Foreign-funded firms get back to work in capital

With the epidemic being subdued in China, Beijing's foreign-funded companies are getting back to work.

As of March 17, more than 70 percent of foreign-funded companies in the capital had resumed operations. The resumption rate of key businesses, each with a contractual foreign investment surpassing 709.37 million yuan ($100.35 million) reached 97.4 percent, according to data released by the Beijing Commerce Bureau.

To ensure smooth work resumption, foreign-funded companies were required to implement epidemic prevention measures, which include setting up temperature checkpoints at the entrance to workplaces, avoiding group activities, and ventilating and disinfecting offices regularly.

Employees should wear masks in workspaces and stagger their meal hours.

Beijing authorities have also stepped up efforts to solve foreign-funded businesses' problems caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak such as a shortage of anti-epidemic supplies and blocked goods transportation, said officials at the commercial bureau.

Among the beneficiaries is Beijing-based ABB LV Installation Materials, a subsidiary of Swiss industrial conglomerate ABB Group. Nearly two months ago, the company called back most of its employees to resume work, but it lacked anti-epidemic necessities.

Yang Wenguang, the company's general manager, said its staff received 800 face masks and 24 liters of disinfectant from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, a move helpful in their production restoration.

"The government's supply relieved our anxiety and stress," Yang said. "Without these epidemic prevention materials, we cannot go back to work in such a short time."

Due to the countrywide suspension of businesses amid the outbreak, the enterprise then faced the difficulty that their suppliers in Tianjin had not returned to operation yet. The deficiency in necessary components severely disrupted ABB's normal production.

After seeking help from the local government, Yang received a positive reply within a day. Just a week later, ABB's four major suppliers resumed production.

"Municipal authorities and departments have jointly established a Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated mechanism for this outbreak," said Liang Sheng, director of the Administrative Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.

If enterprises have related problems, the mechanism will mobilize all resources available to provide help, Liang added.

Other foreign-funded companies in Beijing, such as Beijing Benz Automotive, Bayer and Schneider, strived to get back to work with the help of local governments.

"All of our factories have returned to production and the industrial chain including some links in Hubei is gradually restoring," said Sun Hui, vice-president of Beijing Benz Automotive.

Zhao Yongzhan, senior vice-president of ABB China, said: "We have our confidence boosted in the China market. We believe the long-term upward trend of China's economy will not be changed."