For the team at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics (SHD), corporate social investment is more than a once-off donation. It’s a sustainable investment that will deliver long term assistance and benefits not only to the parties involved, but also to the greater community. In line with this ethos, three courier companies - all of them 100% black-owned, exempted micro-enterprises - have been selected to receive an extra vehicle courtesy of SHD. Siemens management will hand over these vehicles (Nissan NP 200 bakkies) towards the end of February.
Imraan Mahomed of strategic business development at SHD explains the process. “Enterprise development is a CSI focus for SHD. We reviewed a number of companies within our supply chain and selected the courier industry, which is an essential element of our business. We decided to donate an extra vehicle each to three companies we use to deliver SHD re-agents and other industry equipment. This will assist them to grow and in turn enable us to fulfil our ultimate objective, to make an investment which is sustainable in the long term.”
In addition to SHD, the three companies service 95% of the diagnostic community within South Africa. Furthermore, in line with the objective of enterprise development within its locality, each of the companies, like Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, are located within the Midrand, Gauteng area.“We assessed the needs of each of the three companies and gained an understanding of how the businesses are run. This allowed us to make the decision on how best to assist them. The vehicle donations will result in each company employing two extra staff members. In this way, the businesses will expand and as a result, six new jobs are created within the industry,” enthuses Mahomed.
Mahomed hopes that SHD maintains a long term relationship with each of the companies. “We would like to maintain a relationship going forward and are more than happy to assist with other issues, such as business advice and guidance.”
About Siemens Southern Africa:
Siemens has had a presence in South Africa since 1860 when the company installed the first telegraph line linking Cape Town and Simon’s Town. Today, Siemens offers a balanced portfolio of technologies focusing on the Industry, Energy and Healthcare sectors, together with the cross-sector business of Siemens IT Solutions and Services. The unique ability to offer horizontal, customised, end-to-end technology solutions enables Siemens to keep its customers one-step ahead. As a committed corporate citizen, Siemens has active corporate social investment programmes as well as a comprehensive approach to local content, manpower development, skills and training. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.co.za
About Siemens Energy:
The Siemens Energy Sectoris the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2008 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR22.6 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR33.4 billion and posted a profit of EUR1.4 billion. On September 30, 2008, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 83,500. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/energy
Contact:
Nithasha Soni
Energy Sector – Communications
011 652 2285