This Southeast Asian Country is Key Supplier of Covid-19 Gear to India

Singapore, a key pillar in India’s Indo-Pacific vision, has donated 30,000 testing kits and will supply more, officials told Economic Times.

“Thanked Benedict Cheong, CEO of Temasek Foundation Singapore, for donating 30,000 test kits for COVID 19, which have reached India. A great gesture from a close friend. More likely in the next few days even as Indian ramps up its own production,” tweeted India’s High Commissioner to the city state Jawed Ashraf. 

Thanked Benedict Cheong, CEO of Temasek Foundation Singapore, for donating 30,000 test kits for COVID 19, which have reached India. A great gesture from a close friend.
More likely in the next few days even as Indian ramps up its own production. pic.twitter.com/F6Y7snch4T

— Jawed Ashraf (@JawedAshraf5) March 31, 2020

Temasek Foundation International is a Singapore-based non-profit organisation under the philanthropic arm of the Singapore state sovereign fund Temasek Holdings. Temasek has established 17 endowments since 1974 focused on promoting social and cultural interaction, education, and aid for the disadvantaged in Asia. 

The foundation recently partnered various corporates, unions, universities, and community organisations to provide free hand sanitiser to Singapore households, Connected to India reported.

The distribution is part of a Stay Prepared initiative by the Temasek Emergency Preparedness Fund, managed by Temasek Foundation, to support Singaporeans amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Temasek Foundation is giving out up to 500ml of water-based hand sanitiser free to all Singapore households, to ensure no one is left behind in the fight against COVID-19. Do check out https://t.co/UBa2D0bwF6 to see how you can redeem yours. – LHL https://t.co/8VWpUC4etY pic.twitter.com/5zf1q3Tdfz

— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) March 21, 2020

Besides this, a Singapore based online platform has been identified which can supply 10 lakh PPE kits and an order has been placed through the Ministry of External Affairs to procure them, according to official.

On Monday, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi spoke with heads of Indian missions across the world, including Singapore, to discuss responses to the global COVID-19 pandemic.