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Deep Dive / Mapping Modernity / Hierarchy

11. East Coast of Sumatra

Kulie plantations on Sumatra's east coast  After 1970, Western entrepreneurs managed to secure extensive agricultural concessions on Sumatra's east coast after 1870, especially for tobacco and rubber plantations (indicated in orange and green). Over time, these plantations account for 20% of the Dutch East Indies' exports. High dividends for Dutch shareholders in these coolie plantations came at a great cost for East Sumatra in human lives.