In Washington, DaimlerChrysler Chief Jurgen E. Schrempp Calls for a United Front Against HIV/AIDS

* Meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson * Discussions with congressional leaders * Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS presents the Business Award for Excellence

WASHINGTON and STUTTGART, Germany, June 11 -- In a series of high ranking meetings in Washington D.C., DaimlerChrysler CEO Jurgen E. Schrempp called for a united global front in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Schrempp met in his capacity as Chairman of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC) with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who gave a keynote speech at the Coalition's Annual Award Dinner on June 11. Schrempp also met with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson for an extensive discussion about the importance of partnership between politics and business in this matter.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020212/DCXLOGO )

In his speech to political and business leaders at the GBC Business Awards for Excellence event, Schrempp stressed that no one could win the battle against the epidemic on their own -- no single government, institution or economy. A joint effort by everyone is required, he said.

Last year, UN General Secretary Kofi Annan presented Schrempp with the GBC award for the groundbreaking HIV/AIDS workplace program launched by DaimlerChrysler for its employees and their families in South Africa where the disease has reached epidemic proportion. On this occasion, GBC president Richard Holbrooke offered Schrempp the GBC chair. Schrempp will now serve in this capacity for an additional year.

In his speech, Schrempp reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of corporate social responsibility. "I am convinced that the involvement and expertise of global corporations can make a difference in the battle against the AIDS epidemic. And I feel that an important part of the understanding of our own role is to make our voices on this subject clearly heard."

Over the last year, GBC has steadily expanded to reach its present size of 112 member companies. Many new corporations have joined with excellent new workplace programs and incentive projects in their company locations. In this context, Schrempp called on corporations who were not yet members of GBC to become involved. The continued growth of the GBC, he said, is an important prerequisite for achieving further progress. He added that this would perfectly complement the steps that have recently been taken on the political stage.

It was because of his role as GBC Chairman that Jurgen Schrempp received an invitation to visit the White House at the end of April, to meet with President George W. Bush, as one of a small group of leaders in the fight against AIDS.

At the center of the discussion was the initiative by the US President to set up a $15 billion aid program. Schrempp declared that, with this outstanding measure, President Bush has assumed a leading role in the fight against AIDS and had earned everyone's respect for his courageous decision.

In this context, Schrempp congratulated the US Congress for their prompt approval of the bill. In the course of his political discussions in Washington, Schrempp had already thanked senators Bill Frist and Joseph Biden for their support. Schrempp also expressed his gratitude to US Secretary of State Colin Powell and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson for their commitment.

This year's GBC Business Award for Excellence goes to Standard Chartered Bank for its workplace program and to Tata Steel, a large Indian steel corporation, for its community program. Tata Steel has set up comprehensive AIDS training programs for isolated communities and religious groups and it has set a focus on women as the most positive agents of a change in attitude towards HIV/AIDS and its stigmatization.

Internet Site:

Additional news and information from DaimlerChrysler is available on the internet at: www.media.daimlerchrysler.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020212/DCXLOGO