Thailand’s agro-industrial giant, the Charoen Pokphand Group, yesterday presented the first batch of 100,000 surgical face masks, produced in its own factory, to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

CP Group Chairman Dhanin Chearavanont said he was delighted that the factory was built in just five weeks and began operations yesterday, to produce surgical face masks for free distribution to medical personnel and the public.

Dhanin, with other senior executives of the CP Group and Professor Dr. Sutthipong Watcharasindhu, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital, visited the factory, in the Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan, to preside over the launch.

Dhanin said that the company realizes the importance of protecting frontline medical personnel in the fight against COVID-19.

Manned by only three supervisors, the factory is fully automated and production is undertaken in a sterile environment.  It has a production capacity of three million face masks per month.

Dhanin said that this is the right opportunity for the Group to give back to the country, adding that “Doctors, nurses and other medical personnel are risking their lives, like soldiers on the battleground.  I am impressed by their performance.”

Dr. Sutthipong thanked the CP Group for its contribution to Thai society, by the construction of the factory, saying that the masks are one of the tools that will save Thailand during pandemic.

The masks produced by this factory have been approved by the Office of the Food and Drug Administration and all proceeds from the sale of face masks in the future will go to Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society.