Tag: IN

Jakarta, Indonesia – Just like other nations around the world, Indonesia has also jumpstarted its vaccination efforts for citizens amid the pandemic, and super app Grab in the Southeast Asian country has affirmed its commitment to support the government in its efforts. 

As a start, Grab Indonesia will be using its platform as an educational channel to fight misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. Grab also said that it’s ready to work with the government to reach population segments of society with high physical interaction and those that carry “vulnerability from geospatial, social and economic aspects that need immediate protection from the virus” including its driver partners, Grab merchant partners, and GrabKios agents to give education about the vaccines.

In a webinar series hosted by Asian Development Bank Wednesday, Ridzki Kramadibrata, president of Grab Indonesia, said, “Gradually, vaccines are an important step for the country’s economic recovery, and the government has committed to providing them free of charge to all people. However, giving vaccines with broad and even coverage is not an easy thing, especially in an archipelago country like Indonesia.”

Kramadibrata added, “We have been working closely with the Indonesian government in various aspects since the beginning of the spread of the virus and hope to play a role in assisting the government in implementing COVID-19 vaccination for all Indonesians safely and protected by utilizing our technology and the wide reach of our platform.”

Grab Indonesia’s president at the ADB-hosted webinar ‘Online Platforms to Catalyze Inclusive Growth’

In line with its assistance to the country’s vaccine rollout, Grab will continue to utilize its in-app health feature GrabHealth, which is in collaboration with health technology-based company Good Doctor, to attend to users’ queries regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Grab also expressed in a press statement that it is ready to collaborate with the government on other various approaches needed to accelerate vaccine distribution in the country.

Grab also hopes that policymakers in Indonesia can consider providing early access for driver-partners, merchant partners, and GrabKios agents, who continue to serve as frontliners. 

“While the Indonesian people are playing their role in fighting the pandemic by staying at home, driver partners, merchant partners, and GrabKios agents remain at the forefront of keeping our community going. Grab believes that they should be prioritized because of the important services they provide and the crucial role they will play during the pandemic,” said Kramadibrata. 

“We are committed to continuing to serve and support Indonesia in this challenging time. Therefore, let’s work together and take care of each other to ensure that no one is left behind in this difficult time,”  he added.

India – Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone, its India arm, has released a sentimental ad, which walks viewers through the journey of one of the front liners during the pandemic – the drivers on the road.

India imposed its first nationwide lockdown in March, and just like most regions, essential workers, such as those whose line of work involves driving trucks and PUVs, are left with no choice but to continue plying the road amid the virus threat. 

The ad revolves around one driver’s perspective who opens the scene, thinking, “I have been driving trucks for years now, but for the first time today, I am scared.”

The ad shows how, more than the virus itself, other challenges are battled out by essential workers such as isolation and the scarcity of basic needs such as food during the height of the lockdown. 

“Since everything is shut now, I have to cook by myself, and sleep in my truck,” the driver narrates. 

Throughout the ad, the driver delivers moving realizations on the pandemic.  

“These days, every mile brings in a new challenge, and everyone is scared to help,” he said. 

He further goes, “To defeat this pandemic, it is important that we win these small battles every day.”

The 140-second spot, which was released in mid-November, has already gained massive traction, with views on YouTube currently at 8M. 

One user said, “I got goosebumps ??❤️?? respect ????” 

Another one commented, “Great thought. Great [film] making, [not] an [ad], it’s a documentary of a century…”

Through the release of the ad, Bridgestone also wants to assert its commitment to customers as a helpful aid during the pandemic, where in the video, the man is shown being given one of Bridgestone’s life-saving kits.

Since the imposition of India’s lockdown, the tyre company has implemented a number of assistance programs such as the sanitation of truck fleets across 22 cities and the distribution of  life-saving kits to truck drivers. In addition, it has also donated health essentials such as PPEs, masks, and meals to doctors and households.

The brand said on its Facebook, “The coronavirus pandemic paused our day-to-day life with a nationwide lockdown. While some of us had the liberty to stay at home, others had to keep driving through. Witness the journey and the triumph of our “Heroes on the Road” and how Bridgestone extended the support to protect them with a sanitization drive of their vehicles in order to serve our nation.”