As related by ICBC, ICBC donated another RMB 7 million to the people in the Southwest China to support the regional government in production and livelihood. Earlier, ICBC staff from all departments and branches have donated RMB 3 284 000 in kind and money to express their love to the deprived people. As of today, ICBC has donated over 10 million Yuan to RMB 10 284 000. Meanwhile, ICBC took all measure steps to offer quality financial services for the drought relief work as a commitment of a large commercial bank to carry out its social responsibility.
Areas in the Southwest China have been severely hit by the drought beginning from last autumn. The drought, the worst in the history, put tens of millions of people into despair. A lot of people and livestock in the mountainous areas lack adequate drinking water. Agriculture production is greatly affected.
When the drought broke out, ICBC immediately started the financial plan for the relief. Concerned branches set up special task force to keep close contact with the regional governments in the drought-hit areas and understand the amount of money required for the relief. Another effort was to visit the customers in the disastrous areas and study how the drought affected their business and their difficulties.
In this regard, ICBC has released loans amounted to RMB 4.33 billion starting from October last year to end of the first quarter this year, where RMB 3.16 billion was for keeping seeding from drought, RMB 240 million to irrigation factory, equipment and facilities for drought resistance, RMB 180 million to support agriculture production, and RMB 750 million for other purposes.
ICBC opened "green pass" for drought relief disbursement. All funds for the relief cleared through ICBC were handled in the first priority to be credited into account accurately and on time. Drought relief was given top priority. Meanwhile, ICBC set up enquiry desk at the outlets in the affected areas and reserved "green pass" for all customers giving donation, no fees were collected. To make sure all the donations reached the destination, ICBC offered service by sending service teams to collect donations at-the-door from society groups and communities.
ICBC staff in Beijing, thousands of miles away from the drought-hit areas, went to great length to send warm regards from Beijing residents to the disastrous people through all the necessary financial services at the very first instant. ICBC opened "green pass" to receive donations from the primary and secondary schools in Beijing at the onset. Key staffs worked overtime to count the odd cents till middle of the night. The donated amount, nearly RMB 2 million, was immediately sent to the drought areas.
Besides, ICBC encouraged all the branch employees to participate in the drought relief initiatives organized by the local Women's Federation and Youth Volunteer Group. ICBC helped the people in the disastrous areas with actual deeds. ICBC staff delivered food, fruits and foodstuffs to students of the needy schools in the worse-stricken areas. Small teams sent clean water to the drought areas. ICBC also urged all the staff to contribute own effort, beginning from the daily chores like save water, save electricity and save energy.
