Government support and strict coronavirus measures help businesses back to work

Ti Gong

Over 500 companies in Putuo District have resumed work, but under strict prevention and guidance measures from the district government following the novel coronavirus epidemic.

On March 2, 65 industrial companies, 85 specialized industrial companies and 384 high-tech firms in Putuo resumed operation.

All Putuo-based foreign enterprises also returned to work.

Putuo Party Secretary Cao Liqiang asked people to pay special attention to strict prevention measures put in place at communities, hotels, companies and other social gathering sites.

“The government is offering courteous and delicate services. They are responding to the concerns of the public and are patient and meticulous,” Cao said.

Putuo government officials have been visiting companies to check epidemic prevention measures put in place to help solve problems for companies during this difficult period.

The government has appointed 59 anti-epidemic instructors to help the businesses return to work. The instructors have been on hand at local office buildings, innovation parks and companies to help implement preventive measures against the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

The anti-epidemic instructors offer professional guidance on disinfection, collection of used masks and the quarantine and transport of people with a high temperature or those who have had close contact with coronavirus patients.

Putuo has launched an online monitoring platform for companies to resume operation. Companies can finish applications or solve problems on the platform without meeting any officials.

Over 1,000 Putuo cadres have been dispatched to subdistricts and towns to guide prevention and control measures. Apart from temperature checks and information registrations, the government is making it convenient for employees to commute across the city as more companies are returning to work.

At Schneider Shanghai Industrial Control Co in Taopu Town, each employee is required to have a temperature check before getting on and off the shuttle bus, as well as every three hours in the workplace.

A new “one-meter-away” queue etiquette as well as separated dining is being promoted at Schneider and several other Putuo companies.

The district has also implemented the 28 measures rolled out by the city government and 12 policies released by Putuo to cushion companies against the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The new measures include strengthening fiscal support to enterprises that have contributed to the fight against the virus, reducing or exempting their rent and introducing tax incentives.

Putuo-based companies have benefitted in having their leases reduced to the tune of 255.5 million yuan (US$36.86 million).

Businesses inside the Global Harbor Mall, the largest downtown shopping mall in Shanghai, and the MTR City Plaza have been offered additional rent reduction.

Putuo’s direct foreign investment has reached US$374 million, a 34.64 percent increase. The prompt reaction is evidence the government has confidence in foreign companies to develop in Shanghai and China.

The F L Engineering Inc., for instance, plans to add an investment of US$200 million, while Donghong Investment will increase its investment by US$10 million.

The Japanese headquarters of Stripe International plans to boost investment by US$2.17 million. US Nalco Water, the world’s leading water treatment and process improvement company, also plans to increase its investment on the Chinese mainland.

The Putuo government has also offered support to local small and medium-sized companies to expand into the international market, while coordinating with Shanghai Customs to shorten the export process for the local firms.