Over the coming weeks Pyramid Temi Group will be publishing a series of updates from our regional hubs. The objective of the updates is to deliver informed comment and insight from our experts as to how a series of countries are addressing the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) emergency.
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As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread, we spoke with the Managing Director at Pyramid Temi Group’s local partner company in Bangladesh to understand more about the current situation and which issues will become the most critical over the coming months.
Q: How is the population reacting to the spread of the virus?
A: The majority of the population are making efforts to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum. No one is complaining. I’d say that the great majority of people are just going along with what they are told to do.
Q: Which system has been adopted by the provincial government?
A: It is probably closest to the Chinese strategy.
Q: Would you agree that no one/single suits all and thus individual governments must devise their own specific strategies? Which factors define your country?
A: The Chinese impose harsh fines for non compliance and have issued very clear instructions. Everyone understands the severity of the crisis and listens to the advice. Hong Kong got hit hard in 2003 with SARS so the people take Covid 19 extremely seriously. There are some lessons to be learned from China’s strategy that can be applied to all countries.
Q: How are people reacting to your government’s choice?
A: Heeding the advice and complying with the measures and instructions.
Q: Are people following government instructions?
A: Yes, on the whole I would say that they are.
Q: Please describe how the private sector is being affected by the present status.
A: It is very hard to say. Everyone has been advised to reduce the number of employees in the office at any one time. There is very little international business being done.
Q: Has the government enlisted the assistance of the private security sector?
A: Not yet.
Q: What’s on your radar screen, do you have any particular fears or concerns?
A: As a company we are focusing on a return to business as soon as the all clear is given. Many international clients have indicated their eagerness to get executive personnel back on the road. However, there are a number of companies that do not qualify for financial support from the government so anything longer than 4 to 6 months could have a crippling impact on a great number of companies.
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee. They are published in good faith and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PTG.