KUALA LUMPUR: The Joinland Group, a diversified Malaysian conglomerate of varied business interests, has generated over RM100 million in revenue for local landowners and the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government since the start of its Central New Hanover Agro-Forestry Project in 2012.
The conglomerate in statement said the revenue was generated through the selective extraction of valuable timber as part of a licensed and regulated agro-forestry project, which were paid directly to local landowners, meeting Joinland's contractual obligations under its licence, and to the PNG government through taxes and export levies.
In addition to the direct revenues that the Central New Hanover Agro-Forestry Project has contributed to the PNG and New Hanover economies, the project has also had many other direct and indirect benefits for the New Hanover community.
These included the planting of over 2.5 million rubber trees, 560,000 cocoa trees, 54,000 coconut trees and 800,000 native calophyllum trees, which will help create sustainable jobs and income for New Hanover islanders in the future.
As part of the project, Joinland has also constructed a total of 73 permanent houses for local villagers, with another 45 houses under construction.
This total includes three church buildings, three pastors' houses, three primary school double classroom buildings, three elementary school buildings, three aid posts as well as a community health worker's house.
All houses built are supplied with water tanks by Joinland and so far, a total of 1,814 water tanks, with a capacity equivalent to 9.07 million litres of water, have been provided - ensuring reliable clean water for the people of New Hanover.
Joinland has also made other investments in the infrastructure of the island including the construction of over 800 km of basic roadway.
This new roadway, through formerly inaccessible areas, has greatly expanded the social mobility of New Hanover villagers, reduced their living costs and improved quality of life.
Joinland founder Datuk Seri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu said the company was satisfied that its efforts on New Hanover were bearing fruit both for local residents and the PNG government.
"New Hanover has an abundance of natural resources, but, as an isolated island, it lacked economic activity and most of its residents lived in poverty.
"By working closely with local landowner groups and the PNG government, we have been able to develop this unutilised land in a sustainable manner," he said in a statement today.
He said this has contributed significantly towards the economic and social growth of New Hanover islanders.
"We expect that these benefits will continue to accumulate for residents in the future, particularly when the various cash crops we have been planting (rubber, cocoa and coconut) reach their maturity and productive age."
He said Joinland has a long-term commitment to the sustainable socio-economic development of New Hanover and its residents.
"We are determined to maintain and even enhance our efforts in partnership with the Papua New Guinea government, New Hanover stakeholders and residents moving forward. We remain committed to sustainably developing the island and improving the lives of everyone on it," he added.