Riaupulp, BNI help small firms

JAKARTA (JP): PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (Riaupulp) and state-owned Bank BNI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOE) in the Riau provincial capital of Pekanbaru on Thursday on cooperation in helping develop small enterprises and cooperatives in the province.

Riaupulp's president P. Daritan said the cooperation agreement reflected the strong commitment of both his company and Bank BNI to further develop local entrepreneurship through business training, credit programs, subcontracting business and other forms of mutually-beneficial partnership programs.

Daritan added that strong commitment was also shown by the presence of Riaupulp chairman Sukanto Tanoto, Riau Governor Saleh Djasit and Bank BNI president Saifuddin Hasan at the signing of the cooperation agreement.

Riaupulp's director Elyas, who is in charge of coordinating the project, cited log hauling to the Riaupulp mills as the most feasible business that can immediately be developed in cooperation with small enterprises or cooperatives.

Riaupulp, which operates an 850,000-ton capacity bleached hardwood pulp industry in Riau, is 98.5 percent owned by the New York Stock Exchange-listed Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd.