlines.  In the end, in Q4, we are able to observe that an added-value in the form of business class lounge that has been quite prestigious and the special luggage counter has made Business Class passengers feel comfortable and stay loyal.

This year’s Marketer of the Year Indonesia 2009 Award was a little different from the previous years.  This time, Marketer of the Year went through a process of selecting 18 Marketing Champions from 6 industries, 3 champions for each industry. From the 3 champions in each industry, one Champion is selected as the Marketer of the Year Indonesia 2009 winner in that specific industry, and from the 18 Champions, one Champion was awarded as the overall winner for Marketer of the Year Indonesia 2009.

In the year 2009, we have also lost many renowned names in the marketing world who have given a large contribution and created a legacy that will never be forgotten by society.  There are at least four that we consider legendary, and to appreciate their contribution in the marketing world, MarkPlus, Inc., through Marketeers (largest marketer community in Indonesia), presented an Immortal Marketing Award 2009 to those who has inspired other marketers.  These four legends are:

• Angky Camaro (formerly worked for Indofood, Indomobil, HM Sampoerna) is a world icon in the world of automotives,
• Timothy Mackay (Holcim) whose contribution to the development of the industry and the country is never questioned.  Everyone, from his family, employees, business partners, distributors, to customers and the cement industry have lost a figure that has long been idolized,
• Mbah Surip who has become the face of Indonesia’s entertainment marketing industry in the middle of the New Wave that is very much CONNECTed,
• Michael Jackson, who is not only the King of Pop and has inspired millions of people in the world, is also a marketing genius.

This year’s MarkPlus Conference 2010 also presented a couple of ceremonial events, including the launch of The Marketeers, the largest marketer community in Indonesia that was previously called MarkPlus Club.  The Marketeers, with its three features, The Club (club), The Mag (magazine) and The Net (social media), is a connection platform for marketers, providing them the chance to be a marketer who can lead us all to a completely CONNECTed market in the New Wave era.

For further information please contact:

Ms. Tiara Dewi Martiana
Segitiga Emas Business Park CBD B 01/01
Jl. Prof. Dr. Satrio Kav. 6
Jakarta 12940

Tel:    62-21-570 2338         
Fax:    62-21-570 2328
Email:     tiara.dewi@markplusinc.com