Businesses in Bahrain have expressed wide concern over the economic implications of the coronavirus with 55 percent of the real estate and construction firms expecting closure in the next six months if things don't improve, said a survey from the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Called ‘The Economic Impact of Coronavirus on Business Owners', the survey was carried out by The Studies and Initiatives Center at the BCCI. Around 1,180 companies, ranging from micro to large establishments in nearly a dozen sectors, were surveyed during the full and partial closure of business in the country to prevent the spread of Covid-19, TradeArabia News Service reported on Thursday. The survey found that tourism and hospitality industry would be the hardest hit with 71 percent businesses expecting closure over the next 6 months amid fears of significant layoffs if the pandemic contiues, writes Abdulaziz Khattak. The other key sectors affected are education (63 percent), commercial markets (58 percent) technology (54 percent), transportation and logistics (53 percent), industry and energy (49 percent), health (47 percent), food (46 percent), and finance, insurance and tax (27 percent). By company size, an overwhelming majority of businesses (66%) seeing closure in six months are micro establishments, while 25 per cent of large establishments also felt they faced the same risk. The BCCI survey said 83 percent of business owners have been impacted by the decision to close commercial and industrial businesses to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the kingdom. Some 67 per cent businesses expect a significant decrease in revenue in the upcoming period, and 84 per cent businesses expressed concerns regarding payment of salaries. The BCCI survey further revealed that 39 per cent businesses were expected to lay off more than 20 per cent of their employees during the upcoming period, while the rest said layoffs would be under 20 per cent. The survey showed that businesses are hard pressed for cash, with 36 per cent saying their cash flows would only last them a month, while 49 per cent said their cash flows were enough to last them up to six months. Businesses have taken various measures to manage cash flows. Some 73 percent said they had secured government support, 55 percent reduced operating expenses (salaries, training and marketing), 45 percent delayed debt payment, 33 percent delayed or cancelled planned investments, 30 percent took loans, 27 percent negotiated payments terms with creditors, and 20 percent said they had rescheduled their existing loans, the survey revealed. To stem the crisis, the government had promptly rolled out several generous initiatives to support businesses during the pandemic. These include exemption of industrial and commercial organisations from the fees associated with renting government industrial lands in April, May and June 2020. Businesses have also been waived tourism fees associated with tourism facilities. About 73% of business owners have benefitted from the government support provided through the economic stimulus/Tamkeen/Liquidity Support Fund, said the survey. The survey also notes that the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning has said it would not collect rent and beneficiary allowance from businesses that utilized the ministry's properties for a period of three months, starting April 2020. These include central markets, vendors, and tenants of small shops in malls. Similar measures were taken by the Supreme Council for Environment and Eskan Bank of waiving off rent of shops and lands leased from the entities for a period of three months. This is in addition to several private sector initiatives to support businesses. The government has meanwhile allocated BD215 million ($569 million) towards paying the salaries of Bahrainis in the private sector. A promising sign was seen in the businesses' hope for recovery. According to the survey, 77 percent businesses expected to recover within 12 months after the pandemic ends.
