In 2025, the garlic import market appears, at first glance, highly fragmented. Trade data lists 88 Garlic importers in 2025. No single company dominates. The biggest importer accounts for only about 3% of total declared import value that these 88 companies brought into Indonesia. Even the top ten firms together make up just about 21%. By that measure, the market seems competitive: many players, but no clear dominant firm.
However, if one traces people across these companies, the same individuals recur on the corporate paperwork across multiple importing entities. In fact, so much so that only a few repeat-player clusters emerge. If one adds up imports at the cluster level, concentration snaps into view. Hence this article will show one cluster controlled by a partner of Haji Isam.
Timothy Savitri (often referred to as Mothy) is an Indonesian entrepreneur involved in real estate, garlic import and coal mining. He was born 29 January 1981 in Martapura, just next to Banjarbaru, in South Kalimantan. He is a close ally of Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, better known as Haji Isam. Together with Isam’s son Jhoni Saputra, he owns 25% of PT Nusa Mandiri Properti, the company that acquired and rebranded the Atrium Senen mall in Jakarta (also known as Millennium Mall).
He is also the Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Indonesia, specifically for Bidang Perdagangan (Trade) in the 2024–2029 leadership period. Timothy has been featured in public coverage alongside his spouse, actress and singer Alexa Key, at national events such as the 80th anniversary celebration of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) — highlighting his visibility beyond strictly business circles.
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According to an article named Warning Signs from Banjarbaru, the Banjarbaru mayoral election illustrates how cartelisation and elite networks can shape local outcomes. Erna Lisa Halaby, a senior civil servant with little prior electoral profile, secured the backing of 13 political parties in the 2024 race. Her rise was closely linked to her family ties: Lisa is the older sister of Timothy Savitri, whose ally, Andi Syamsudin Arsyad, has long been influencing politics in South Kalimantan.
Despite being far less popular than incumbent mayor Aditya Mufti Ariffin in pre-election surveys, Lisa benefited from overwhelming party support. Aditya was eventually disqualified after briefly re-entering the race, and votes cast for him were declared invalid. With her main rival removed, Lisa won the election — highlighting how political outcomes can be determined less by voter preference than by the influence of entrenched business and party networks.
Analysing trade data, he seems to be affiliated to 16 companies. In eight of these firms, he is listed directly as a shareholder. Together, they operate under what appears to be the umbrella of the KAMI Group.
The following table lists all affiliated companies of Savitri, from early 2018 until October 2025. Actual numbers might differ or be higher.
In 2018, these companies imported $24 million worth of garlic. Imports fell to a low in 2022 before rebounding sharply in 2024. Between January and October 2025, they imported $38.5 million of fresh garlic, accounting for 8.5% of Indonesia’s total garlic imports during that period.
PT Kalimantan Anugrah Mandiri Inti (KAMI), is owned by Timothy Savitri, and has been exporting some coal in 2022 and 2023, according to trade data. Timothy also owns PT Kami Inti Selaras.
PT KAMI Inti Selaras, is a mining company owned by Timothy Savitri, the director is Lucia Elfia Erni Kasari, and the commissioner is Siti Norabidah. Both of these women are listed as owners of garlic importers presumably as a nominee for Savitri.
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Dudi Purwagandhi’s PT Muara Bayu Sejahtera Utama owns a tiny minority share of 1% in PT Maju Makmur Jaya Kurnia and PT Sapta Agro Mandiri.
PT Pangan Segar Indonesia, owned by Savitri, is led by Valentino Heru Sokowati as the director. Valentino appears on two other companies not directly connected to Savitri. A similar pattern applies to two men from South Kalimantan — Muhammad Erlangga and H. Mustafa — who each appear in two companies. The repeated presence of these individuals across multiple firms points to centralized control exercised through a network of formally separate entities.
Several addresses are known to host virtual offices. vOffice lists Apl Tower Lantai 25 Unit 7 and Gedung Graha Surveyor Indonesia Lantai 15 as locations. CEO SUITE offers virtual office services at AXA Tower 45th Floor, Indonesia Stock Exchange Tower 2 Lantai 17, and One Pacific Place Lantai 15. The usage of virtual offices seems to be common among other garlic importers too. There are other garlic importers also registered at these addresses whose connection with Savitri could not be established.
Indonesia’s garlic import system is tightly regulated, making permits a form of state-granted privilege. While the market appears fragmented, trade and corporate data reveal concentration within a few clusters, including one controlled by Timothy Savitri, a close associate of Haji Isam. The same networks of business and family ties also influence local politics in South Kalimantan.
These patterns show how economic and political power can reinforce each other, raising questions about transparency, permit allocation, and whether the system favors proximity to power over fair competition.
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