Entrepreneur of the Month: Mr. Brian Chan
月度最佳企業家：陳栢先生
Starting this year, INACHAM HK introduces a new section of “Entrepreneur of the Month” which features a business player and her/his story particularly to the Indonesia market. This month, we proudly present Mr. Brian Chan.
從今年開始，香港印尼商會推出了一個新的「月度最佳企業家」欄目，專門介紹一位企業家以及他/她在印尼市場的事蹟。這個月，我們榮幸地介紹 陳栢林先生。
What kind of business do you do in Indonesia?
你在印尼做什麼生意？
First and foremost, ELL Environmental Limited owns and operates biomass power plants in Indonesia, and we also produce biomass wood pellets for biomass power plants in Far East Asia. Currently we are in the exploration phase for fast-growing biomass plantations, so that we can achieve a sustainable raw material supply, and at the same time create jobs and industries for thousands of Indonesians across the country.
首先，ELL環境有限公司在印尼擁有並經營生物質能發電廠，我們也為遠東地區的生物質能發電廠生產生物質能木丸。目前，我們正處於速生生物質種植的探索階段，以便我們能夠實現可持續的原材料供應，同時為全國成千上萬的印尼人創造就業機會。
Why Indonesia?
為什麼選擇印尼？
We have always wanted to invest in Indonesia given our family background as second generation Indonesian Chinese. Plus, it is good business to explore Indonesia for it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with huge potential for renewable energy, which aligns with our company’s vision.
Speaking of biomass energy, Indonesia has a myriad of favorable conditions for growing biomass, whether you like it or not, vegetations just grow year-round in the warm and wet climate, along with the excellent soil condition. The plants harness its energy from the sun converting to biomass, and we turn that biomass into electricity. Essentially it is solar energy!
However, solar energy is still far and few in Indonesia, because you need a significant adjustable baseload power, and a stable grid for solar to be utilized effectively. Think if you need a stable power supply for homes and industries, you need a constant supply of electricity, and the sun can only be there for just half the time.
我們一直想在印尼投資，因為我們的家庭背景是第二代印尼華人。此外，印尼是世界上發展最快的經濟體之一，可再生能源有著巨大的潛力，這與我們公司的願景是一致的，因此在印尼進行開發是很好的業務。
說到生物質能，印尼有無數生長生物質能的有利條件，不管你喜不喜歡，植被一年四季生長在溫暖濕潤的氣候中，土壤條件也很好。植物利用太陽能將其轉化為生物質能，然後我們將這些生物質轉化為電能。本質上是太陽能!
然而，太陽能在印尼仍然很遙遠，而且很少，因為你需要一個重要的可調基載電力，以及一個穩定的電網來有效利用太陽能。想一想，如果你需要一個穩定的電力用於供應家庭和工業，你便需要一個穩定持續的電力供應，而太陽只能在那裡只有一半的時間。
What are the challenges?
面臨哪些挑戰？
My main challenge in Indonesia comes from the unclear, sometimes contradictory and often changing regulations, it is important to be in the market, and always staying alert to the latest development. Understanding the reasons behind the policies, whether it is sustainable, and how it impacts the economy are all crucial to making the right business decisions in Indonesia.
It is often costly to commit a mistake in Indonesia, and I have learned this the hard way. That is why I wish to share my experience with fellow members of InachamHK, so they may succeed and avoid some of the painful lessons I had in doing business in Indonesia.
我在印尼的主要挑戰來自模糊，有時矛盾，還經常變化的法規，這在市場中很重要，時刻保持對最新發展的警覺。理解這些政策背後的原因，是否可持續，以及它如何影響經濟，對於我在印尼做出正確的商業決策至關重要。
在印尼，犯一個錯誤往往會付出高昂的代價，我也從慘痛的教訓中學到了這一點。因此，我希望與香港印尼商會的成員分享我的經驗，使他們能夠避免我在印尼做生意時的一些痛苦教訓，才獲得成功。
What do you think about Indonesia in 5 years?
你認為接下來5年印尼是怎樣的？
I honestly don’t know what Indonesia will be like in 5 years. In the past 7 years that I have been in Jakarta, things have changed so much, mostly for the better. Not only have we seen huge improvement in infrastructure, the way the digital economy transformed people’s lives in Indonesia is astonishing. I still remember back in 2013, even Google Maps didn’t work so well, and traveling around Jakarta without knowing Indonesian would be slightly more difficult. Today you can order anything on your smartphone, go anywhere with a touch on the map.
With the growing tension between China and the USA, Indonesia could play an important role for both countries. The former being an important trading partner in Southeast Asia, as well as a market for Chinese companies to expand to, the latter benefiting from Indonesia’s large labor pool market and thirst to industrialize as some of them plan for exit strategy out of China.
We are witnessing history as we speak, and if you are a serious entrepreneur that’s looking for a vibrant and growing economy that’s close to Hong Kong, you have to keep an eye out for Indonesia.
老實說，我不知道5年後印尼會是什麼樣子。在過去的7年裡，我在雅加達，事情發生了很大的變化，大部分是朝著好的方向發展。我們不僅看到了基礎設施的巨大改善，數字經濟改變印尼人民生活的方式也令人震驚。我還記得2013年的時候，連谷歌地圖都不太好用，在不懂印尼語的情況下在雅加達旅行會有點困難。如今，你可以在智慧手機上訂購任何東西，在地圖上點一點，你就可以去任何地方。
隨著中美關係日益緊張，印尼可以為兩國發揮重要作用。中國是印尼在東南亞的重要交易夥伴，印尼也是中國企業擴張的重要市場；美國則受益于印尼龐大的勞動力市場，印尼一些企業由於渴望工業化計畫退出中國市場。
當我們說話的同時也正在見證歷史，如果你是一個認真的企業家，正在尋找一個接近香港的充滿活力和增長的經濟體，你必須持續關注印尼。
Reference :
Mr. Brian Chan
CEO of ELL Environmental Limited
Email: bchan@ellhk.com
Website: www.ellhk.com
