GoTo CEO highlights national pride despite Grab merger rumors

CEO of GoTo Patrick Walujo spoke to thousands of Gojek and GoPay partners at the Apresiasi Mitra Juara Gojek & GoPay 2025 event.

In his address, Walujo highlighted the roles of Gojek and GoPay as symbols of Indonesia’s achievements in the global market.

Walujo acknowledged the contributions of Gojek and GoPay to the local economy and their significance to the nation.

He praised the efforts of drivers and partners, saying, “With hard work, sincere smiles, and excellent service, you have made Gojek and GoPay a pride of the nation.”

The event included over 40,000 partners and is part of GoTo’s efforts to improve the welfare, protection, and engagement of its ecosystems.

Separately, rumors have surfaced about a potential merger between Gojek and rival Grab.

However, Tirza Munusamy, Grab Indonesia’s Chief of Public Affairs, dismissed the speculation, remarking that the information was unverified and the company had no further comments.

🔗 Source: CNBC Indonesia

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Gojek’s patriotic narrative reflects its Indonesian-focused growth strategy

Patrick Walujo’s highlight on Gojek as “tuan rumah di negeri sendiri” (host in its own country) connects to the company’s 14-year evolution from humble beginnings to national champion.

Gojek started in 2010 as a mere call center with just 10 daily orders, but transformed into a tech powerhouse after launching its app in 2015, achieving growth of 1,607 times by 2018 with over 125 million downloads1.

This growth was driven by a distinctly Indonesian approach, focusing first on local transportation challenges before expanding its services to address other pain points specific to Indonesian users.

Unlike competitors with regional expansion strategies, Gojek deliberately built deep market understanding in Indonesia first, processing over 3 million orders daily and employing more than 2 million drivers by 20192.

This local-first approach created strong brand loyalty in Indonesia, where Gojek captured 56% market share by 2019, outperforming regional competitors like Grab in its home market3.