Safety screens installed at dining tables to prevent Covid-19 infection at a company at the Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone in HCM City’s District 7. — Photo HEPZA

 HCM CITY — HCM City has begun to implement a number of measures to gradually revive business activities post-social distancing necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nguyễn Thành Phong, the chairman of the city People’s Committee, said some essential activities that involve less risk would resume gradually, with small-scale businesses in low-risk sectors reopening on a trial basis first and then large ones.

The city would then review, evaluate and expand, he said.

Depending on the trajectory of the pandemic, the city would adjust the trial period.

The city has also approved a plan to support businesses affected by the outbreak through this year, with a focus on enabling them to ensure production in a safe environment, cut costs, improve production and trading technologies, and generally revive things.

Many businesses in the city have also taken measures to safeguard their employees’ health and prevent the spread of the disease.

Huỳnh Văn Tuấn, chairman of the trade union of the HCM City Export Processing Zone and Industrial Park Authority (HEPZA), said more than 640 companies carried out an assessment of infection risk based on indicators issued by city authorities, and most rated their risk at less than 50 per cent.

HEPZA has set up a committee to verify their assessment and ensure the companies apply safety measures to protect their workers such as insisting on face masks and checking workers for fever at the gate, he said.

They have rescheduled shifts and meal timings to prevent crowding and installed safety screens at dining tables, he said.

Despite facing difficulties due to the pandemic, the city sustained a certain level of production and business in the first quarter. Exports grew by 7.5 per cent to over US$9.85 billion, with the electronics and computer segments driving the growth.

ICT e-commerce platform

The HCM City Computer Association and its member businesses have launched an e-commerce platform for the information and communications technology sector at https://dichvusotphcm.vn/.

Lê Quốc Cường, deputy director of the city Department of Information and Communications, said the platform, still being improved, would at first meet business matching demand from businesses.

Over a longer term it would play an important role in enabling ICT enterprises across the country to enhance connections and boost e-commerce sales, he said.

Businesses do not have to pay a fee to post their product information on the portal. — VNS