Assisting Mali in the Fight Against COVID-19: Poly Group Actively Fulfilling Corporate Social Responsibility
Currently, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Africa, many Chinese-funded enterprises stand up to contribute to fighting the disease and safeguarding the wellbeing of the local community. Among them, are two subsidiaries under Sinolight International Holdings Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Sino Light Holdings), a subsidiary of Poly Group, namely Mali Shangcara Sugar Union Co., Ltd. (Old Sugar Union) and Mali New Shangcara Sugar Union Co., Ltd. (New Sugar Union).
As the national industry of Mali, the new and old sugar unions in Mali have offered Mali domestically produced sugar and sugar industry. It is a witness to the unbreakable friendship and cooperation between China and Mali since the establishment of diplomatic relations. It is also a model enterprise of China’s foreign aid joint venture cooperation and the first and successful example of China's foreign aid debt-to-equity swap, the New Sugar Union is the continuation of the traditional friendship between China and Malaysia after entering the new century. The new and old sugar unions implement localized operations and provide employment opportunities for more than 13,000 locals every year, which are the main source of income and guarantee for thousands of families and have made important contributions to Mali’s social stability and economic development.
Donate to build temporary treatment centers
On March 25, Mali first confirmed a case of COVID-19. In order to prevent the pandemic from spreading further in Mali, the Malian government plans to establish temporary treatment centers to treat patients. Under the organization of Zhu Liying, the Chinese Embassy in Mali, and Zhang Shengbin, the Economic and Commercial Counselor, Sino Light Holdings donated 5 million African sillan to the Mali government for the establishment of the Mali temporary treatment centers, and joined hands with the Malian government to fight the pandemic and practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.
After the outbreak, Sinolight Holdings purchased multiple batches of anti-epidemic materials from China and sent them to Mali through various channels. So far, more than 25,000 masks, protective clothing, goggles, medicines and other anti-epidemic materials have been sent to Mali, in order to provide daily protection for the Chinese and Malaysian employees and to help units in Malaysia fight the global epidemic prevention and control battle.
Donate alcohol to the Malian government for pandemic prevention and control
On April 27, Sinolight Holdings’ two holding subsidiaries in Mali--Mali New and Old Sugar Union, donated 10,000 liters of self-produced alcohol to the Malian government for the prevention and control of the pandemic in Mali. Chinese Ambassador to Mali Zhu Liying, Mali Minister of Industry and Trade Al Raf, Minister of Health Sidibe, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ba Xili, and relevant persons in charge of the New and Old Sugar Union companies attended the donation alcohol handover ceremony.
Zheng Yining, deputy general manager of Sinolight Holdings and chairman of the new and old sugar union companies, said that the new and old sugar union companies in Mali are a joint industrial, agricultural and commercial sugar enterprise jointly established by the governments of China and Malaysia. For decades, it has played an important role in solving the local employment problem in Mali, meeting the local sugar supply, and increasing Mali government taxation. During the pandemic, we will take the initiative to assume our social responsibilities. This time we donated 10,000 liters of alcohol to help the Malian government and people fight the epidemic.
Ambassador Zhu Liying expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Sinolight Corporation and Sino Light Holdings for their social responsibility during the pandemic, and pointed out that the new and old sugar union companies are demonstration projects of China-Malaysia cooperation. The production of white sugar "in peacetime" to benefit the people, and the provision of alcohol "in wartime" to fight the epidemic, which contributes to the economic and social development of Mali in various ways, and brings tangible benefits to the people of Mali.
In their speeches, Minister Sidibe and Minister Alraf expressed their gratitude to China for offering help on behalf of President Keita and Prime Minister Cisse. They said that anti-epidemic materials such as alcohol are currently the most urgent products in Mali, and Malaysia will deliver the above-mentioned materials to government departments, medical institutions and public places as soon as possible and it is believed to play a positive role in controlling the spread of the pandemic.
While actively cooperating with the Malian government and relevant health departments in the prevention and control of the pandemic, New and Old Sugar Unions in Mali have not forgotten to actively fulfill their social responsibilities. In addition to this donation of alcohol, it also used the advantages of self-produced alcohol to provide 75% disinfectant alcohol to the government of the Segou Region where the company is located and the Chinese Embassy in Mali. At the same time, designated "alcohol disinfection stations" are set up in and around the company to actively promote the knowledge of pandemic prevention and control to local employees and the people, which demonstrates the responsibility and image as a large-country enterprise.