President of Indonesia Visits APRIL Operations during Inauguration of New APR Plant

The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, commented on the scale of APRIL’s nursery operations during his visit to Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau province, Sumatra last week, remarking: “Where in the world could we find a manufacturing plant with such a huge capacity, other than in Pelalawan?” The comment was made during his visit to Kerinci Central Nursery 2, where acacia and eucalyptus seedlings are cultivated for APRIL’s plantations.

The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (left), pictured during his visit to Kerinci Central Nursery 2 with Anderson Tanoto, Director, RGE (centre), and RGE Founder and Chairman Sukanto Tanoto (centre/right)

The President was in Kerinci to formally inaugurate the new Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) facility which is co-located at APRIL’s mill complex in Kerinci and is the largest integrated viscose rayon production facility in Indonesia. APR’s co-location allows for integrated operations where renewable plantation pulp supply from APRIL feeds directly to APR for viscose rayon production. Both companies are part of the RGE Group of resource-based manufacturing companies.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, President Widodo also said the role of the private sector was influential in driving economic growth, alongside the stimulus provided by the Government. Regarding the new APR facility, he said: “Our textile industry should be greater than Vietnam. We already have our own material here, such as viscose rayon to support the industry”.