Riki Kono Basmeleh

Sweet souvenirs

“BEING HALF- INDONESIAN and half-Japanese, my goal is to be a bridge for the two countries, especially in business,” says Riki Kono Basmeleh, the 28-year-old CEO of Omiyage Inc. “I have always dreamed of making a business that combines the cultures of each country. I saw potential in the souvenir and gift industry in Indonesia, so that’s what got me started in this business.”

Omiyage Inc. is a start-up. “The word omiyage means souvenir in Japanese,” explains Basmeleh. “We aim to create the best products that combine the potential of Indonesia and the know-how of our Japanese counterparts. For example, we are working with a well-established Japanese confectionary brand, LeTAO, and we have created Doré by LeTAO cheesecake in Indonesia. We have opened five cheesecake shops in Jakarta so far.”

Basmeleh earned a degree in International Business from the University of New South Wales in Sydney. His father is Jamal Ghozi Basmeleh, CEO of Pisma Group, a textile and garment manufacturing company. “I have watched him run our family business since I was little, and he has been my biggest influence,” says Riki. “He is the one who inspired me to become an entrepreneur. I believe that persistence and perseverance are the two most important elements that we need to survive as entrepreneurs. Also, it’s always important in my view to enjoy the journey. I’m enjoying the fact that I can go through something that is not easy to achieve. At the end of it, I feel like a better person.”