Certificate granted to Yili Group for its efforts to tackle proverty [Photo/Yili Group]

Leading Chinese dairy firm Yili Group was honored for its efforts to tackle poverty during a press conference held in Beijing, on Dec 5.

A report titled the Research Report on Poverty Alleviation of Chinese Enterprises was unveiled during the event.

The report, initiated by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and the Institute of Industrial Economics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, focuses on the efforts and achievements companies have made in tackling poverty. 

According to the report, Yili has become a leading Chinese enterprise in the fight against poverty.

The latest statistics show that Yili reported revenues of nearly 61.33 billion yuan ($8.80 billion) during the first nine months of this year, with a net profit of 5.06 billion yuan, making it the top earner in the Chinese dairy industry.

Its strong performance provides a firm financial foundation for Yili to conduct a national policy of targeted poverty alleviation.

In 2017, Yili proposed the World Integrally Sharing Health (WISH system), with a focus on reducing poverty by spurring industrial growth and improving the nutrition of people in poverty-stricken areas.

For many years, the company has helped develop links between farmers and herdsmen. It offers technical training and financial support to farmers to spur the quality growth of the dairy industry.

The Yili Nutrition 2020 program has also been a major part of the enterprise's efforts in tackling poverty.

So far, Yili has invested 21 million yuan in the program and donated 6.24 million cartons of milk, benefiting poor areas in 25 provinces, 130 cities and counties and 12,000 schools throughout China.

According to Yili, it plans to expand the number of anti-poverty initiatives and encourage more companies to join the fight against poverty.