Global business leaders join the fight against COVID-19

The aggressive spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. In these tough times, organisations and business leaders around the world are coming together and doing their bit to minimise the impact on public health and check the spread of the virus. This, in turn, should help limit disruption to economies and supply chains. 

Here are a few ways in which leading global companies and business leaders are contributing: 

Google 

Google has stepped up and responded to the Coronavirus pandemic, pledging a total of $800 million to support small- and medium-sized businesses, governments, health organisations and health workers fighting COVID-19. 

After announcing an initial $25 million in advertising grants last month, the company increased its grant commitment to $250 million for the World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 100 government agencies globally to provide critical information on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

We’re committing $800M+ in new #COVID19 response efforts, incl $340M in @GoogleAds credits for SMBs worldwide, $250M in ad grants for @WHO & 100+ govt orgs globally, a $200M investment fund for NGOs & banks to help small businesses access capital, and more https://t.co/oVj6MMs9Bl

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 27, 2020

Nestle 

Nestlé has stepped up its efforts in the response to COVID-19 by partnering with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide urgent help to emergency services, caregivers, and to strengthen health systems. 

The company will donate food, medical nutrition products and bottled water to bring relief to those most affected by the pandemic. 

Apple 

Tim Cook, Chief Executive Officer, Apple announced that the company had sourced and would donate 10 million masks to the medical community in the United States, and millions more for the European regions hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Proud to share we’ve been able to source 10M masks for the US and millions more for the hardest hit regions in Europe. Our ops teams are helping to find and purchase masks from our supply chain in coordination with governments around the world. pic.twitter.com/uTsA6eA5ks

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 25, 2020

Tesla 

Elon Musk has promised to provide New York with hundreds of ventilators to help meet demand from the growing Coronavirus outbreak. The ventilators were purchased from US government-approved manufacturers in China. The ventilators were donated to hospitals in New York City and across New York state. 

Reliance 

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has set up India’s first COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Mumbai. The hospital is fully funded by Reliance Foundation and includes a negative pressure room that helps in preventing cross contamination and helps control infection. All beds are equipped with the required infrastructure, biomedical equipment such as ventilators, pacemakers, dialysis machines, and patient monitoring devices. 

Tata 

Ratan Tata has committed Rs 500 crore to procure protective equipment for frontline workers, respiratory systems for treatment of increasing cases and testing kits in the fight against COVID-19. 

In a tweet on March 28, Ratan Tata shared a post detailing how Tata Trusts and the group companies will help as India battles to contain the spread of COVID-19. 

The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as a race. The Tata Trusts and the Tata group companies have in the past risen to the needs of the nation. At this moment, the need of the hour is greater than any other time. pic.twitter.com/y6jzHxUafM

— Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) March 28, 2020

Bharti Enterprises 

Bharti Enterprises and its companies Bharti Airtel, Bharti Infratel and others are contributing a sum of over Rs 100 crore for India’s fight against COVID-19. A significant portion of the corpus will be immediately contributed to the PM - CARES Fund. The balance amount is being directed towards sourcing of masks, PPE and other key equipment for the doctors, healthcare workers and essential services personnel who are at the forefront of this massive battle. Over a million N-95 masks are being procured and will be made available on an immediate basis. 

In addition to the Rs 100 crore committed by Bharti Enterprises, the employees of Bharti are also making personal voluntary contributions towards this cause through a platform set up by the company. Bharti Companies will match the amount contributed by their employees, and the same will be contributed towards the Covid-19 initiatives. 

During these uncertain times where the world has been struck by a pandemic never seen before, it is very important for world business leaders to come out and help the people in need. While the world has made them who they are today, we see these leaders give back to society which now needs them the most.

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