Mutual Growth through Community Empowerment
We consider ourselves very much a member of the community wherein our presence lies and take a keen interest in the welfare of the local people to ensure that they prosper in tandem with our growth. Most of our social programmes are designed to empower local communities. Often this is done through developing partnerships with the local people.
For example, we work with village communities in the development of acacia and palm oil plantations through our Community Fibre Farm Programme and PIR smallholder scheme respectively. The former provides farmers with skills and equipment to create their own acacia plantations where the harvested wood is then sold to our mills, and the profits are split; the latter gives trans-migrant families the opportunity to gain title to oil palm plantation land. Both these initiatives also seek to reduce illegal logging activities.
Through other training programmes and financial support, RGE encourages the establishment of small and medium enterprises.
To help improve the living conditions of the local communities, we contribute towards building basic infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity.
Amongst RGE’s various community development programmes and initiatives, we recognize that education is the single most empowering component that can effect a better life and future for the local communities. We build schools, establish scholarships for needy and deserving students, distribute honoraria to teachers, make direct contributions and provide educational materials.
We also help train and equip poor farmers with skills that can make them sustainable. In addition, we provide vocational training to help people gain employment outside the agricultural arena.
Health is as instrumental to a society’s advancement as is education. To that end, we provide medical services including mobile clinics, pharmacy posts and access to doctors and nurses. When SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) broke out in China in 2003, Mr. Tanoto became the first and single largest overseas Chinese entrepreneur donor to help the Chinese authorities fight the pandemic.
RGE was honored to be named one of the Most Socially-Responsible Enterprises in China by China News Weekly for our contribution and support in the country’s grassroots development.
The same value placed on education by RGE is also extended to the Tanoto Foundation, a private philanthropic arm set up by our Chairman Mr. Tanoto. Healthcare makes up the other pillar of the foundation.