Astra Launches #SemangatSalingBantu Movement, Invites Indonesia to Show Social Solidarity

JAKARTA: As a support to the efforts of the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) in preventing the further spread of COVID-19, today (17/4) Astra called upon communities to join a social solidarity movement #SemangatSalingBantu (Help One Another). To initiate, the movement has appealed community members to wear cloth masks anytime they need to go outside of the house.

Using hashtags #SemangatSalingBantu and #KitaSATUIndonesia (We Are One Indonesia), Astra invited the public to upload one picture of themselves wearing a cloth mask to their personal Instagram account. Astra will convert each uploaded photo with a cloth face mask produced by Astra-assisted communities and will later donate the masks to those in need.

“Through the #SemangatSalingBantu movement that Astra has started to promote on Instagram, we hope to inspire everyone both the public and Astra employees to help curb the spread of COVID-19 by supporting donation efforts to those in need,” said Chief of Corporate Affairs Astra Riza Deliansyah.

The assisted communities included in this movement were the recipient of SATU Indonesia Awards, the initiators of Desa Sejahtera Astra (DSA) in West Bandung District, DSA in Trenggalek District (in collaboration with Gadjah Mada University), DSA in Lombok District (in collaboration with Mataram University), DSA of Miftahul Huda Islamic Boarding School in Banyumas, DSA in Karawang District, and the finalists of Astra Start-Up Community.

During the pandemic, a cloth face mask is the ideal alternative for most people to use and protect themselves from the risk of COVID-19 transmission – especially at times when they need to leave the house. Meanwhile, medical masks are more suitable and should be reserved for health professionals.

Aside from the #SemangatSalingBantu movement on Instagram, Astra’s support to COVID-19 response efforts included monetary and equipment donation. To date, Astra has delivered first and second stage donations with a total value of Rp93 billion.

The first stage donation of Rp63 billion consisted of various medical equipment, such as testing kits, personal protective equipment, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant. Astra has donated 100 units of Daihatsu Gran Max Pick Up, five units of Toyota Dyna and five units of Isuzu Elf NMR 71 to the Indonesian Red Cross as well. The vehicles will be used to spray disinfectant in various neighborhoods in Indonesia.

To channel the donation, Astra cooperated with different agencies and organizations such as the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Indonesian Association of Pulmonologist (PDPI), medical laboratories, and the government’s COVID-19 designated hospitals.

Additionally, Astra gave Rp40 billion to a foundation that pools and manages donations from other corporations in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, in the second stage of donations, Astra made a commitment to make a donation worth Rp30 billion to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Jakarta and the Hospital for Infectious Tropical Diseases, Airlangga University Hospital in Surabaya. The donation would be realized in several phases.

Astra’s initiative to unite the society in the efforts of preventing further spread of COVID-19 is aligned with its continuing social contribution pillar and mission to prosper with the nation.

For further information, please contact:

Boy Kelana Soebroto

Head of Corporate Communications

PT Astra International Tbk

Ph. 021-508-43-888

About Astra:

PT Astra International Tbk was established in 1957 in Jakarta as a general trading company under the name Astra International Inc. In 1990, for the purpose of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), the name of the company changed to PT Astra International Tbk, followed by listing its shares on the Indonesia Stock Exchange under the ticker code ASII.

Astra has developed its business by implementing a business model based on synergies and diversification within seven business segments, consisting of: 1) Automotive, 2) Financial Services, 3) Heavy Equipment, Mining, Construction & Energy, 4) Agribusiness, 5) Infrastructure and Logistics, 6) Information Technology and 7) Property.

Astra conducts business operations in all parts of Indonesia under the management of more than 235 subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates companies, and was supported by more than 216,000 employees, as of March 2020.

As one of the largest national business groups today, Astra has built a strong reputation through offering a range of quality products and services, taking into account the implementation of good corporate governance and environmental governance. Astra always aspires to be the pride of the nation that participates in efforts to improve the welfare of the Indonesian people.

Therefore, Astra's business activities strive to apply a balanced mix in the commercial aspects of business and non-business contributions through 9 foundations and a variety of sustainable social responsibility programmes Astra Untuk Indonesia Sehat, Astra Untuk Indonesia Cerdas, Astra Untuk Indonesia Hijau and Astra Untuk Indonesia Kreatif.

Astra initiated the Semangat Astra Terpadu Untuk (SATU) Indonesia Awards programme, which has entered a decade this year, and has given recognition awards to 305 young Indonesians, consisting of 59 national level recipients and 246 provincial level recipients in the fields of Health, Education, the Environment, Entrepreneurship and Technology, which are integrated with Astra’s wide range of community activities through 87 Kampung Berseri Astra and 645 Desa Sejahtera Astra initiated in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

For further information, please visit www.astra.co.id & www.satu-indonesia.com, and follow Astra through Instagram (@SATU_Indonesia), Youtube (SATU Indonesia), Facebook (Semangat Astra Terpadu) and Twitter (@SATU_Indonesia).