Social and economic development
Making a tangible contribution
We operate in 60 countries, and have industrial plants in 28 of them, which means that we make a real and substantial contribution to many of our communities round the world.
This ranges from tax payments, to wages for local people, to community investment in amenities and infrastructure. In 2007 we paid US$3.45 billion in local taxes, US$11 million in salaries and wages, and spent millions of dollars on buying goods and services from local suppliers, much of it invested in upgrading our sites and facilities. In 2007 our total investment in new plant and equipment was over US$5 billion, and two-thirds of this was spent outside the EU.
Our contribution isn't limited to creating jobs and paying taxes. In countries like Bosnia and Senegal, we've played a major role in the provision of basic infrastructure, like roads, transportation systems, ports and hospitals. In the United States and other developed markets we often use surplus land within our sites to benefit the local community. Our aim is always to engage community and government stakeholders in positive dialogue, promote economic development, and create jobs and revenue for the surrounding area. And in countries like Liberia, where we're by far the biggest single foreign investor, we work actively to encourage others to follow our lead.
We want to set a standard for others to follow, whether that's in the wise use of natural resources, or our willingness to contribute to the wider social and economic development of an area.
We also support much smaller-scale community projects, led by local people, and designed to encourage sustainable growth, as well as a number of projects in developed markets across the world.
Discover more about health and infrastructure as well as education and skills development in both emerging and mature markets.
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| Nafadji Bofeto Road before repair | Nafadji Bofeto Road after Repair |