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A ceremony marking the start of operations of APP's Rudong production base is held. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a global pulp and paper manufacturing company owned by Indonesian-based Sinar Mas Group, has achieved a remarkable feat with the establishment of the world's largest single tissue paper production base at Yangkou Port in Rudong county, Nantong.

Currently, at Gold Hongye Paper (Nantong) Co Ltd, 70 automated production lines are running with a capacity of 6,300 packs per minute. According to Zhai Jingli, vice-president of APP China, the total investment in the production base is expected to reach 45 billion yuan ($6.17 billion), while its annual production capacity is expected to reach 3.96 million metric tons.

An employee works at Gold Hongye Paper (Nantong) Co Ltd in Yangkou Port, Rudong. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

Zhai explained the rationale behind choosing Yangkou Port as the location for this colossal venture. She cited the port's geographical advantage of being situated on the northern side of the Yangtze River's entrance to the sea, which ensures convenient transportation. Yangkou Port is also positioned to leverage three significant development opportunities—the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Supported by robust infrastructure, including highways, railways, seaports, canals, and the upcoming Nantong airport, Yangkou Port offers immense market potential. Moreover, the region has abundant wind and solar energy, making it an ideal choice for establishing a green industrial cluster.

In the near future, APP plans to invest in the second phase of the production base to further promote digital and green transformation.