Mr Chan gave the example of food and beverage businesses, which had to shift much of their business to online platforms for takeaway and delivery during the circuit breaker, when dining in at eateries was banned.Many are continuing to use such platforms even as the sector is “aggressively reopening”, he said.
“And in this second phase of our work here, some of these very good ideas, we will also be able to share with the F&B establishments who call up and seek help and assistance on how they can open safely and yet at the same time maintain their top line,” he added.The next phase will prove to be “even more interesting and challenging” as the authorities work to help companies adapt to new business models, Mr Chan said.
Mr Chan spoke to reporters following a visit to a call centre at Tai Seng Avenue, set up by the Trade and Industry Ministry and Enterprise Singapore to address questions from businesses on adapting to measures set up to curb the spread of COVID-19. “During circuit breaker, when safe distancing measures were heightened, close to 800 volunteers from 48 government agencies manned the Enterprise Infoline,” said the agency, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises here.
ESG also pointed to the role played by trade associations and chambers in supporting businesses affected by safe distancing measures. Ms Deepa Vijayan, a senior partner with Quantico Communications - which provides copywriting and content marketing training - said she was able to get answers on matters such as the definition of an essential business and whether her business required a declaration of an exemption when she called the ESG helpline at the start of the circuit breaker.
Looks quite pathetic eh. Can use a better shot not?
Can (and should) there be a more deliberate and robust approach to help businesses instead of a reactive one whose 'treatment' is localised to a viral pandemic?
Why does he look like a 🤡 🙄?