Joinland Group Creating Wealth For Papua New Guinea

Joinland�s Central New Hanover Project Generates Over 100 Million Ringgit In Revenue For Local Landowners & Government Since 2012

 

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach - 4 December
2020 – The Joinland Group, a
diversified Malaysian conglomerate of varied business interests, has generated
over 100 million-ringgit (USD$25 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.

These
revenues, generated through the selective extraction of valuable timber as part
of a licensed and regulated agro-forestry project, 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 have 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. Currently, Joinland is planting 15 essential
native trees for every single tree cleared as part of its forestry activities.

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. This has included 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.

Since
Joinland began operations on New Hanover it has built several clinics and
recruited two doctors and four nurses. These healthcare professionals primarily
provide care to the 200 employees working for Joinland (approximately 70% of
whom are locals who earn incomes at or above PNG’s
statutory minimum wage), but they also provide healthcare and medicines to local residents who
require it — free of charge.

Commenting
on the project’s contributions Dato’ Sri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu, the founder of Joinland, said, “We are satisfied that our efforts on New
Hanover are 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. This has contributed
significantly towards the economic and social growth of New Hanover islanders
and 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.”

Dato’ Sri Thomas concluded, “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.”

About Joinland Group

The Joinland Group is a diversified Malaysian conglomerate including
property, plantation, forestry and agricultural management, insurance and
shipping businesses, to name a few. The company operates businesses and
investments in many markets including Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Australia,
Papua New Guinea, China and New Zealand, among others.

The company was founded by Dato’ Sri Thomas Hah Tiing Siu, a self-made entrepreneur who started out in the cold storage business. In
2013 he was awarded the honorary title of Dato’ Sri by the Sultan of Pahang
(Malaysia) in recognition of his management skills and business acumen in
building the Joinland Group.

For
more information on the Joinland Group please visit www.joinlandgroup.com.my