Keeping calm & hoping for the best

Neeraj Bagga

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

AMRITSAR, APRIL 7

Once again the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases has added to the fear of re-imposition of the lockdown and there is nearly 30 per cent fall in business activities, said Karan Verma, director of Aar Vee Group, which has interests in mining, energy, warehousing-transportation and hospitality.

“Though the situation is very fluid and keeps changing every day, we do not expect a lockdown we had once witnessed last year,” he said.

Karan is hopeful that everything will not be closed again and a partial lockdown would be enough. All commercial activities and even tourist flow had increased in January and February. “Now again, consumer consumption and economic activity are on the decline and there is about 30 per cent fall in business.”

The group is primarily associated with the B2B segment having mining rights for gypsum in Jammu and Kashmir, and deals in various kinds of coal, including imported and domestic. It trades about 0.20 million tons of coal per annum and handles cement for ACC and provides warehousing. It also owns Mohan International Hotel in Amritsar.

Minimum sustainable business is the demand at this juncture. “It should be kept in mind that the pandemic and its restrictions demand that all human activities should come to a standstill.”

The pandemic being once-in-a-lifetime experience has moulded every businessman. A more practical approach and flexible planning to handle events must be in their repertoire. “Last year, our sales had gone down to almost zero as we had to provide comfort to suppliers and buyers. In such a situation, bigger companies had been worst hit, so we took a balanced approach and had to provide assistance to our suppliers and buyers as we had business relations with both over the years.

Before the lockdown, the scope online trading was limited, but in the coming years it is expected to take over in a big way. “Post-Covid world would be different as new sectors will emerge and some old sectors may lose their relevance.”