Cisco Contributes US$10M to Support Rebuilding Efforts in India’s Flood-Affected Areas in Karnataka
2009
Contribution to Create Model for Sustainable Communities by Helping to Rebuild, Improve Education and Health Care Through 21st-Century Technology Infrastructure
Wim Elfrink, Chief Globalisation Officer & EVP, Cisco Services
BANGALORE, India, Oct. 22, 2009 – Cisco today announced a contribution worth US $10 million in cash, services, solutions and equipment over the next two years to support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Karnataka, which has been affected by one of the most devastating floods in India’s history. The announcement was made during a meeting today between Dr. B.S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka’s chief minister, and Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services.
“We are very pleased with the commitment shown by Cisco to work with the state government in our Asare program a private-government partnership aimed at relief and permanent rehabilitation efforts in the flood-hit regions of Karnataka. As the largest commitment of a multinational to date, Cisco’s expertise and resources will be a significant help to the ongoing recovery and reconstruction,” said Shri B. S Yeddyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka.
“The gesture and response from Cisco to the Karnataka government’s request for assistance at this critical time is a fine example of corporate citizenship. I thank Cisco for stepping up and making this significant commitment to the people of Karnataka,” said Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a member of Parliament and the coordinator of the Asare Programme the Karnataka government’s fundraising for rehabilitation efforts.
“Technology can play an important enabling role in our rehabilitation efforts and we look forward to working with a world technology leader like Cisco to demonstrate that Information Technology can have a transformative impact on the lives of people in rural Karnataka,” said Shri Katta Subramanya Naidu, Minister of Information and Biotechnology, Karnataka.
“After witnessing the terrible destruction and speaking with those who have lost so much, we feel an urgency to help in the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts. As a company that believes strongly in social investments, we hope to help the affected communities not only rebuild but build a sustainable and stronger future,” said Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services. “We will visit the affected areas to assess how we can best work with citizens, businesses, and government leaders to aid in the rehabilitation efforts.”
Cisco will collaborate with government agencies and non-government organisation leaders to develop 21st-century sustainable education and health care models, enabled by collaborative networked information technology and communications. One focus of Cisco’s efforts is using the power of the network to establish connections between communities to facilitate a more effective delivery of services to citizens and provide a platform for economic revitalisation.
Cisco’s US $10M contribution to flood relief in India builds upon its commitment to corporate social responsibility and response to other humanitarian disasters including the earthquake in Sichuan, China, in 2008, Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.
# # #
Cisco, the Cisco logo and Cisco Systems are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Similar Posts:
- Cisco Statement on Resolution of Ward Litigation
- Cisco Signs Participation Agreement with 2010 Shanghai World Expo to Build a Cisco Corporate Pavilion
- Cisco Signs MoU with Chongqing to Foster Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Cisco Celebrates Two Years of Globalisation Centre East
- Cisco Celebrates 25 Years of Technology Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility
Comment