Closest to its communities
Closest to its communities
The 2020 Annual Community Relations Report shows the breadth and depth of the Techint Group companies’ response, renewing their commitment to their communities by strengthening support during a very difficult year.
It's no secret that 2020 was a challenging year, one in which the pandemic dealt the world economy a major blow. The Techint Group’s companies’ budgets were similarly affected, but the Community Relations structure remained solid, as efforts were stepped up to offer greater support to the localities where they operate, focused on providing medical supplies and facilitating healthcare. The 2020 Annual Community Relations Report provides an extensive overview of these actions.
"For over 70 years, the Techint Group has been known for its ability to foster close relationships with the communities where it operates," begins Paolo Rocca in his cover letter to the report. "The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge for all of us, but we focused above all on our people, seeking to protect the health of our employees and our communities."
The total budget earmarked for Community Relations in 2020 came to USD 36.3 million, deployed in 19 different countries to bolster local community health systems and ensure the continuity of their educational and cultural programs.
Of this amount, USD 16.2 million were used to purchase supplies and provide support for health infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. With an eye on the new context and the challenges it posed, educational and cultural programs were redesigned, and some USD 15 million were channeled into making sure 19,000 students and teachers from 55 different communities could continue to benefit from the programs. In parallel, the Techint Group companies continued supporting cultural initiatives through the Fundación PROA in Argentina and the Fondazione Dalmine in Italy.
Ternium invested USD 11.1 million in community activities, principally healthcare, culture and education, touching the lives of 76,000 people in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Central America.
The protagonists behind the numbers
This year, the 2020 Annual Community Relations Report features testimonies from key people involved in community programs, such as Dr. Miguel Sanz, Medical Director of the Hospital Clínica Nova in Monterrey, Mexico.
As an adviser, Sanz played a leading role in drawing up the Techint Group companies’ global COVID-19 response plan. One of the largest initiatives was the community hospital for COVID-19 patients, which swiftly set up operations in the club next to the clinic, relying on the work of the health team headed up by Sanz. “The virus has forced us to live in a new way. But crises are a good opportunity to stop, reflect and bring about real change,” said the doctor.
Another voice recorded in this report summarizes the importance of ongoing close work with the communities. "We thank Ternium for supporting our efforts, enabling us to improve the level of care provided, and ensure high quality standards for our medical professionals so they can work with top-tier equipment," said Carlos Augusto, General Emergency Coordinator of Pedro II Municipal Hospital, in Santa Cruz, Brazil.
The report is available in Spanish, Portuguese and English.