CEOs from more than 40 major American corporations have banded together to form a multinational task force, in order to mobilize money to aid India, in its war against Covid-19. The task force, which includes the US-India Business Council of the US Chambers of Commerce, the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum and Business Roundtable, committed to getting 20,000 oxygen concentrators to India, in the next few weeks during its meeting here on Monday, according to Deloitte CEO Puneet Renjen.
The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response: Mobilizing for India is a recent US public-private initiative, that will provide India with vital medical equipment, vaccines, oxygen, and other life-saving assistance in the wake of an unexpected increase in coronavirus cases. The US Secretary of State Tony Blinken addressed the first-of-its-kind region-specific global task force, to solve a public health issue in another country. According to Blinken, the dialogue demonstrated how the US and India should use the private sector’s skills and capabilities to help solve India’s Covid-19 crisis.
“A large number of American businesses gathered over the weekend. We’re committed to doing everything we can to help in every way possible. We were very hopeful, and our spirits were high after successfully battling the first wave, but as the prime minister said, this storm has shaken the world. It is up to us to assist in whatever way we can “In response to a query, Renjen said. Renjen noted that the first problem is oxygen and concentrators, and that 20,000 oxygen concentrators will be delivered to India in the coming weeks. He added that the first 1,000 oxygen concentrators will arrive in the middle of this week, with another 11,000 planned by May 5. He said, “Our goal is to have 25,000 employees, and maybe even more.”
The second problem is to look at oxygen cylinders with capacities of 10 and 45 liters, as well as other supplies such as testing kits, according to Renjen. The Deloitte CEO praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call with President Joe Biden, as well as the US decision to send supplies to India without delay, stating that the two countries are natural allies. “It gives me a lot of confidence that the US government will do its part,” he said. Covid-19 is a personal enemy for him. The disease has affected Renjen’s entire family in Rohtak, Haryana, India.
He estimates that 2,000 Deloitte workers in India have been affected. “We are assisting people in receiving vaccines. We provide them with medical support as well as home examination kits. This is something that all companies with a significant presence in India do on a regular basis. That is extremely necessary to accomplish”, Renjen expressed his thoughts. Retail, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, the telecommunications industry, and major industrial companies are all included on the task force.
“This global crisis necessitates a global solution, and the American business community could not be better placed, or more willing, to lead the way,” said Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce. “Seeing someone so dedicated to doing their part and contributing was exciting. As a result of the discussion, we came up with the oxygen concentrators as the first stage,” Renjen said. “Our point to the US government is that assistance (to India) should be given wherever it is needed,” he said.
