IBM leveraging its voice and influence to rally global support for India to tackle Covid-19: Arvind Krishna

IBM chairman and chief executive Arvind Krishna said that the company is leveraging its voice and influence to rally global support to help India to tackle the second wave of Covid-19 and has asked the company employees globally to channelise donations through United Way of India to reach the ground level.

“This weekend I joined U.S. business leaders in urging the Biden Administration to expedite assistance. We are also now working with the U.S. and Indian governments as well as the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, the Business Roundtable and the U.S-India Business Council within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to accelerate critical aid,” Krishna wrote in an email to employees.

IBM has over 100,000 employees in India that serve both local customers such as Bharti Aitel and Vodafone India, besides delivering services globally.

IBM has donated funds for 2,500 oxygen concentrators and is working with local partners to fund emergency hospital beds in communities where its teams live and work, he wrote.

“As IBMers, we are united in our values. Our thoughts are with the people of India and others worldwide who are experiencing the worst consequences of this global health emergency. I have hope that the situation will turn around. But I also know that hope is not enough. In India and other parts of the world where Covid is surging, we will continue taking firm and coordinated action to support IBMers,” Krishna wrote. ET has reviewed the mail.

India is experiencing a devastating surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. Sadly, today is the sixth straight day that the country has reported more than 350,000 new infections. Hospitals are overwhelmed and many have run out of oxygen, he wrote.