Global Task Force on Pandemic Response Announces Additional Aid for Southeast Asia’s COVID-19 Response – Boosting Diagnostic Capabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response (GTF)-a public-private partnership of major U.S. companies organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with support from Business Roundtable-today announced $10.3 million in support to help Indonesia and Vietnam respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The assistance includes much-needed technology, including genomic sequencing equipment critical to identifying new COVID-19 variants. In addition, the aid will provide the countries with more robust COVID-19 diagnostics and ancillary equipment, including rapid antigen tests, PCR testing systems, and personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Collaborating with local partners on the ground including the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC), the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (AmCham Indonesia), and the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham Vietnam), and in cooperation with the Governments of Indonesia and Vietnam, GTF members will work to provide these critically needed supplies to areas of highest need. 

"The GTF remains focused on expanding COVID-19 testing, prevention, and care in parts of the world that need it most," said Charles Freeman Senior Vice President for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "This donation to Indonesia and Vietnam comes at a critical moment for both countries, as the Omicron variant threatens their slow emergence from a year of rampant COVID-19 outbreaks. Adequate technology to sequence variants is a significant gap in many countries and the GTF is playing a critical role in helping Indonesia and Vietnam address this issue." 

"The Council is honored to support this major disbursement of much-needed aid to Indonesia and Vietnam," said Ambassador Ted Osius, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council. "As the pandemic continues to evolve, the American business community stands ready to help our friends and partners in Southeast Asia weather the challenges the Omicron variant presents."

"With operations and many employees in Indonesia, we were happy to support the transportation of needed medical supplies to the area to help COVID-19 relief efforts," said Richard C. Adkerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Freeport-McMoRan. "Supporting our communities both locally and globally has long been a key priority of Freeport-McMoRan, and our company is proud to be part of the GTF's frontline effort helping vulnerable areas around the world fight this pandemic."

Specifically, the GTF will save lives and help detect, prevent, and respond to COVID-19 in Indonesia and Vietnam through the donation of critical diagnostic supplies procured by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation with generous support from Accenture, Deloitte and Microsoft:  

• Over 430,000 Abbott point-of-care rapid antigen tests that can easily be deployed across Vietnam, 
• 1 Illumina genomic sequencing machine, critical in identifying and tracking new COVID variants, to Sanglah Hospital in Bali, Indonesia, 
• 15 Thermo Fisher PCR testing systems to upgrade the capacity at labs across Indonesia, with a specific focus on internal border provinces. 

In addition to life-saving diagnostics, vital ancillary products are being provided through in-kind donations and financial support, including:  

• Over 1.9 million N95 masks, 176 ventilators, over 1.6 million gowns, over 2 million specimen collection kits, and 1.4 million swabs to Indonesia, donated by the City of New York and through the support of the GTF, 
• Freeport-McMoRan  provided $300,000 to ship 60 containers of masks, PPE, and other equipment donated by the City of New York to Indonesia, with shipping container space made available through FedEx at a steeply reduced cost, 
• 800,000 masks to Vietnam donated on behalf of GM, and through the support of the GTF, 
• Donations of $200,000 and $250,000 from ConocoPhillips and Chevron respectively towards the Oxygen for Indonesia initiative by the YCAB Foundation, in coordination with the GTF. 

The Global Task Force's pandemic response efforts in Indonesia and Vietnam are a continuation of its mobilization to help countries throughout Southeast Asia in their pandemic response and recovery.  

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has also launched a COVID-19 Business Response portal, a platform for U.S. businesses to offer essential in-kind products and services needed outside of the United States. Visit the portal to review a list of critically needed supplies or offer in-kind donations. 

For more information on the Global Task Force's work, visit pandemictaskforce.org. 

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