Sukanto Tanoto's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy : Social Stewardship

1. Sukanto Tanoto once said that the main objective of social
stewardship in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
framework designed by RGE Group is to equip the local
communities with skills that allow them to be economically
independent. The founder and the chairman of Royal Golden Eagle
(RGE) Group, Mr. Tanoto, has established Tonoto Foundation in
2001 to achieve this objective. The foundation has designed
integrated CSR schemes in all of the countries when RGE
companies operate, such as Indonesia, China, and Brazil.
The focus of RGE’s CSR program is to reduce poverty in the local
communities, by means of two main programs, namely, education
programs and empowerment programs.
Educational programs
As a part of their social stewardship scheme, RGE companies always
admit that they are integral parts of the communities. By getting
involved with the local communities, it is easier for them to implement
social responsibility programs. In addition, with a humble past,
Sukanto Tanoto puts special emphasis on the importance of
education in promoting social economic prosperity of the local
people. That is why education sector receives special allocation.
The corporate social responsibility programs in educational sector
include construction of schools in remote areas as an effort to help
the local governments in providing easier access to educational
facilities for their people. In addition to building the infrastructures and
facilities, like libraries, RGE group also prepares human resources to
support the programs. The arrangements include supplying teaching
equipments, providing teaching skill training, and offering

2. scholarships for wide range of students, from elementary school
students to university students.
Community empowerment programs
As a part of the communities, RGE companies do not find it hard to
work with local people. This makes corporate social responsibility
programs of community empowerment easier. The empowerment
programs include partnerships with local villagers. They provide the
local people with farming skills by means of training and fieldwork.
RGE companies also offer economic assistance, promotion of
microfinance, collaboration and assistance for the small and medium
enterprises (SME).
Vocational training is also offered for the local youths to encourage
them to be entrepreneurs, who will eventually be economically
independent and become the corporate partners at local level.
However, the foundation does not overlook to teach the candidate of
entrepreneurs on the importance of sustainable business practice as
a way to preserve the environment for the next generations. With the
guiding principle of ‘good for the community, good for business,”
RGE’s social stewardship programs are expected to be able to spark
local economic growth and alleviate poverty.