The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) announced the addition of its first Japanese member, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., which joins 220 other multinational corporations committed to the private sector response to HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Sumitomo Chemical’s move signals the rising importance of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as a business concern around the world and in Japan.
Sumitomo Chemical is a worldwide leader in the fight against malaria. The manufacturer of Olyset® long-lasting anti-malaria bed nets, Sumitomo Chemical is poised to make significant and unique contributions to the fight against the malaria pandemic which kills 3,000 children each day and more than one million people annually, posing a significant threat to global economic growth and security. The GBC, whose ranks have grown rapidly in recent years from 17 to 220 global corporations, will advise and support Sumitomo’s expanded engagement in the fight against malaria in partnership with GBC corporate members and other stakeholders.
“We commend Sumitomo Chemical for their engagement in response to the global pandemics of our time” said Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke, former US Ambassador to the United Nations and GBC’s President and CEO. “Japan’s business leaders possess impressive corporate capabilities full of promise for the response to these acute global health issues”
“We are honored to join the GBC and become an integral part of the multi-sector endeavor to conquer malaria,” said Shigehiro Oba, Director & Senior Managing Executive Officer of Sumitomo Chemical. “Providing practical and charitable aid is integral to Sumitomo’s corporate philosophy, demonstrated by our capacity to provide long-lasting insecticide nets to vulnerable communities in sub-Saharan Africa. We are particularly honored to contribute to Africa’s sustainable development with the launch of a new Olyset® net production facility in Tanzania that will create local jobs and expand business partnerships.”
Download the full press release in PDF format here.
About GBC
The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) mobilizes international business against HIV/AIDS and recently added tuberculosis and malaria to its mandate. The rapidly expanding alliance of 220 international companies is dedicated to combating these epidemics through the business sector’s unique skills and expertise. The official focal point of the private sector delegation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, GBC maintains offices in New York, Paris, Geneva, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Moscow, Kiev and Beijing.
http://www.businessfightsaids.org
http://www.businessfightsmalaria.org
http://www.businessfightstb.org