FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Medical supplies arrive from Jack Ma’s foundations

Medical supplies arrive from Jack Ma’s foundations

Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday (March 26) accepted on Thailand’s behalf a donation of facemasks, protective suits, face shields and other medical supplies from the China-based Jack Ma and Alibaba foundations.

Lazada Thailand chief executive James Dong made the presentation for the two foundations established by wealthy online retailer Jack Ma.
The ministry and Government Pharmaceutical Organisation will distribute the supplies across the nation.
The foundations announced on March 19 they would be donating supplies to four Southeast Asian countries, the others being Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. They will receive a combined two million facemasks, test kits for 150,000 people, 20,000 protective suits and 20,000 face shields.
“Thailand is faced with unprecedented challenges, like many countries around the world, but we are determined to win the fight against the pandemic,” Anutin declared.
“Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation for their timely and much-needed assistance as we put our best efforts into adjusting to a rapidly evolving situation.”
The Jack Ma Foundation said in a statement it was “doing all that we can to support the global community” manage the crisis.
A second batch of supplies will arrive later this week.
The donations are among a raft of aid initiatives from the two foundations in support of areas hit hard by the Covid-19 virus, including Asia, the United States, Africa, Italy, Belgium, France, Slovenia, Spain and Latin America.
Its eWTP – Electronic World Trade Platform – which has played a key role in the speedy delivery of the donated medical supplies, is a not-for-profit initiative first proposed by Jack Ma in 2016 to help foster a more integrated, inclusive environment for cross-border trade.
The foundations are also funding research and development of Covid-19 virus treatment options in China and at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia and Columbia University in the US.

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