Early Life
Salim was born in Fuqing, Fujian, China, as the second son of a farmer. He left Fujian in 1936 to join his brother Liem Sioe Hie and brother-in-law Zheng Xusheng in Medan, North Sumatra. Salim diversified their peanut oil trading business into the clove market, which was growing rapidly from demand for kretek production. While in Medan, he supplied soldiers of the Indonesian National Revolution with medical supplies and came into contact with Suharto, an officer of the army. Salim denied allegations that he also provided arms to Indonesian soldiers to resist Dutch forces. As soldiers seized Dutch businesses following independence, his business absorbed many of their assets and gained a monopoly in the clove market, but he denied working with Suharto in expanding his ventures.
Read more about this topic: Sudono Salim
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