Padang (ANTARA) - Cooperatives and SMEs agency in Padang empowered small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to produce about 300 thousand masks amid the Corona Virus Disase pandemic (COVID-19) in Padang, W Sumatra.
"At present we are empowering around 500 micro entrepreneurs in 11 sub-districts in Padang City to produce 300 thousand masks," said the Head of Cooperatives and SMEs agency Padang, Syuhandra, in Padang, Saturday.
He said the masks produced were in the form of cloth masks. Then related to personal protective equipment (PPE ) is in the form of hazmat clothing.
According to him, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for masks has increased and is an opportunity for micro businesses affected by COVID-19 in Padang.
He further said that in general, all cooperatives and micro business owners in Padang were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Then he explained that thousands of cooperatives and micro businesses affected were dominated by the culinary, handicraft, and clothing sectors.
Then he said that related to cooperatives was also affected by COVID-19, because cooperatives are businesses in the form of savings and loans. So that it affects the ability of members to pay.
He mentioned that the total number of micro business owners in Padang is currently around 20 thousand business owners.
"Right now we are waiting for the policy from the ministry because the ministry has requested data on business owners affected by COVID-19. We hope to find a solution soon for business owners affected by COVID-19," he said.
Nevertheless he said that he had tried to find a way to revive the micro businesses affected by COVID-19 in Padang.
"One of the efforts undertaken is to promote their products to several places and through several media. I hope that people can buy it," he said.
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