Latest news with #NorthSumatra
Zawya
31-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Asian Agri Hosts "Healthy and Smart Together" Initiative with Community Partners in Medan to Enhance Health and Literacy Awareness
Asia Press Release SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 31 July 2025 - Asian Agri, in collaboration with Tanoto Foundation, the Medan City Health Office, the Medan City Library and Archives Office and Puskesmas Belawan, hosted a "Healthy and Smart Together" event at Thamrin Plaza in Medan and Kong Tek Cun Ong Temple (KTCOT) in Belawan, North Sumatra earlier this year. This initiative aims to enhance the community's health and literacy awareness to improve their quality of life. The two-day event at Thamrin Plaza and KTCOT attracted over 500 participants and offered a variety of services and activities, including free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings as well as educational programmes on the prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The event at Thamrin Plaza further included an affordable premium cooking oil bazaar. Putu Grhyate Yonata Aksa, Manager of Sustainability Operations and CSR at Asian Agri, a member of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, highlighted the company's commitment to inclusive growth and said: "This initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting health and increasing public literacy. Through collaborations like these, we hope to continue making a positive impact on the lives of Medan's residents." Felly Ardan, Project Management Unit Coordinator for Tanoto Foundation, explained that the objective of the events was to raise public awareness about the importance of health prevention and early detection. "Through free services like blood pressure and blood sugar checks, along with health education, the community can more easily monitor their health," Felly said. "This programme not only promotes healthy habits but also strengthens the community's role in creating a healthier, higher-quality environment." Meanwhile, Rosmina Salim, Regional Lead at Tanoto Foundation in North Sumatra, emphasised that the collaboration reflects the commitment to improving people's quality of life. "The collaboration between Asian Agri, Tanoto Foundation, Belawan Health Centre and the Medan City Library and Archives Service highlights our dedication to improving the community's well-being in health and literacy," Rosmina said. "By providing access to health checks and educational books, we hope the community will better understand the importance of early disease prevention and develop a stronger interest in reading." In partnership with the Medan City Library and Archives Office, Tanoto Foundation also provided a mobile library service, offering educational books and reading materials to help broaden public knowledge. Pocut Fatimah Fitri, MARS, Head of Disease Prevention and Control at Medan City Health Service, expressed strong support for the event, said: "Through free health check-ups and education, we aim to encourage proactive health management. The collaboration between Asian Agri, Tanoto Foundation and the Medan City Library and Archives Service demonstrates how synergy among various sectors can create a broad, positive impact." Laksamana Putra Siregar, Head of the Medan City Library and Archives Service, also emphasised the importance of literacy as a tool for improving the quality of life. "Literacy is not only about reading skills, but also about increasing knowledge for a better life. We are proud to support this initiative, which will help expand access to educational resources and foster a culture of learning among the citizens of Medan," Laskamana commented. Head of Belawan Health Centre Mohd Mukhlis, added: "Collaboration with various parties, including the Medan City Library and Archives Service, strengthens our efforts in providing holistic services, because health and education are two interrelated aspects." Hashtag: #RGE #AsianAgri #TanotoFoundation #CSR #Indonesia #Inclusivegrowth #PositiveImpact The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Asian Agri Founded in 1979, Asian Agri is one of Indonesia's foremost companies in crude palm oil production, managing over 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations and employing over 200,000 people. As a pioneer of the Indonesian Government's Smallholder Transmigration Core Plantation Programme (PIR-Trans), Asian Agri has partnered with 30,000 scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi, who collectively manage 60,000 hectares of oil palm plantations. The company also fosters partnerships with independent smallholders to enhance their welfare and drive socio-economic growth. Committed to sustainable practices, Asian Agri upholds a zero-burning policy and implements plantation best management practices to help smallholders boost productivity, increase crop yields, and improve supply chain traceability, while supporting their journey towards certification. Asian Agri's mills leveraged advanced technology and self-generated green energy to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. Asian Agri's plantations, as along with their scheme smallholder plantations, are fully Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) certified, underscoring the company's commitment to responsible and sustainable palm oil production. RGE Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. 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Malay Mail
31-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Asian Agri Hosts "Healthy and Smart Together" Initiative with Community Partners in Medan to Enhance Health and Literacy Awareness
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 31 July 2025 - Asian Agri, in collaboration with Tanoto Foundation, the Medan City Health Office, the Medan City Library and Archives Office and Puskesmas Belawan, hosted a "Healthy and Smart Together" event at Thamrin Plaza in Medan and Kong Tek Cun Ong Temple (KTCOT) in Belawan, North Sumatra earlier this year. This initiative aims to enhance the community's health and literacy awareness to improve their quality of two-day event at Thamrin Plaza and KTCOT attracted over 500 participants and offered a variety of services and activities, including free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings as well as educational programmes on the prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The event at Thamrin Plaza further included an affordable premium cooking oil Grhyate Yonata Aksa, Manager of Sustainability Operations and CSR at Asian Agri, a member of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, highlighted the company's commitment to inclusive growth and said: "This initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting health and increasing public literacy. Through collaborations like these, we hope to continue making a positive impact on the lives of Medan's residents."Felly Ardan, Project Management Unit Coordinator for Tanoto Foundation, explained that the objective of the events was to raise public awareness about the importance of health prevention and early detection."Through free services like blood pressure and blood sugar checks, along with health education, the community can more easily monitor their health," Felly said. "This programme not only promotes healthy habits but also strengthens the community's role in creating a healthier, higher-quality environment."Meanwhile, Rosmina Salim, Regional Lead at Tanoto Foundation in North Sumatra, emphasised that the collaboration reflects the commitment to improving people's quality of life."The collaboration between Asian Agri, Tanoto Foundation, Belawan Health Centre and the Medan City Library and Archives Service highlights our dedication to improving the community's well-being in health and literacy," Rosmina said. "By providing access to health checks and educational books, we hope the community will better understand the importance of early disease prevention and develop a stronger interest in reading."In partnership with the Medan City Library and Archives Office, Tanoto Foundation also provided a mobile library service, offering educational books and reading materials to help broaden public Fatimah Fitri, MARS, Head of Disease Prevention and Control at Medan City Health Service, expressed strong support for the event, said: "Through free health check-ups and education, we aim to encourage proactive health management. The collaboration between Asian Agri, Tanoto Foundation and the Medan City Library and Archives Service demonstrates how synergy among various sectors can create a broad, positive impact."Laksamana Putra Siregar, Head of the Medan City Library and Archives Service, also emphasised the importance of literacy as a tool for improving the quality of life. "Literacy is not only about reading skills, but also about increasing knowledge for a better life. We are proud to support this initiative, which will help expand access to educational resources and foster a culture of learning among the citizens of Medan," Laskamana of Belawan Health Centre Mohd Mukhlis, added: "Collaboration with various parties, including the Medan City Library and Archives Service, strengthens our efforts in providing holistic services, because health and education are two interrelated aspects."Hashtag: #RGE #AsianAgri #TanotoFoundation #CSR #Indonesia #Inclusivegrowth #PositiveImpact The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Asian Agri Founded in 1979, Asian Agri is one of Indonesia's foremost companies in crude palm oil production, managing over 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations and employing over 200,000 people. As a pioneer of the Indonesian Government's Smallholder Transmigration Core Plantation Programme (PIR-Trans), Asian Agri has partnered with 30,000 scheme smallholders in Riau and Jambi, who collectively manage 60,000 hectares of oil palm plantations. The company also fosters partnerships with independent smallholders to enhance their welfare and drive socio-economic growth. Committed to sustainable practices, Asian Agri upholds a zero-burning policy and implements plantation best management practices to help smallholders boost productivity, increase crop yields, and improve supply chain traceability, while supporting their journey towards certification. Asian Agri's mills leveraged advanced technology and self-generated green energy to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. Asian Agri's plantations, as along with their scheme smallholder plantations, are fully Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) certified, underscoring the company's commitment to responsible and sustainable palm oil production.
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Indonesia has 44 million youths. It's struggling to get them jobs
Medan, Indonesia – After graduating from university with a law degree two years ago, Andreas Hutapea assumed he would not have much difficulty finding a stable career. In reality, Hutapea found himself facing one rejection after another. Hutapea first failed to make it through Indonesia's notoriously difficult civil service exams, which lead to a job for only about 3 percent of applicants, and was similarly unsuccessful in his bid to become a trainee prosecutor. Before law school, Hutapea had dreamed of joining the army, but he could not meet the height requirement. Eventually, with his money running out, Hutapea left the student accommodation he was renting to move back in with his parents, who run a simple shop selling oil, eggs, rice and other groceries. Hutapea has been working at his parents' shop, in a town on the outskirts of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, ever since. 'I open the shop for them in the morning, sit there throughout the day serving customers and then help close at night,' Hutapea, who graduated from high school in 2020, told Al Jazeera. 'My parents don't pay me a wage for my work, but I can't blame them for that. They are giving me free food and lodging.' Hutapea is far from alone in his struggles to find stable, well-paying work. Indonesia has one of the highest rates of youth unemployment in Asia. About 16 percent of the more than 44 million Indonesians aged 15-24 are out of work, according to government statistics – more than double the youth unemployment rate of neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. In a survey published by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore in January, young Indonesians expressed far more pessimistic attitudes about the economy and the government than their peers in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Only about 58 percent of Indonesian youth said they were optimistic about the government's economic plans, according to the survey, compared with an average of 75 percent across the six countries. In February, some of this angst spilled onto the streets when university students formed the Indonesia Gelap, or Dark Indonesia, movement to protest government plans to trim spending on public services. Economists point to a range of factors for the high rate of jobless youth in Southeast Asia's largest economy, from rigid labour laws that make hiring difficult to poor wages that fail to attract capable workers. 'Many people choose to be outside the labour market rather than having to work for a salary below expectations,' Adinova Fauri, an economist at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indonesia, in Jakarta, told Al Jazeera. 'Good jobs are also not widely available, so people turn to the informal sector, which has lower productivity and protection.' Indonesia, which is home to more than 280 million people, has long struggled with chronic youth unemployment. While still high compared with the rest of the region, governments have, through the years, made some progress in getting more young people into work – as recently as a decade ago, one-quarter of young Indonesians were estimated to be without a job. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, a retired army general who oversaw crackdowns on the 1998 student protests that precipitated the fall of former President Soeharto, has acknowledged the need to create more jobs, establishing task forces to tackle unemployment and negotiate on trade with United States President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Prabowo hailed the beginning of 'a new era of mutual benefit' for Indonesia and the US, after Trump announced a deal to lower tariffs on Indonesian goods from 32 to 19 percent. Though older adults are less at risk of being unemployed – Indonesia's overall jobless rate is about 5 percent – much of the work that is available is unstable and poorly compensated. About 56 percent of the Indonesian workforce is employed in the informal sector, according to 2024 figures from the Bureau of Statistics, leaving millions in vulnerable conditions and without social security protections. 'The decline in the open unemployment rate does not necessarily reflect good performance in the labour market,' Deniey Adi Purwanto, a lecturer at the Department of Economics at IPB University in Bogor, told Al Jazeera. 'The quality of jobs and informal employment are still major problems.' But for young people, the mismatch between the number of job seekers and jobs is particularly severe. 'Firstly, graduates of secondary and tertiary education do not always match the needs of the labour market, and there is also a high proportion of informality,' Purwanto said. 'Indonesia has a very large number of young people, so the pressure on the labour market is much higher. 'We also have rapidly increasing levels of secondary and higher education,' he added. 'Many young college graduates avoid informal or low-paid jobs, so they choose to wait for suitable jobs, which leads to unemployment.' Purwanto said there was also a lack of effective vocational training and apprenticeship programmes in Indonesia, compared with neighbours such as Vietnam or Malaysia. 'In Malaysia, for example, there are more industry-university linkage schemes and graduate employability programmes,' he said. Stark regional disparities in Indonesia, which is made up of some 17,000 islands, compound the problem, with young people in remote and rural areas finding it especially difficult to access good jobs. This is particularly true in areas outside the island of Java, which is home to the capital Jakarta and more than half of Indonesia's population. Hutapea experienced this firsthand when he moved back with his parents, who live about two hours out of Medan. Despite having a law degree, Hutapea, who is desperate to no longer work in his parents' shop, has found job opportunities thin on the ground. Hutapea, who also has a side gig setting up sound systems for weddings and parties, recently attended an interview for a job replenishing banknotes in ATMs. But even though he thought the interview went well, he never heard back from the recruiter. For Hutapea, who completed some of his law school modules during the summer holidays so he could graduate a year early, it is hard not to feel like his efforts have not been in vain. 'I didn't want to be a burden to my parents, who were paying all my university fees,' Hutapea said. 'But look at me now.'
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Coffee Master Trainer Upgrade (Coffee MUG) Program Surpasses 4,700 Farmers Trained, Boosting Yields and Incomes Across Indonesia's Top Arabica Regions
The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) ( announced key findings of the mid-term survey from the Coffee Master Trainer Upgrade (Coffee MUG) Program, a five-year initiative helping smallholder farmers in North Sumatra and Aceh adopt sustainable coffee-growing practices. Since its launch in October 2021, the program has trained 4,754 farmers—37% (1,781) women—across 130 villages, with 3,700 hectares now managed under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Nineteen Master Trainers and eight candidates act as local champions, guiding farmer groups on soil health, pruning, post-harvest handling, and quality control. The field midline survey conducted to the program and confirmed that average yields in the target areas rose 13.7 percent in 2023, equivalent to 78 kilograms of green bean per hectare compared to the previous year. Capacity-building results are equally encouraging participating trainers demonstrated 91 percent competence in sustainable coffee farming and 87 percent competence in training methodologies during recent evaluations. Farmer livelihoods are beginning to reflect these gains. Average annual coffee sales reached IDR 82.95 million (US$5,100) per farmer in 2023, while average net farm income rose to IDR 71.52 million (US$4,400). Earlier this year, SCOPI and ITFC convened twin data-utilisation workshops in Berastagi (Karo Regency) and Takengon (Central Aceh Regency). Local officials, private buyers, Master Trainers, and farmer leaders reviewed the mid-line survey results, explored a new web-based monitoring dashboard, and agreed on concrete follow-up actions—such as establishing demonstration plots that now serve as 'living classrooms' for young farmers and expanding market pathways with ofi Indonesia, Louis Dreyfus Company, and Ecom/Indo Cafco. 'This survey is more than just data collection—it is a strategic tool to sharpen the program's direction and ensure it remains responsive to farmers' real needs' said Ade Aryani, Executive Director of SCOPI Nazeem Noordali, Chief Operating Officer of ITFC, added: 'Farmer surveys offer data-driven guidance, help identify gaps, and support the development of more impactful strategies. Programs like Coffee MUG must remain dynamic and responsive to field realities.' At data-utilization workshops Karo Regency and Central Aceh Regency, SCOPI and ITFC joined officials, buyers, trainers, and farmers to review mid-line findings, test a new monitoring dashboard, and launch demo plots for youth training. Looking ahead, the program is scaling its trainers network through a new recruitment drive that will bring more young people into the Master Trainer pipeline, securing generational renewal. Field trials focused on soil-health interventions will also continue, targeting a further yield increase by 2026. In parallel, fresh modules on financial literacy and digital marketing are being developed for rollout later this year, with a special emphasis on empowering women and youth farmer groups. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). ITFC Contact: Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064 E-mail: ITFC@ SCOPI Contact: Email: info@ ITFC Social Media: Twitter: @ ITFCCORP Facebook: @ ITFCCorp LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) SCOPI Social Media: Linkedin: Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) Instagram: @ scopi_id Website: About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is the trade finance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving the socio-economic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$83 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries' needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity-building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market. About the Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI): The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI) is a leading organization dedicated to promoting sustainable coffee production and improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers. SCOPI is a platform for collaboration among key stakeholders in the Indonesian coffee industry, working towards a shared vision of a thriving and sustainable coffee sector.
Arab News
21-06-2025
- Arab News
False bomb threat forces diversion of Saudia flight to Indonesia, second incident in a week
RIYADH: A Saudia Airlines flight carrying hundreds of Hajj pilgrims back to Indonesia from the Middle East was diverted on Saturday following a bomb threat, according to reports. It is the second such incident in a week involving a Saudia flight. Flight SV5688 was en route from Jeddah to Indonesia, with a scheduled stop in Muscat, and was due to land in Surabaya on the island of Java. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said air traffic controllers in the Indonesian capital Jakarta received a call alerting them to a bomb threat onboard the flight, prompting its diversion to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday morning. The head of the regional airport authority, Asri Santosa, said in a statement that officers were inspecting the aircraft upon arrival, though the airport remained fully operational. All 376 passengers, Hajj pilgrims from Java, and 13 crew members were reported safe, according to a North Sumatra police spokesperson. The passengers are expected to resume their journey on Sunday. On request for comment by Arab News, Saudia confirmed the security threat was ultimately deemed false. 'In strict accordance with safety protocols, Saudia diverted flight SV5688 operating to Surabaya to Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia as a precautionary measure,' the airline said. 'The aircraft landed, and all guests and crew have deplaned safely. Local authorities conducted the required checks shortly after landing and have cleared the aircraft for continued operation. 'The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remain Saudia's highest priority no matter the cost. Full care and support have been provided, and onward travel arrangements to Surabaya are being made,' it added. On Tuesday, another Saudia flight carrying 442 Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Jakarta was also diverted to Medan after authorities received an email containing a bomb threat.
