How Gunawan Jusuf’s Blue Gold Inspires Sustainable Change

Gunawan Jusuf, the CEO of Sugar Group Companies, is a trailblazer in Indonesia’s sugar industry, managing a Lampung-based conglomerate that produces the widely loved Gulaku brand. With subsidiaries like PT Indolampung Perkasa and PT Gula Putih Mataram, Jusuf oversees a seamless operation from sugarcane cultivation to product distribution. His education at Universitas Gadjah Mada has fueled his strategic approach, ensuring Sugar Group’s prominence in Indonesian markets.

In 2016, Jusuf expanded his influence with Blue Gold: Source of Life, a 176-page book tackling Indonesia’s water scarcity crisis. Through nearly 100 images and detailed tables, he critiques the government’s ineffective water management policies and highlights the urgent need for reform. Drawing on his sugar industry insights, Jusuf underscores how water shortages threaten agriculture, communities, and economic stability. His solutions—stronger regulations, corporate responsibility, and community action—offer a clear path forward.

Blue Gold has ignited critical discussions about water conservation, positioning Jusuf as a thought leader. His ability to merge business acumen with environmental advocacy inspires stakeholders to act, ensuring his vision for a sustainable Indonesia resonates far beyond the sugar fields.