COVID-19: Looking beyond the immediate crisis

The sheer speed by which COVID-19 has travelled and created havoc throughout the globe in only a matter of weeks explains the interconnectivity and interdependence of humanity and our economy.

Tourism and hospitality establishments depend on the movement of people to travel for business or leisure purposes. The products we consume daily, including essentials such as food processing and medical supplies just to mention a few, are produced through complex international supply chains. These too, require efficient logistic services for transportation from and to different destinations worldwide.

Even as the economy is increasingly digitalised and provides us with more solutions for crisis management, COVID-19 taught us that people remain at the centre of economic activity and the well-being of society. Gratitude goes to everybody on the frontline, who with exceptional courage, is providing medical services to treat and prevent the spread of the virus, as well as those involved in live economic activities to ensure that vital goods and services on which we all depend remain available.

Meanwhile, a strong economic response was provided locally and in other EU member states through...