With the pandemic raging across Taipei and New Taipei, President Gary Wang of Eastern Group announced today (24th) that NT$10 million will be donated to the governments of Taipei City and New Taipei City as condolence money for the frontline pandemic personnel who contracted the virus while on duty, and to help disadvantaged families affected by the pandemic. Gary Wang said that seeing thousands of retired medical personnel coming forward to join the pandemic prevention efforts deeply moved him. Following this spirit to protect our homeland together, Eastern Group is duty-bound to not only do our part, but to lead by example and inspire other companies to do the same. 

Gary Wang pointed out that the ETMall Headquarters is located in New Taipei City. The company has been in close contact with New Taipei City Mayor, Hou Yu-Ih, and with the New Taipei City Government regarding various pandemic prevention efforts. On this occasion, ETMall donated NT$5 million to the New Taipei City Government. In Taipei City, where the pandemic situation is equally severe, Gary Wang was moved to see thousands of retired healthcare workers responding to Mayor Ko Wen-Je’s call to join the frontline pandemic prevention work. For this reason, Eckare donated NT$5 million to the Taipei City Government. The total $10 million donation will be used as condolence money for frontline pandemic prevention personnel who have contracted the disease on duty, and to help disadvantaged families affected by the pandemic. 

Since last year, the world has suffered the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Taiwan held its ground last year, agricultural products that depend on export sales were the first to be hit. In the spirit of “other people do business, but Eastern does public welfare,” President Gary Wang of Eastern instructed “Eastern Farm” under ETMall to do its best to help small farmers throughout Taiwan regardless of the cost. Eastern also won the recognition of the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan and local government leaders, including Mayor Ko Wen-Je of Taipei City, Mayor Hou Yu-Ih of New Taipei City, Mayor Chen Chi-Mai of Kaohsiung City, Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen of Taichung City, and Mayor Cheng Wen-Tsan of Taoyuan City. These government leaders all participated in the Eastern Farm program in person to promote the specialty agricultural products of the different regions. This program achieved great success with the enthusiastic response of the 9 million Eastern members. 

Taiwan is currently suffering from a severe pandemic outbreak. In response to this, Gary Wang said that he has much respect for the central government, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-Je, and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-Ih for coming to the frontline daily to give updates on the pandemic situation and to encourage people to stay at home as much as possible. Both cities have also self-implemented lockdowns on weekends and holidays. Their actions show that the people of Taiwan have done a very good job in terms of self-awareness and self-discipline. The corporate sector should also fulfill its social responsibility and come forward without hesitation to contribute to the pandemic prevention efforts.