The Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) has raised over EUR 6.1 million (~INR 55 crore) from French companies based in India to support its ongoing fight against the Covid pandemic. As part of the French Solidarity Mission initiated by the French Government and implemented by the Embassy of France in India, majority of these funds have been committed to purchase and install at least 20 French oxygen generator plants in Indian hospitals. Eight of these oxygen plants have already been delivered and installed in Indian hospitals including Military Hospital in Palam, Telengana Institute of Medical Sciences, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, Ambedkar Nagar Hospital among others. The remaining will arrive in India within a few weeks.
IFCCI is the only bilateral chamber of commerce in India which has committed to provide extensive and long-term support to the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Each oxygen plant sourced from French company Novair supplies non-stop oxygen to a 250-bed hospital for 10-12 years, ensuring greater healthcare autonomy to hospitals who have been catering to thousands of critical patients. IFCCI’s CSR Committee played a vital role in this exercise.
In addition, IFCCI has been working with Business France to procure approximately 600 oxygen concentrators from France due to arrive in the next few days. It is also working closely with Capgemini to develop a mobile app and website which would serve as a common resource pool for sharing information about plasma donors, oxygen cylinders and concentrators for IFCCI’s members and extended networks.
Donations were received from more than 50 companies including
Capgemini, Amundi – SBI Mutual Fund, Saint Gobain, Air Liquide, CMA-CGM, Dassault Aviation, Société Générale, Accenture, Atos, Pernod Ricard, BNP Paribas, Safran, Sanofi, Moët-Hennessy, L’Oréal, EDF, Airbus, Naval Group, Alstom, Total, Orano, ADP, Renault, Hermes, Roquette, Engie, Crédit Agricole, Sopra Steria, Serdia Pharmaceuticals, Thales, Air France, Michelin, Schneider Electric, ARaymond, bioMérieux, Legrand, NRB Bearings, Dassault Systèmes, BIC Cello, Amadeus, Emballiso, TNP Consultants, Idemia, Phosphea, Robertet, Velan, Evolis, Monin, Sonepar, Armor Group, Technique Solaire, Soufflet, Link, Radiall, Precia Molen, and Helma.
“Grave times call for unprecedented action, and we saw unanimous support and willingness from our member companies in response to our call for help under this initiative by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our member companies have long been committed to India’s story of overcoming challenges and resilient growth. French companies are committed to India as long term investors. Their efforts to help strengthening the healthcare infrastructure across the country shows how deeply they are invested in India as a country as well as safety of their employees, families and peers”. said Sumeet Anand, President, IFCCI
Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI said “As a part of Team France, IFCCI was able to galvanize its members into action. This is the largest fundraising exercise in the history of our Chamber, and it has been encouraging to see our members stepping up during India’s most critical hour. This is a long-term project and we are working closely with the IFCCI CSR Committee to ensure the maintenance of these plants over the next few years”.