STORY: Chinese palm oil company drives local economy, improves people's livelihoods in Indonesia
DATELINE: Oct. 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:04
LOCATION: Jakarta
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the plantations
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Indonesian): HELKI ROMIE, Head of Mandomai Village, West Kapuas District, Indonesia
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Indonesian): RUDI PURWANTO, Head of a plantation cooperative
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Indonesian): SAMUEL TAMPUNG, Employee of the plantation
5. various of employees

STORYLINE:

A Chinese company investing in palm plantations in Indonesia has boosted the growth of local economy and improved villagers' livelihoods. 

The Tianjin-based Julong Group invested in its first palm plantation in the Southeast Asian country in 2006.

Through an efficient cooperation mode, the plantation helped many local villagers earn a steady and substantial income. Meanwhile, some of the profits were used to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Indonesian): HELKI ROMIE, Head of Mandomai Village, West Kapuas District, Indonesia
"First, many people from our community work in the company. Second, through its corporate social responsibility project, we receive basic daily necessities from the company every year." 

SOUNDBITE 2 (Indonesian): RUDI PURWANTO, Head of a plantation cooperative
"They (villagers) are happy with the plantation cooperative because it's profitable. Previously, what they had here was barren land,  but with the plantation, they are making money." 

In 2013, the year when the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, Julong Group started to promote the construction of an agricultural industry cooperation zone in Indonesia.

The cooperation zone was later approved as an economic and trade cooperation zone in August 2016.

At present, the company plants nearly 60,000 hectares of palm across Indonesia and hires more than 11,000 local workers, which account for 99 percent of all its employees.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Indonesian): SAMUEL TAMPUNG, Employee of the plantation
"Here, we are given a chance even if we are young. In other companies, it is more likely that people of older age are given priority. It's not the case here. In here, if you can do it, do it. We also have trainings, such as training on professional skills." 

To make life easier for its local employees, the company has also built a primary school and a kindergarten in one of its plantations. Nearly 300 children are already taking classes here.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jakarta.
(XHTV)