Tanoto Foundation has donated RMB 100 million to fund, over the next ten years, talent training initiatives between the People’s Republic of China and countries in the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) programme. A donation agreement was signed last Friday with the Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China, a non-profit foundation established under the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.
Tanoto Foundation’s donation is in support of the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road’, also known as the OBOR development initiative and framework, proposed by the Chinese government to improve connectivity and cooperation among countries through infrastructure building, broadening of trade, and cultural exchange.
“While the OBOR is developing at a rapid pace, there are people in many countries who are unsure about the programme, and misunderstandings and misgivings still exist in some countries and regions. At the same time, many China entrepreneurs are unfamiliar with the cultures and conditions of other countries in the OBOR programme, resulting in considerable losses expanding their businesses,” said Sukanto Tanoto, founder of Tanoto Foundation and RGE Chairman, in his speech announcing the donation.
The idea of establishing a training fund for OBOR is to provide an opportunity and a platform to enhance communication and cultural exchange between people of different countries, so as to build mutual trust and greater productivity in the programme.
The agreement was signed at the Boao News Centre by Zuo Zhiqiang, President of Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China, and Yu Jun, Vice-President of RGE China. Others who presided over the signing ceremony included Qiu Yuanping, Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr. Tanoto, his wife Tinah Bingei Tanoto, Founder and Executive Director of Tanoto Foundation, and Mi Weidong, President of RGE China.
Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Qiu Yuanping, expressed gratitude at Mr. Tanoto’s generous contribution to the training fund. She hopes the fund will enhance mutual understanding among countries, and promote cultural and industrial exchanges beneficial to both domestic and foreign enterprises.
About Royal Golden Eagle (RGE)
Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) manages a global group of companies in the resource-based manufacturing industry. The companies occupy strategic positions in the pulp and paper (APRIL, Asia Symbol), palm oil (Asian Agri, Apical), specialty cellulose (Bracell), viscose staple fibre (Sateri) and energy resource development (Pacific Oil & Gas) markets. The combined assets held by the group of companies exceed US$ 15 billion. With more than 50,000 employees, RGE has operations in Indonesia, China and Brazil, and corporate offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Beijing and Nanjing.
RGE was founded in 1973 as RGM by prominent businessman and philanthropist Sukanto Tanoto. Under his leadership, the RGE group of companies remains at the forefront of the industry with its multi-cultural teams, robust sustainability programmes, fruitful smallholder partnerships, strong community development initiatives, and emphasis on innovation and forward-looking technologies.
About Tanoto Foundation
Tanoto Foundation was started by Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981. The Foundation strives to be a center of excellence in poverty alleviation through education, empowerment, and enhancement of quality of lives. Its mission is to work with communities and partners to address root causes of poverty in countries where the Tanoto family has significant presence. In China, Tanoto Foundation focuses on education and cultural exchange, poverty alleviation, disaster reliefs and environmental education. To date, Mr. Sukanto Tanoto has contributed more than RMB 300 million to the Chinese public welfare. In the near future, as China becomes more open and systematic towards philanthropic foundations, Tanoto Foundation is also preparing to officially register a ‘Tanoto Public Benefit Philanthropic Foundation’ with the guidance from Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.
