This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. shows visitors to a launch event for the Galaxy S10 in New Delhi, India, on March 7, 2019.
SEOUL, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s large business groups are continuing to provide support to India, which has enacted strict measures to limit the spread of new coronavirus.
Although factories have been closed due to the national lockdown, Korean companies have been increasing support activities for local residents most affected by the outbreak.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, India had 11,439 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The virus is still spreading rapidly, with the number of new confirmed cases exceeding 1,000 per day recently.
At the height of the outbreak, Samsung Electronics Co.’ Indian subsidiary has decided to provide 200 million rupees (US$2.61 million) to Indian authorities in the name of support related to the coronavirus.
Of the total, 150 million rupees will be injected into a fund led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The remaining aid will be delivered to Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where the tech giant operates production facilities.
Samsung also plans to match contributions from employees who donate to various relief organizations.
The company has also provided medical equipment such as X-ray machines, ultrasonic inspection equipment, masks and personal protective equipment.
Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s biggest carmaker by sales, has also jumped in to support the relief effort.
The company’s Indian subsidiary recently delivered 50 million rupees to Tamil Nadu, where one of its plants is located, and is also seeking to support Modi’s relief fund.
In addition, Hyundai will soon deliver 25,000 diagnostic kits from South Korea to India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Hyundai Motor’s assembly line at its plant in Chennai, India. (image: Hyundai Motor)
What is noticeable on the list of donations is support for oxygen ventilators.
India, which has poor medical infrastructure, currently has only 48,000 ventilators.
Therefore, some point out that it could be difficult doctors to cope if the number of confirmed patients increases sharply.
Hyundai Motor will commission a specialized company to produce ventilators on consignment, and is working on detailed plans, including the amount of production.
The automaker also plans to provide equipment such as masks, disinfectant, protective gear and waste incinerators.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics Inc. decided to donate 1 million meals, considering that the lockdown dealt a serious blow to low-income earners, including day laborers.
The consumer electronics giant also delivered groceries to 1,000 vulnerable people around its factory in Uttar Pradesh.
LG Electronics has also provided air purifiers, water purifiers and TVs to hospitals and isolation facilities throughout the country.
In response, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu expressed his gratitude at a recent news conference.
Local South Korean companies have been hit hard by the suspension of operations and a sharp drop in sales due to the state lockdown measures imposed on March 25.
All factories were temporarily shut down and distribution networks paralyzed as industrial facilities were forced to close.
In the meantime, the lockdown, which was originally scheduled to end Tuesday, has been extended until May 3, leaving factories unable to operate and expectations that damages are expected to increase further.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
