Bangkok--31 Oct--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund Forms Alliance Withthe Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation;the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand; the Thai Red Cross Societyfor Humanitarian Activities in Thailand in Times of Disaster
- Honda unveils innovative Honda Step WGN Ambulances, Motor-Lances, CR-Vs with communications tools and boats with engines from Honda power products
- Accumulated contributions to Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund now total 183 million Baht, on the way to reaching Fund limit of 1,000 million Baht
The Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund, initiated by the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand, has announced its collaboration with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand; and the Thai Red Cross Society to help provide relief to Thai people in time of natural disasters. The company has also for the first time introduced Honda Step WGNs modified into ambulances and Honda motorcycles converted into Motor-Lances, along with new Honda CR-V vehicles equipped with communications tools and boats with engines from the Honda power product line, to efficiently support emergency and humanitarian activities of its partners in this alliance.
Mr. Hiroshi Kobayashi, President & CEO of Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said, “Honda has a corporate vision of being a company that society wants to exist. To ensure the sustainable growth of our business while being a part of Thai society, we need to be ready for whatever disaster may happen in the future. This is our objective in setting up the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund.
“The devastating flood of 2011 helped to demonstrate that natural disasters are becoming more severe, and we have to adjust and be prepared to deal with all of nature’s challenges. As a result, the Honda Group of Companies in Thailand have united to establish the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund in Thailand so we are ready to help Thai people during any future natural disasters.”
Honda focuses on four areas of preparation for the Fund’s activities
Mr. Pitak Pruittisarikorn, Managing Director of the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund and Executive Vice President of Honda Automobiles (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said, “Over the past several months, Honda has accelerated the preparation of our strategic plan for the internal and external operation of the Fund, as well as aligning various forms of resources to support the Fund. The four areas of preparation include money, material, manpower, and education.”
1. Money: Since April 1, 2012, Honda has continuously contributed money to the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund from the sales of automobiles, motorcycles, and power products. As of September 30, 2012, the amount of money in the Fund has reached 183 million Baht. Contributions are expected to reach 291 million Baht by the end of December 2012.
2. Material: This is comprised of:
1) Emergency survival packs to meet the basic needs of Thai people affected by a disaster;
2) Equipment to support the activities of Honda’s alliance partners such as 20 sets of spreader-cutters for rescues, generators, regular and high-pressure water pumps, boats and boat engines
3) Innovations - Honda worked closely with the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand to modify 10 Honda Step WGNs into ambulances; modify 10 Honda CBR250R motorcycles into Motor-Lances; equip three new Honda CR-V vehicles with a siren and communications tools; and well as equip 50 boats with engines from the Honda power product line.
3. Manpower: The partnership with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand; and the Thai Red Cross Society will enable the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund to conduct humanitarian activities more effectively. These organizations each play an important role in conducting humanitarian activities for Thai people in times of disaster, providing relief, minimizing casualties and reducing the impact of loss of assets.
4. Education: In addition to supporting relief efforts, the alliance will bring about the sharing of information, disaster alerts, information access via websites and expertise among the various partners. This will include safe rescue workshops that will ensure an understanding of automobile structures, volunteer rescue training programs and first-aid training, as well as technology exchanges for lifesaving activities and other useful workshops and training programs.
Honda innovations for humanitarian efforts
Chiaki Kato, President of AP Honda Co., Ltd. said, “This is the first time that we have modified AP Honda’s CBR250R model motorcycles into Motor-Lances, equipped with a trauma bag for rapid response. With their capabilities and nimbleness, the Motor-Lances can swiftly reach disaster victims to provide first aid as quickly as possible, especially in a congested city with lots of narrow lanes. In addition, Honda will provide support through a safety riding workshop for our alliance partners at the Honda Safety Riding Center. We will offer both safe riding theory and practical lessons in different situations such as driving on gravel, bridges, s-curves and winding roads, as well as emergency braking, maintaining balance and so on. This training course will be especially valuable for staff and rescue teams so that they can reach injured people as rapidly and safely as possible.”
Honda Volunteer Program
Shunichi Eguchi, President of Thai Honda Manufacturing Co., Ltd., explained how the Honda internal volunteer program reaches out to over 18,000 associates. “We have an internal communications plan that shares with our associates the Fund’s mission and provides ongoing updates on upcoming activities, as well as recruiting associates who are interested in joining the emergency rescue team. We also offer crisis training and practice sessions to our dealers to ensure smooth integration and effective lines of communication in every region.”
Strategic Partnerships For Efficient Operation
Mr. Chatchai Promlert, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Ministry of the Interior, stated, “It is necessary to be prepared, especially at the community level, for disasters. This collaboration between the government and private sector will promote mutual understanding and enhance resource use during and after a disaster, as well as support mutual preventive activities such as education in the form of disaster workshops for communities. We are delighted to partner with the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund to provide disaster relief to Thai people in a more effective and efficient manner in the future.”
Dr. Chatree Charoencheewakul, Secretary General of The Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand (EMIT), said about this alliance, “EMIT appreciates that Honda has set up the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund. We thank Honda for providing the modified ambulances and Motor-Lances to support EMIT's life-saving activities, which is one of the projects under the King's initiatives. This partnership will help improve efficiency and be meaningful to people in the areas affected by disasters.”
Dr. Pichit Siriwan, Deputy Director of Relief and the Community Health Bureau, the Thai Red Cross Society, said, "Our collaboration with the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund will help to alleviate the suffering of Thai people in times of disaster. It opens opportunities for knowledge transfer and sharing expertise regarding effective preparation for disasters. This strong alliance will also support humanitarian activities such as co-ordination in areas that need help, workshops that teach first aid for volunteers, disaster information sharing, disaster alerts, and information access via websites and so on.”
Mr. Kobayashi added in closing that, “With the collaboration between the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund, the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Thai Red Cross Society, Honda is confident that we have an alliance that shares our mission and will ensure we meet our goal of helping Thai people in an efficient manner in times of natural disaster.”
About the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund
The Honda Group of Companies in Thailand together set up the Honda Khiang Khang Thai Fund under the existing Honda Thailand Foundation on March 31, 2012, which is the first day that Honda resumed operations at the Honda automobile assembly plant in the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya. The Fund’s objective is to provide help to Thai people who are affected by natural disasters such as floods, landslides, severe cold temperatures, and droughts, as well as initiate various related activities. Honda makes a contribution to the Fund of 1,000 Baht for every Honda car sold, 100 Baht for every Honda motorcycle sold, and 10 Baht for every Honda power product sold. As of September 2012, the amount contributed to the Fund has reached 183 million Baht.