SPIC steps up its efforts in the fight against COVID-19

• Donates face masks, hand sanitisers and food provisions to local government and district municipality for caregivers & health workers
• Starts a programme with the local police department for daily food supplies to the needy

17^thApril 2020, Chennai, India: Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd. (SPIC), one of India’s pioneering agri-nutrient and fertiliser companies and part of AM International, Singapore, has stepped up efforts to contribute to the country’s fight against COVID-19. As a first step, the company as started a series of donations to local authorities, municipality and healthcare professionals as a meaningful contribution amid the current crisis.

The efforts are helmed under the group’s CSR arm, AM Foundation which focuses on improving public healthcare with a focus on the three areas of sanitation, nutrition and immunisation.

In these challenging times, protecting healthcare workers and public caretakers is a priority. Short supply of hand sanitisers can endanger their lives as they work hard to safeguard the broader community. To address the scarcity, SPIC distributed hand-sanitisers and other protective gear to Thoothukudi district officials and local authorities engaged in community sanitisation efforts.

Mr. Ashwin Muthiah, Chairman - SPIC and Founding Chairman, AM International, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest crisis of our generation. The call for social distancing is aimed at lessening the spread and impact of the disease. At AM International, we're supporting the local authorities in their combative efforts. The contributions allow us to have an instant, positive community-wide impact at the grass-root levels.

The health and well-being of our employees and their families is a top priority. Since last month, a majority of our office-based staff has been working from home. Further, we’ve put in place measures to ensure the safety of staff members working on essential manufacturing sites. These include restricted personnel visits and staggered staff schedules.”

Other personal protective gear, such as face masks and surgical gloves, have been donated to local municipal and district authorities. Along with 70 litres of hand-sanitisers, a contribution of over 12,000 face masks was made to various departments including 5000 face masks to the District Collectors’ office, 1000 face masks to the Superintendent of Police’s office, 5450 face masks to the local MP’s office and400face masks and 100 gloves to the fire department. These face masks are for their use as well as for distribution among members of vulnerable communities.

The significance of sanitation and hygiene cannot be over emphasised in the current scenario. Public places need to be disinfected regularly and thoroughly to control infection levels. The Thoothukudi Corporation has deployed a SPIC-donated high-pressure jet pump for its routine cleaning schedule.

Further, the company has collaborated with local authorities to provide food support to daily wage earners amid the lockdown. It contributed 1250 kg of rice to the Thoothukudi Corporation for the purpose. Food supplies for 250 persons are being provided daily, along with the local police department.

About Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Limited (SPIC)www.spic.in

Founded in 1969, SPIC has served the Indian farmer’s agri-productivity needs with scientific rigour and environment-friendly products. One of India's first petrochemical companies with a focus on fertilisers, today it is amongst the most recalled agri-brands in rural India, trusted by Indian farmers. It continues with its mission to empower Indian farmers and agriculturists with products that not only increase farm productivity and yield but simultaneously replenish soil health.  With a state-of-the-art modern fertiliser complex producing 6.2 lakh tons of Neem Coated Urea, the company is a torch-bearer in India’s progress towards national farm productivity and food sufficiency.

About AM International Holdings Private Limited

AM International is a diversified, multinational group of companies with a federated operating architecture. Headquartered in Singapore, many of the group’s businesses are market leaders with footprints across South East Asia, India and the United Kingdom. The group’s business verticals include fertilisers & supply chain, petrochemicals, infrastructure, healthcare and green energy.

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