Deloitte, Google, Microsoft’s CEOs pledge to support India in covid crisis

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The CEOs of top American companies have come together to create a global task force to mobilize resources to help India fight the battle against COVID-19. This collective initiative “Global Task Force on Pandemic Response: Mobilizing for India” was formed by the US-India Business Council of the US Chambers of Commerce, and the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum. It is aimed to provide critical medical supplies, vaccines, oxygen, and other life-saving assistance to India amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases.

As per the information shared by Deloitte’s CEO Punit Renjen to news agencies, the task force has committed to providing 20,000 oxygen concentrators to India in the next few weeks.

“A number of American companies have come together over the weekend. We are focused on doing our very best to help in any way that we possibly can. As the prime minister said, we were very confident, our spirits were up after successfully tackling the first wave, but this storm has shaken the nation. It is up to us to help in any way possible,” Renjen said.

On many Deloitte employees in India getting infected with the virus, Renjen said, “We are facilitating individuals getting the vaccines. We are providing them medical assistance, home testing kits. This is being consistently done by all entities that have big footprints in India. That is really important to do.”

He also affirmed both US and India are natural allies, as he welcomed the US’s decision to provide urgent supplies to India in the wake of the crisis.

The president and chief executive officer of the US Chamber of Commerce Suzanne Clark also said, “This global crisis requires a global response, and the American business community could not be better positioned, or more determined, to help lead the way.”