Rudy J. Pesik & and 2nd event of Putri Kopi Indonesia

Chairman and CEO of PT Birotika Semesta (DHL), apart from many other positions he holds, including the Vice President of Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce.

Donning a Manadonese ikkat shirt, Rudy J. Pesik welcomed me at Kopi Kamu, located on Majapahit street, Jakarta, this afternoon, to talk about a lot of things, and one of them was 2012’s Miss Indonesian Coffee pageant. Still vigorous in his 72 years of age, Rudy J. Pesik always looks energetic, despite his hectic life holding diversed managerial positions in his corporations, as well as being involved a bunch of social events. So don’t be surprised to see Rudy having hundreds of business cards with different positions – both local and international.

Rudy started the conversation by telling me about the committee of the annual Miss World Coffee pageant in Colombia who asked him to send a candidate from Indonesia. In the past, other than being a businessman, Rudy J. Pesik had long been involved in beauty pageants to promote Indonesia in the international world. That’s why, as a member of many committees, he feels obligated to create the same event in Indonesia.

Thanks to his hard work, 14 provinces with 13 candidates participated in Miss Indonesian Coffee pageant, and Laskary Andaly Metal Bitticaca from Toraja – who was completing her Master’s degree at Bandung Institute of Technology – successfully became the second runner up in Colombia, last December 2011, as well as being honored with the title of the candidate with the most beautiful hair. “It was already much better than we expected,” said Rudy, while acknowledging the fact that Indonesian candidates who participated in similar pageants usually got overlooked by others.

Additionally, Indonesia has been the only country in Asia that organizes Miss Coffee pageant. Because of his position as a renowned businessman, Rudy was asked by the Colombian committee to help organizing a Miss Coffee pageant in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, India and Sri Lanka, as well as several other countries in Africa.

This coming July, together with the second Miss Indonesian Coffee pageant, another event called Pameran Kopi Internasional (International Coffee Exhibition) will be held – located at Pekan Raya Jakarta (PRJ). Akamedi Kopi Indonesia (Indonesian Coffee Academy) is also Rudy’s major plan, complete with accessible internet learning system but only in Indonesia, which is going to be officially launched in the same month. Under Yayasan Kopi Indonesia(Indonesian Coffee Association), it is planned that in 2015, the academy will have international merits and the lessons be presented in different languages.

“There are simply too many coffee terms in Italian,” said Rudy, while mentioning one of the biggest coffee franchises in Indonesia that does not own any coffee plantations but is able to sell Indonesian coffee. “I take it as a challenge, and this is my second year establishing this coffee company. I am always excited about coffee and everything about it is interesting to learn,” he continued. Rudy has currently succeeded in gathering 20 of the best Indonesian coffee suppliers. Indonesia itself lies on 1/8 of the equator, which gives unique characteristics to its produce, as well as making Indonesian arabica coffee a superior choice in the world. “That, I’m very sure of,” confirmed Rudy.

Still talking enthusiastically about the second Miss Indonesian Coffee pageant, Rudy is holding a national conference in a form of an open dialog between coffee businessmen and women in Indonesia. In this forum, the things that will be discussed are the obstacles that they are facing when trying to improve Indonesian coffee in the international market. Rudy hopes that related government ministers and departments can answer questions and handle complaints from the coffee traders.

Rudy has been a businessman since the 60s so he’s used to a lot of competitions and he is not one bit worried with the obstacles that he will face to introduce Indonesian coffee to the world. Interestingly, Indonesia is the only country that still owns DHL as a company, because the head office trusts their shares to Rudy, despite Rudy trying to offer it back to them.

The Coffee Pageant is planned to be held in Shangrila hotel, in Jakarta, exactly on July 15, 2012, and Rudy believes that this event will be successful and earn a lot of supports from many sponsors. Rudy still remembers when the late president Soekarno organized Asia Africa Conference in 1955 – an even that lost its momentum long ago. So Rudy was enthusiastic to organize Asian African Beauty Pageant in April 2013, in the month that the Asia Africa Conference 1955 was held, because he wants to relive the event back by making it as an international event. Even though it’s impossible to please everyone, Rudy always remains positive, especially will all the things that he has done in his career as a businessman.