For the second time VICO receives a Corporate Social Responsibility award from one of the CSR institution, Harian Seputar Indonesia (SINDO). For this year VICO receives recognition for an award for the social economic development efforts implemented through agricultural programs. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in J.W. Marriott Jakarta Hotel Ballroom and was witnessed by the Coordinating Minister of Public Welfare, Agung Laksono and the Secretary General of Social Ministry, Toto Utomo Budi Santoso.  The previous award was awarded for VICO's community development support to the local Small & Medium Enterprise for the effort of food crackers product as home industry.

The aim of the CSR Award 2012 by SINDO was to recognize companies which are considered to have a sustainable community development programs in place which are successful in assisting to increase the social welfare of the people. At the occasion, Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare Agung Laksono stated that CSR activities are not only a mere social activity but also as a company's responsibility for social investment.  The plan should already been included at the investment feasibility study for companies with businesses which focus on the activities of natural resources. With that it is expected that the CSR activities applied should be in line with the MP3EI program (Accelerating Expansion of Indonesia Economic Development Master Plan) that the government launched earlier in the year.

Present to receive the award for VICO is the  President & CEO of VICO Indonesia Gunther Newcombe, accompanied by Pak Parluhutan Sibuea, VP HSE&OI, Pak Surya Safari, External Relations Manager, Ibu Lies Tjokro, General Affairs & Services Manager. VICO received the award for the effort in developing the training and coaching, capital and marketing for local farmers, namely Wonomulyo Farmers.  Wonomulyo farmers received VICO social economic assistance since 2003.  In 2008, they had their first harvest of rubber plantation.  The plantation area increased from 150 Ha to 390 Ha since.  A total of 143 farmers now in the group with a production of 18 tons/month. 

With CSR and Community Development programs, VICO hopes to be able to contribute in social welfare development, especially for the community around VICO's operating areas. This is a commitment that VICO Indonesia will keep on doing.

Over 40 contractor companies and VICO senior leaders attended a Safety Forum held at the Bimasena Club on 25^th April which explored the theme of "Working Together as One Team". A number of questions were posed to the participants who were worked hard at each of the tables during the meeting.

Peter Stegers, VP  Technical Support and Richard Sugeng, VP Operations from VICO also shared their experiences with the team and the conversations held were open and honest.

From the forum a "Leadership Safety Promise" of ten individual items was drawn up as follows:

• Reinforce Golden Rules & 8 Safety Standards
• Reward good safety behavior
• Do not tolerate rules being broken
• Visit site locations at least on a quarterly basis
• Discuss safety during visits and follow-up on actions
• Ensure workforce is trained and competent
• Raise safety awareness
• Never walk past an unsafe act
• Identify hazards & manage risks
• Analyze safety information & implement actions

In addition a number of work groups have been established consisting of both VICO and contractor leadership to work a number of safety improvements and ensure that VICO and Contractors work more effectively together

Gunther Newcombe, President & CEO VICO says "This workshop was set up in order for the ideas and concerns of the contractors to be listened to and establish a framework for working together in partnership to improve safety"

Feedback from the workshop was very positive and the team is working a plan for a joint VICO & Contractor field visit which will be held between 18^th- 20^th June.

In order to establish a better relationship with Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government, VICO Indonesia, accompanied by a Team of BPMIGAS led by Mr. Gde Pradnyana, Head of Public Relations, Security and Formalities held a get-together gathering with representatives of Kutai Kartanegara regency led by Mr. Vice-Regent, HM Ghufron Yusuf SH MM accompanied by Assistant I, Chairil Anwar and Assistant II Edy Damansyah.  Also present at this activity was representative of the regional of Kukar Department of Mines and Energy (Distamben) and the Environment Agency Region (BPLH), while from VICO was led by Mr. Parluhutan Sibuea, Vice President HSE & OI and a team consisted of Legal, GA, and Operations Support.

The gathering was held on February 15, 2012, and a discussion was raised on the recent dynamic development of communities' aspirations and operational matters, which mainly focused on the aspirations of the communities who wanted to feel more of benefit from VICO Indonesia's existence in their area.

On the same day was also the Vice regent Guhfron Yusuf and the Assistant I Chairil Anwar's birthdays.  Those gathers spontaneously sung "Happy Birthday" when the chocolate cake was produced and later enjoyed by all present.

The gathering lasted from 8 am to 12 noon and concluded with lunch. Valuable input from this gathering was taken by all parties to follow up in order to establish a more conducive working environment at the field operation area.

One of the CSR programs conducted by VICO Indonesia is helping to improve the quality of educational programs for the community around the operations area. The program consists of Human Resources (HR) development, especially for the teaching staff through training, improving the quality of educational and cultural facilities. Therefore, on January 10 to 12, 2012, VICO Indonesia held a Subject Content Training for high school teachers from five districts in the surrounding of operations area. A total of 25 representatives of SMA/SMK teachers in the study of Geography and Economy of five districts i.e. Marangkayu, Muara Rhinos, Anggana, Muara Java, and Samboja, following the training programs organized by VICO.

Teachers who participated in this training were excited and enthusiastic. According to them, they never received similar training before. Therefore, the training conducted by VICO was very useful and helped them in adding the knowledge on Geographic and Economics subject curriculum. For this activity, VICO involved the Provision Education as a partner, and invited a Lecturer from the State University of Jakarta as a trainer.

Improving the quality of education, especially for community in the operations area is a commitment from VICO Indonesia. VICO expects, by organizing this training, there will be an increase in teachers¿ competence, particularly on Geography and Economics. Thus, teachers will have a better knowledge to be given to their students at schools, and final exam scores of students will improve.

Kelompok  Bina Tani menjadi binaan VICO Indonesia sejak tahun 2008. Kelompok tani yang berlokasi di Desa Beringin Agung, Kecamatan Samboja ini memiliki anggota aktif sebanyak 65 orang dengan lahan garapan seluas 65 hektar. Sebelum mendapat pembinaan, hasil pertanian yang didapat hanya pas pasan. namun, sejak dibina VICO, secara berangsur-angsur hasil panen yang didapatkan menjadi sangat maksimal.

Ketua kelompok Bina Tani, Suheri mengungkapkan telah beberapa kali mendapatkan bantuan, sejak 2008 antara lain bantuan berupa kerjasama dengan lembaga PAMPEL Kutai kartanegara (Kukar). Selain itu, VICO juga pernah memberikan bantuan berupa pengembangan kelompok tani berupa sarana pertanian senilai dan sarana produksi. Suheri berharap bantuan seperti ini akan terus berlanjut dengan berbagai program dan inovasi yang mampu meningkatkan taraf hidup dan kemandirian para petani.