Thai billionaire and senior chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) Dhanin Chearavanont has donated over 700 million baht to fund the company's projects to fight the spread of Covid-19 and insisted the company has no plans to lay off staff.
The donation was revealed on Friday in a letter written by Mr Dhanin, who topped Forbes' "Thailand's 50 Richest" 2020 list, to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Mr Dhanin said CP was ready to throw full support behind the government to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and give moral support to the prime minister to overcome the deadly disease.
Furthermore, CP praised medical staff in the country for their sacrifice in helping prevent the spread of Covid-19 infections and assisting those who contracted the disease to recover, Mr Dhanin said in the letter.
"CP and I have already donated over 700 million baht [to fund projects helping vulnerable people affected by Covid-19] and are ready to propose further projects to be carried out in the next phase," he said.
For example, Mr Dhanin said the company has carried out projects to support the work of medical staff and helped vulnerable people and staff affected by the spread of Covid-19.
Of the donated money, the group has set up a CP mask factory worth about 175 million baht to produce face protection to beat shortages, he said, adding the factory has produced and delivered around three million items a month to those who need them for free.
As well as this, Mr Dhanin said CP has donated other protective equipment necessary for the prevention of the disease and test kits for the detection of Covid-19. Both cost around 30 million baht.
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has spent around 200 million baht to provide healthy food to medical staff and people under quarantine in state shelters.
CP All has donated 176.6 million baht in projects provided for those affected by Covid-19 and 77 million baht for 77 hospitals around the country.
True Corporation has spent 120 million baht on a project to give out communication devices to hospitals.
Mr Dhanin said Thailand should set a goal to help lead the recovery of the world's economy after the Covid-19 crisis because the country has prepared.
Mr Dhanin said CP still has more projects in the pipeline. They include water source development, an agriculture scheme to increase farmers' incomes, an online learning project and a project to develop a test kit, research and medicine for fighting Covid-19.
He said the group has retained its staff during the crisis and has created more jobs since March.
