As a businessman, Sukanto Tanoto, the Founder and Chairman of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), has principles that should be emulated. He always believed that it is possible for anyone, from any starting point in life to build a successful business, achieve their dreams and inspire others to do the same. With this in mind, he has always encouraged partnerships as he wants RGE to grow together with other parties.
When it was first founded in 1967, RGE was only a local scale company, which has since become a world-class corporation. However, Sukanto Tanoto has never forgotten his roots, and went all out to help local and small businesses. He opened RGE’s doors to establish partnerships, and to help these entrepreneurs develop their business.
One of RGE’s subsidiaries, APRIL Group, emulated Tanoto’s principles and opened its doors to establish partnerships with local entrepreneurs to support its operations. APRIL, which was founded by Sukanto Tanoto in 1993 in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau, is now one of the largest pulp and paper producers in the world, and has many jobs that need to be carried out, such as the preparation of plant seeds that needs to be planted.
Local businesses were invited in as partners, after which they were trained to create products and to develop services that were needed by the company. This step proved most effective. APRIL succeeded in changing the lives of many parties, especially local entrepreneurs. Thanks to the assistance provided by the partnership, the entrepreneurs were able to expand their business, and subsequently were also able to open up employment opportunities for others.
One perfect example that can be shared is of entrepreneur, Jufri from Pangkalan Kerinci, who started his partnership with APRIL in the year 2000. He was given the opportunity to take care of APRIL’s operational vehicles and with assistance from the company, he was able to widen his business, establishing a company that produces fertiliser for the agricultural industry in the form of charcoal husks.
Another success story belongs to Husni Thamrin from Riau, who switched professions from a garbage transporter to running a heavy equipment rental business with assets reaching up to Rp100 billion. The change in Husni’s life began with the decision to join as Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) fostered partner, in which he worked on collecting trash from the company and from RAPP’s housing employees.
However, over time, Husni’s business continued to grow, until finally he was able to establish a heavy equipment rental business, with over 30 units of heavy equipment and 25 trucks, which are all leased to RAPP. Husni truly believes that his success would not have been possible without APRIL’s support and is grateful for this program that has fostered many local entrepreneurs.
These stories are just a few examples of the many entrepreneurs who have developed, grown and successfully established their businesses thanks to the support given by RGE, its subsidiaries and by their founder, Sukanto Tanoto‘s vision and constant direction of always helping to benefit others.