The 'Real Thing' is doing the 'right thing' as Coca-Cola Cambodia announces it is redirecting its advertising budget to assist medical workers and affected communities to aid the Kingdom's Covid-19 response.

Cambodia Beverage Company Ltd has redirected its $200,000 advertising budget to help the Kingdom’s efforts in combating the Covid-19 outbreak.

David Wigglesworth, the CEO of the company – which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola – told The Post that the money is going towards the in-kind donation of services and equipment.

Coca-Cola has put its advertising campaigns on ice, with the world’s biggest beverage manufacturer temporarily diverting its global marketing budgets to support the international Covid-19 relief and response efforts.

It has already allocated in excess of $100 million to Covid-19 relief efforts, benefiting more than 22 million people in over 100 countries, according to corporate figures.

Coca-Cola Cambodia’s initiatives focus on wet markets as well as aiding needy families, hospitals and quarantine centres in 21 provinces, with the help of NGOs and the public sector.

“Defeating this virus will require an enormous global effort, but we are confident that the resilience and fortitude of the Cambodian people will help us overcome the situation.

“Never has our commitment to Cambodia and its people been more important than now – as we join together to face the challenges presented by the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus,” said Wigglesworth.

The American beverage behemoth has partnered with the Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh City Hall and the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia to provide education on how to stay safe during the outbreak.

It is also collaborating with Phnom Penh City Hall, the Ministry of Health and the Techo Voluntary Youth Doctor Association to provide frontline and quarantine centre workers with protective medical equipment, face masks, hand sanitiser, thermometers, disinfectant, soap and drinks.

Despite being relatively unscathed by the virus, with only122 confirmed cases, Cambodia faces similar concerns over its economy and hospital workers as its Asean neighbours, which has spurred a flurry of corporate partnerships with the public sector.

Earlier this month, Coca-Cola Cambodia teamed up with ride-hailing app Grab Cambodia and Phnom Penh City Hall to distribute more than 5,000 care packages of hand sanitiser, drinks and face masks to tuk-tuk drivers – many of whom are suffering financially due to a drop in ridership.

Wigglesworth stressed that the company prides itself on its ability to craft partnerships that can have a lasting impact in its communities.

Since opening its first Cambodian factory in 1993, Coca-Cola – with “The Real Thing” among its famous advertising slogans – has taken corporate outreach to new heights through programmes including the clean water Aquatower initiative, Women Economic Empowerment Programme and the World Without Waste project.

“We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do, and because we know that by working together, we can make a difference. For the time being, the safety and security of people is our first priority.

“Our approach is grounded in our company’s purpose, which ensures that we continuously strive to make a difference for the people in our communities and in our workplace,” Wigglesworth said.

US Ambassador Patrick Murphy praised Coca-Cola Cambodia’s response to the pandemic, saying it was among “many examples of US companies and organisations joining our long-standing partnerships between US government health agencies and their Cambodian counterparts and giving back to the Kingdom, working together to fight Covid-19.

He hailed the company’s efforts as a “great example”.

“I’m proud to see Americans and US companies playing a role in helping Cambodia stop the spread of Covid-19. Coca-Cola is a great example – the company has donated $200,000 towards assisting those on the frontlines stay safe and healthy while fighting the disease,” Murphy told The Post.