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<\/a><\/p>\nIn the interview, the metaphor in Mandarin used by Mr. Tanoto is an expression of humble business diplomacy, in which he conveyed his appreciation and respect of Chinese culture and values, with which he personally identifies.<\/p>\n
Mr. Sukanto Tanoto started his business in 1967, and for almost 50 years, his business investments have been focused in Indonesia (RGE (Royal Golden Eagle)<\/a>), creating more than 40,000 employment opportunities in the country. He pioneered the plywood industry in 1973, creating domestic value-added wood products in place of raw log exports. He later supported the Indonesian government\u2019s smallholder transmigration PIR-Trans programme, partnering with 29,000 palm oil smallholders in Riau in 1987, and rolling out many initiatives to help alleviate poverty (Asian Agri<\/a>). Mr. Tanoto then built the world’s largest integrated pulp and paper industry in Pangkalan Kerinci village in 1994, bringing\u00a0economic growth to a remote area while introducing responsible and sustainable land management practices in the country (APRIL (Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited)<\/a>). Pangkalan Kerinci continues to flourish economically in light of his decades-long commitment to supporting infrastructure development in the area, including the building of 2,600 km of roads.<\/p>\n The Tanoto Foundation was started in 1981 as Mr. Sukanto Tanoto\u2019s philanthropic arm, in his home province of North Sumatra. It seeks to reduce poverty through education, empowerment, and enhancement of quality of life.. As one of the largest scholarship providers in Indonesia, the Tanoto Foundation has contributed 150 billion rupiah to the cause of poverty alleviation in Indonesia in the last three years. (www.tanotofoundation.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n