27 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2018/2019 01 S E C T I O N SUSTAINABILITY AT FGV FGV Young Entrepreneurs Programme 2018 FGV launched the inaugural FGV Young Entrepreneurs Programme 2018 in April 2018, which attracted about 300 applicants nationwide. The programme was developed to equip the next generation of FELDA settlers with the necessary skill sets required within the plantation industry and enable them to perform tasks that are often outsourced to third parties. Among the 300 participants, 60 were selected to undergo training at FGV’s plantations, where 49 of them completed the six-month programme in November. During the programme, the participants were trained to handle chemicals and hazardous substances for weeding and fertilising, and estate management processes that ranged from tending the fields to harvesting and transporting FFB to the mill. Each trainee was assigned to a plantation manager, who served as the mentor. Other than hands-on skills, they were also given business management training at FGV Academy, where they learned about RSPO requirements and the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council’s (MPOCC) standards for MSPO certification. At the end of the programme, FGV facilitated the participants in exploring business financing opportunities from MARA, TEKUN Nasional and Agrobank to help them set up their companies or tender for business from other companies. The cost of the training programme was fully borne by FGV, during which each participant received a monthly allowance of RM1,150. In addition, FGV allocated RM2.5 million worth of contracts from its annual procurement budget to give the entrepreneurs a head start in the plantation business. FGV plans to make the programme part of its corporate responsibility commitment to provide more opportunities for local communities, especially the underprivileged. This underlines FGV’s commitment to producing more skilled young entrepreneurs for the plantation industry. 49 participants exploring business financing opportunities completed the six-month programme in November 2018 FGV facilitated the participants in FGV also allocated RM2.5 million worth of contracts from its annual procurement budget to give the entrepreneurs a head start in the plantation business Yayasan Felda FGV and FELDA contribute a certain portion of their net profits annually to their welfare arm, Yayasan Felda, whose function is to give back to society through community-enriching programmes. In 2018, FGV allocated RM5,000,000 to Yayasan Felda to fund various charitable causes and initiatives. These initiatives focused on education, healthcare and philanthropic causes to benefit the public, settler communities and the rural population.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDgzMzc=