PressClub Global · Article.
Coronavirus emergency aid for South Africa - BMW Group supports German development policy
Mon Jun 29 14:59:06 CEST 2020 Press Release
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and BMW Group South Africa are supporting the South African government in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by providing 750 new hospital beds +++ BMW Group South Africa is providing the project with financial assistance of around 2.7 million euros +++ BMW Group South Africa will continue with social projects during the coronavirus crisis as investment in community and its employees
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BMW Group
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- The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and BMW Group South Africa are supporting the South African government in its efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by providing 750 new hospital beds
- BMW Group South Africa, which operates a production plant in Rosslyn in the Gauteng region, is providing the project with financial assistance of around 2.7 million euros
- BMW Group South Africa has been involved with various social projects in Gauteng for almost 50 years and will continue with this during the coronavirus crisis as an investment in the community and its employees
Munich / Pretoria. Today, in a virtual ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Oliver Zipse, German Minister of Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller and South African Minister of Health Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize signed a joint memorandum of understanding.
The agreement includes an emergency coronavirus package, with the three partners working together to help expand medical infrastructure at nine hospitals and four clinics in the Gauteng region. In addition to masks and disinfectant, the Gauteng region will also be provided with 750 additional hospital beds and 150 mobile oxygen tanks no later than July.
South Africa is currently among the regions of the continent hardest hit by COVID-19. As in many other African countries, there is also a lack of emergency beds, ventilators and laboratory facilities.
“We provide help where it is needed the most”
BMW Group South Africa is providing the project with financial assistance of 2.7 million euros, as well as making several BMW X3s produced at the Rosslyn plant available. Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG: “In a global crisis like the coronavirus pandemic, solidarity is more important than anything else. We provide help where it is needed the most. That is why we are helping develop health infrastructure at our location in Gauteng in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the South African government."
“Companies are key partners in the fight against coronavirus”
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is contributing 1.6 million euros to develop the South African health system. At the virtual signing of the memorandum of understanding, German Minister of Cooperation and Development Dr. Gerd Müller said: “The project in Gauteng is part of our coronavirus emergency programme aimed not only at battling the health crisis, but also dealing with the major economic and food crisis in South Africa. In this situation, companies like the BMW Group with a presence on the ground are important partners for German development policy.”
The BMW Group has been active in the Gauteng region through its production plant for almost 50 years. Tim Abbott, CEO of BMW Group South Africa: “We traditionally feel a responsibility towards the community we are a part of. It is only natural for us to support the Gauteng region, where we have been committed to various local health and education projects for decades.”
If you have any questions, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Milena Pighi
BMW Group Corporate and Governmental Affairs,
spokesperson CSR
Telephone: +49-89-382-66563
Email: Milena.PA.Pighi@bmw.de
Andreas Klugescheid
BMW Group Head of Steering Government and
External Affairs, Sustainability Communications
Telephone: +49-89-382-26661
Email: Andreas.Klugescheid@bmw.de
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.
In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to € 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce of 126,016 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
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