Indonesia’s Belinda Tanoto on net zero goods, philanthropy and Royal Golden Eagle’s China challenges and opportunities

By the same token, she says moving away from China’s trickier business environment – especially for companies that want to steer clear of sanctions Washington has imposed – will not always be practical since the country remains a critical part of global supply chains. You truly have to be partners with China, she says.

“Despite any economic uncertainty, China remains crucial to the world economy thanks to its strong manufacturing, focus on exports, and expanding consumer market,” she told This Week in Asia.

She says the group, which also spans palm oil concerns and energy businesses such as natural gas, is doubling its business interests in China.

The 37-year-old Tanoto cut her teeth in palm oil upon joining the family business in 2008 before moving onto China.

Alongside her siblings, the other scions of the Tanoto clan, she has bet big on renewables, a move that came in handy in regards to China.

Renewable energy and similar climate-friendly industries are “winning” in China, she says, given that more than 90 per cent of Chinese shoppers are now interested in sustainable products.

“We have seen a huge demand for paper carriers, and we’re actually setting up new facilities to meet that demand. We’ve launched net zero paper, net zero textile products, and there’s more to come,” she said.

“Ever since President Xi [Jinping] launched China’s net zero targets, you see a lot of changes in how China approaches manufacturing.”

What surprised Tanoto most was the amount of innovation in green products and the speed at which China went from a nascent renewables industry to becoming a global leader. Innovation has driven down the costs of production, attracting consumers to such goods, she says.

RGE’s viscose-fibre company Sateri recently