Exports and Business: Regarding Corona.

The world has witnessed a different range of pandemics from the dreaded Black Death of 1346, to the Asian Flu of 1956, to the Flu Pandemic of 1968, down to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic of 2005, to mention a few and now, to the dreaded Corona Virus of 2019. Of all the previous pandemics, none has been so terrifying compared to the recent one which has brought the entire world to a standstill. The earlier pandemics might have claimed millions of lives but did not, directly and indirectly, affect the world in all aspects as this current Corona pandemic.

In the wake of December 2019, the world was informed of a new novel corona virus named COVID-19 which started appearing in human beings in the region of Wuhan, China. Its newness and strangeness have aided its uncontrollable spread amongst humans. While it was initially seen as an epidemic in China, the virus has spread across the world due to the vast traveling nature of the Chinese and her undeniable economic, production and business stance thereby making it a world pandemic. The quest for survival from the pandemic has left the world a primary concern amidst other vital things. The quest has paved way for some drastic social measures such as the stay-at-home policy, compulsory closure of schools, businesses, and public places in order to curtail its rapid spread.

As the first pandemic in human history where the world stood still, it is of concern to the world what it might unfold. The current issue and concern of humanity is no longer the survival of this pandemic but the daring consequences of its aftermath; the issues and ordeals of post-Covid-19. In light of this, it can be agreed upon that areas of human existence will be affected during this time and even post-Covid-19 days. This will not exclude two of the most vital aspects of every nation; exports and business.

Giant producing countries like China, Japan, the USA, etc, rely much on the exportation of their products for their economic growth and sustainability. For this to be achieved, the production rate in such countries must be put into check, increased and consistent without any challenge because, the more the production of goods, the more the exportation which will eventually lead to more economic generation and stability. But with the occurrence of the present COVID-19 that has shut the doors to so many production enterprises, there is bound to be production issues and rate. The workforce of these production communities will no longer be effective and populated if there is any room for production which will eventually lead to scarcity.

And for producers who dared to ignore the presence of the current pandemic to resume its production session, such producers may not find too many buyers if any will show interest during this lockdown. It, therefore, suffices to say that for there to be an increase and consistent production, there must be an uninterrupted availability of workforce to ensure such production which in turn demands interested consumers and buyers that will further lead to supply and exportation. But for this period of unavoidable lockdown and survival, produced goods will not be needed in high demand nor exportation been made as usual. Even the production and exportation of daily essential commodities will also be affected by the COVID-19 factor.

Business in this time of low production is a huge loss to those directly involved. Even the lack of rendering adequate and constant services as a result of this present pandemic has also given rise to concerns in the corridor of business. From a critical view of the events currently going on, so many small, medium and even large businesses will be lost and may crumble during and after this pandemic occurrence. One of the major issues that will affect organizations not in the production circle during this time will be the lack of the existence of remote working. By remote work, we mean working from home or anywhere other than the original workplace. Prior to the occurrence of COVID-19, more than 60% of the world’s work community has never given an opportunity to remote working. This larger proportion of the working community has believed in the physical presence of workers in order to achieve business success, growth, and expansion. But this perspective has changed and will continue to change since the outbreak of this pandemic as daily activities have been tampered with across the globe without putting any alternative in place.

Running through the above highlighted and untouched issues currently facing the world which might likely surface in the post-Covid-19 days, it will be safe to posit that the world might be plunged into a global economic meltdown and there will definitely be a new world order of doing things especially in the business and corporate world. From this viewpoint, remote work will be given urgent attention in business and corporate places. Digitalized means of carrying out business deals and transactions will be worked on and even expanded to avert a repetition of related business setbacks.