Jambi, 14 May 2020 – Welcoming Eid Mubarak 1441 H, Asian Agri distributed food packages to communities affected by COVID-19 in the company’s operational areas in the provinces of North Sumatra, Jambi and Riau.
Food packages were given by Nirwan Ginting, Assistant Head of CSV Asian Agri Jambi Region to M.Sadat, Head of Penyabungan Village.
Welly Pardede, Head of HSE and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), explained that the distribution of food packages demonstrates the company’s concern for people affected by COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on our economy at a time (Lebaran) when our needs have increased. Prior to the Eid, we prepared 4,732 food packages to be distributed to needy people in North Sumatra, Jambi and Riau,” said Welly.
Asian Agri supports Government’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through several CSR programmes that have been carried out in each Asian Agri business unit. These activities include distributing masks, providing hand washing facilities, and disinfecting public facilities via spraying.
Previously, PT Dasa Anugrah Sejati, one of the Asian Agri business units in Jambi, distributed 220 food packages to needy people in 7 villages. The packages were handed by Nirwan Ginting and Rudy Jasthon Siahaan, AA CSR Coordinator Jambi Region. The items graciously received by Wahyu Amrullah, Head of Lubuk Bernai Village; Wiwin Ardiansyah, Head of Lubuk Lawas Village; Danhamsyah, Head of Tanjung Bojo Village; Firdaus, Head of Taman Raja Village; Mawardi, Head of Badang Luar Village; Al Sudarto, Head of Badang Sepakat Village; and M.Sadat, Head of Penyabungan Village, located in Batang Asam Subdistrict, Tungkal Ulu Subdistrict and Merlung Subdistrict, Tanjung Jabung Barat District.
Nirwan said, “The assistance that we provide is in the form of basic food packages that include rice, cooking oil, sugar and green beans. Hopefully this assistance can help those in need.”
Rudy added, “We hope that these food packages can ease the burden on people’s lives, so that people can celebrate Lebaran even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we will continue to conduct socialisation sessions to residents to encourage them to avoid going back to their hometowns, to lessen their outdoor activities, to stay at home and to maintain good family health, so that we can minimize the spread of COVID-19. In time, we will overcome this pandemic.”
Wahyu Amrullah, Head of Lubuk Bernai Village expressed his appreciation for the company’s help. He said, “On behalf of the residents and village heads, I would like to thank Asian Agri for these food packages. Previously, the company also helped us to renovate our roads, distributed masks, and sanitized our public spaces. We hope that his cooperation and good relations will continue in the years to come.”
About Asian Agri:
Asian Agri is one of Indonesia’s largest palm oil producers since 1979. Today, the company manages 100,000 hectares of land and employs over 25,000 people. A pioneer of the Indonesian government’s Trans-National Government Migration (PIR-Trans) program, Asian Agri works with 30,000 plasma smallholders in Riau and Jambi who operate 60,000 hectares of palm oil plantations, as well as independent smallholders, bringing about positive impact on their quality of life and economic development.
Implementing a strict “no burn” policy and best practices in sustainable plantation management, Asian Agri has helped its smallholder partners improve productivity, yield and supply chain traceability, while assisting them obtain certifications. The company’s mills are technologically advanced and energy self-sufficient, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Asian Agri is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). More than 86% of both owned plantations in North Sumatra, Riau & Jambi provinces and 100% of scheme smallholder plantations in Riau & Jambi provinces have been RSPO certified. All plantations, including those owned by smallholders, have been certified by ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification). The company has also been 100% ISPO (Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil) certified.
The company’s operations are ISO 14001 certified, while its Learning Institute and nursery research center in Riau province, Indonesia are both ISO 9001 certified. Asian Agri’s R&D Center in North Sumatra was also given a certification by the International Plant-Analytical Exchange at the WEPAL lab at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, for its high standards.
For further information, please contact:
Maria Sidabutar
Head Corporate Communications
E-mail: maria_sidabutar@www.asianagri.com
DID: +62 21 2301 119
