Sukanto Tanoto
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Sukanto Tanoto is the Founder and Chairman of RGE, which manages a group of world-class companies in resources-based manufacturing with assets exceeding US$35 billion and more than 80,000 employees.
Despite not completing his education, he was a successful pioneer in the plywood and forestry industry in Indonesia and later diversified into palm oil, viscose staple fibre, specialty cellulose and energy projects.
He founded the viscose staple fibre business in 2002 with the construction of the Sateri Jiangxi mill in Jiujiang and the aim of producing for the Chinese and international markets.
Sukanto Tanoto’s philanthropy dates back to 1981. He founded Tanoto Foundation with his family to improve learning environments, develop future leaders and support medical research. The Foundation harnesses the transformative power of education to realize people’s full potential and improve lives.
To create impactful, sustainable solutions that reach the communities most in need, Tanoto Foundation remains committed to collaborating with like-minded organisations. In 2025, the Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gates Foundation to identify, design, and implement joint initiatives in areas including public health and healthcare delivery, maternal and child nutrition, access to quality education, and strengthening the philanthropic ecosystem and capacity-building in Asia.
Sukanto Tanoto believes that whatever we do must be good for the Community, good for the Country, good for the Climate, good for the Customer – only then will it be good for the Company.
This 5Cs principle is central to each RGE company in demonstrating sustainable and responsible leadership.
Sukanto Tanoto is a member of the INSEAD International Council, the Wharton Board of Overseers and various other educational, community and industry bodies. He is a recipient of the Wharton School Dean’s Medal Award, which recognises contributions to the enlargement of the global economy and the improvement of lives worldwide.
Related links:
Tanoto Foundation
Sukanto Tanoto (Interview with GlobeAsia)
Sukanto Tanoto on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr
Sukanto Tanoto is the Founder and Chairman of RGE, which manages a group of world-class companies in resources-based manufacturing with assets exceeding US$35 billion and more than 80,000 employees.
Despite not completing his education, he was a successful pioneer in the plywood and forestry industry in Indonesia and later diversified into palm oil, viscose staple fibre, specialty cellulose and energy projects.
He founded the viscose staple fibre business in 2002 with the construction of the Sateri Jiangxi mill in Jiujiang and the aim of producing for the Chinese and international markets.
Sukanto Tanoto’s philanthropy dates back to 1981. He founded Tanoto Foundation with his family to improve learning environments, develop future leaders and support medical research. The Foundation harnesses the transformative power of education to realize people’s full potential and improve lives.
To create impactful, sustainable solutions that reach the communities most in need, Tanoto Foundation remains committed to collaborating with like-minded organisations. In 2025, the Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gates Foundation to identify, design, and implement joint initiatives in areas including public health and healthcare delivery, maternal and child nutrition, access to quality education, and strengthening the philanthropic ecosystem and capacity-building in Asia.
Sukanto Tanoto believes that whatever we do must be good for the Community, good for the Country, good for the Climate, good for the Customer – only then will it be good for the Company.
This 5Cs principle is central to each RGE company in demonstrating sustainable and responsible leadership.
Sukanto Tanoto is a member of the INSEAD International Council, the Wharton Board of Overseers and various other educational, community and industry bodies. He is a recipient of the Wharton School Dean’s Medal Award, which recognises contributions to the enlargement of the global economy and the improvement of lives worldwide.
Related links:
Tanoto Foundation
Sukanto Tanoto (Interview with GlobeAsia)
Sukanto Tanoto on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr
