Batam - Business is among the sectors most affected amid the shock effects caused by the Corona or Covid-19 virus outbreaks.

However, the industry in Batam is still quite strong when compared to other regions in Indonesia. Production activities in the manufacturing industry are still going well.

Chairman of the Indonesian Employers' Association (APINDO) Batam, Rafki Rasyid said industrial operations were still running but the intensity had begun to be lowered.

Keeping distance (social distancing) is also enforced among workers to prevent corona transmission.

"There are difficulties in getting raw materials because some countries implement the lockdowns policy. But when China begins to recover, the problem of Batam industrial raw materials can be slightly improved. Because most industrial raw materials in Batam are imported from China," Rafki told Batamnews, Tuesday (7/4/2020).

The condition of China which has released the lockdown status also provides fresh air for the Batam industry. Where the raw material industry in several regions of China began to produce.

"What we are worried about is the possibility of a decline in world demand amid this Corona pandemic," Rafki said.

"When Batam's industrial activity decreases, the Batam economy will experience a significant slowdown. When the economy slows down significantly, unemployment in Batam will surge dramatically. This situation is certainly a big disaster for all of us," said Rafki.

The most affected business sector to date is still the tourism sector. Ranging from lodging, culinary, recreation arena to shopping tours.

Where Batam is located in the border area, so far has been very dependent on the shopping power of foreign tourists.

"The condition of the Batam business world in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic is quite frankly difficult. To save on operational costs many hotels and similar businesses decided to shutdown until the conditions improved," Rafki said.