New Zealand fruits being gifted to patients and staff at eight hospitals and healthcare centres in HCM City. — Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Embassy

HCM CITY — Six of New Zealand’s largest fresh produce exporters have gifted 9.3 tonnes of fruits to patients and staff at six hospitals and two healthcare centres in HCM City as a mark of support amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have donated apples and gold kiwi fruits to the Bình Chánh District Hospital, Thủ Đức City Hospital, Củ Chi District Hospital, HCM City Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy University, Chợ Rẫy Hospital, HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bình Thạnh District Health Centre and Tân Bình District Health Centre.

Bostock Group, Freshmax Exports, Golden Bay Fruit, Scales Corporation, T&G Global, and Zespri International are the donors.

Victor Anderson, country manager of T&G Global in Việt Nam, said his company sought to provide a small but meaningful and nutritious donation to the patients and staff for them to tide over the pandemic.

New Zealand’s ambassador to Việt Nam, Tredene Dobson, said the donations stemmed from a desire by the New Zealand companies to show their appreciation for the hard work being done by healthcare workers and provide some relief to patients.

“These are very difficult times but through small gestures like this we can show the deep friendship between our two countries.”

Joe Nelson, New Zealand’s trade and enterprise trade commissioner and consul general, said Việt Nam is an important export destination, but, more than that, “We have a strong personal relationship with a number of our Vietnamese partners and we want to do whatever we can to help.”

The donation was done together with the ‘Be Strong Việt Nam Campaign’ launched by Sống Foundation.

The HCM City-based non-profit organisation was established in 2018 by the Ministry of Home Affairs to foster the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. — VNS