2,782 SMEs in Solok Regency lost money due to COVID-19 outbreak

Arosuka (ANTARA) - The Cooperatives, Trade and SMEs Office of the Solok Regency, W Sumatra recorded 2,782 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the area lost money due to COVID-19.

"We have recorded SMEs affected by the business due to COVID-19. Around 2,782 SMEs lost money, ranging from processed food SMEs, handicrafts, services and others," said Head of the Cooperative, Trade and SME Office of Solok Regency, Eva Nasri, in Arosuka on Tuesday.

According to her, the results of the data collection have been submitted to related parties to be given assistance or stimulus for MSMEs affected by COVID-19.

She proposed various methods of assistance for SMEs in the form of Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), basic food, including postponement of KUR (People's Business Loans) credit payments with banks.

Baca juga: 2,495 foreign tourists visited W Sumatra during COVID-19 in March 2020 according to BPS

"Thank God, the ease of KUR has been realized, we hope the Corona pandemic will soon pass so that the people's economy can come back to normal," she said.

Meanwhile, one of the local Batik artisans in Koto Baru, Solok Regency, Yusrizal said it was very difficult to get batik orders during the Corona pandemic.

He was forced to lay off some employees for a while from April 14, 2020 until after the Eid al-Fitr later, so as not to have trouble giving them wages.

Baca juga: Kota Padang alami deflasi 0,47 persen nomor tujuh nasional pada April 2020, menurut BPS

According to him, the community is now having difficulty meeting their daily needs. So, they prioritize meeting basic needs than others.

"But we will continue to produce. Later it will be used as stock, hopefully after the Corona pandemic is finished the economy will increase again," he said.

Transleted by: Mutiara Ramadhani

Baca juga: Enam potensi maladministrasi dalam penyaluran bansos COVID-19

Baca juga: Soal saluran pengaduan bansos COVID-19, ini tanggapan Pemprov Sumbar