~Advertorial --- Inco: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005

~Advertorial --- Inco: Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005

Growing together with community

Growing together with community in which a mining company
operates is key to operating successfully in Indonesia.

"Any natural resource-based companies like mining firms should
not separate themselves from the environment and community living
near their operation sites. However, they should show concern on
problems faced by locals if they want to win support from them,
"said publicly-listed PT International Nickel Indonesia (Inco)
President and Chief Executive Officer Bing Tobing.

A company that fulfills its obligations, such as paying
royalty, taxes and land rental was good but it is not enough to
ensure that it can operate peacefully, according to Bing.

"For us, adapting our presence to local environment and
community is a requirement when we want to grow. Only by growing
together locals, we can operate peacefully," he said.

To help locals grow, he said, the company designed and
conducted many community development (CD) programs based on what
locals need. "For instance, many young people are currently in
need of a job, so our CD program is focused on education to allow
them to have more alternatives of job," he said.

Bing also emphasized the importance of socializing any change
of policy made by the company's management, such as a policy on
job vacancies or employee recruitment. "By socializing the change
of policy, possible unexpected incidents such as demonstration
can be prevented because locals understand the reasons," he said.

PT Inco spends about US$1.5 million on CD programs per year.
The fund is used to finance CD projects related to, among others,
education, health and agriculture sector in Sorowako, Central
Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.