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Multinationals' earthquake relief efforts
By Bao Dao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-26 10:54

Images of some multinationals such as P&G, Nike and McDonald's have been tainted by negative news reports about product quality, environmental negligence, commercial bribery, unethical advertising and poor labor relations.

Thanks to its economic boom, China has become a market many multinationals cannot afford to lose. And they are stepping out philanthropy activities to win Chinese people's hearts and minds.

"We believe the stability and prosperity of China are the basis for our fast development at this world's fastest growing market," says Nam K Woo, CEO of LG Electronics Greater China. The firm donated 17 million yuan to the Red Cross Society of China.

However, for many multinationals that already integrate philanthropy into their regular corporate practices, the importance of the China market is not the deciding factor. Many, in fact, have been mobilizing all the resources to increase donations to aid the quake-hit regions.

In the following day of the earthquake, Canon China donated 1 million yuan and its headquarters in Japan added 10 million yuan in May 14. Canon China also joined a local partner to donate medical equipment worth 3 million yuan. UK-Netherlands giant Unilever announced a donation of 10 million yuan, including $1 million from its overseas offices.

To show his commitment to China, Airbus CEO Tom Enders flew to China on May 20 and donated 5 million yuan to the quake-hit areas via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, Airbus China and its partner China Aviation Supplies Holding Company jointly donated 10 emergency mobile stretcher units, worth $300,000 for transport aircraft to Chinese life saving teams in Sichuan. The stretchers are very useful and efficient in transporting traumatized victims by air to other hospitals.

"At Airbus China, many of us have seen TV pictures of distressed children, which moved us greatly, and I think we will try to identify a project involving children, such as the rebuilding of a school or an orphanage, as children are the future for all of us", says Laurence Barron, President of Airbus China.

France's Veolia provided its expertise to aid the quake-hit region. The firm announced on May 14 that it could donate both cash and three mobile water treatment plants capable providing emergency water supplies to 15,000 people daily. That could be a much-needed help for rescuers and survivors as restoring clean water supplies and avoiding plagues are the one of the most arduous tasks for rescue efforts.


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