According to APP, the study found that the combined operations of the mill and its supplier created 254,289 jobs, supported 242,000 jobs and was responsible for 11.7 per cent of Riau Province’s total GDP

The report also outlines that for every 100 hectares of pulpwood plantation developed, 37 jobs are created. It also notes that, people who live in the regency where Indah Kiat Perawang Mill operates have monthly income 78 per cent higher than people who live outside the regency.

Aida Greenbury, director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement for APP says, “In our part of the world, meeting the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for the alleviation of poverty is of critical importance, especially in Riau Province, where over 500,000 people still live below the poverty line1.”

Greenbury continues, “We are very proud to be able to play a role. Whilst we accept that we still have much work to do, it is gratifying to see statistics that demonstrate our positive impact on Indonesia’s economic and social development.”

To measure the social impact of the two companies, a survey involving 550 respondents from five local districts was conducted.

The study also provided several recommendations on how the companies can further improve their social and economic contributions, including greater efforts to transfer knowledge and technology to the community, development of community forest programme and community nursery to optimise local economic potential.

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