SMEs continue to suffer from pandemic

But they saw a slight improvement compared to December 2020.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to be negatively affected by the pandemic with the diffusion index (DI) remaining below the 50 expansion mark at 38.1, according to a government survey.

This is despite an uptick from 35.6 in December 2020.

Going by sectors, logistics and real estate sector remains the highest at 41.4 followed by import and export trades at 40.6, business services at 40.5, wholesale trade at 37.1, retail trade at 35.8, and restaurant at 24.

A government spokesman said this survey reflects the severe disruptions to consumption related-activities caused by the fourth wave of COVID-19 and putting it under control as soon as possible is a pivotal importance to the revival of business confidence.

The survey was conducted by collecting the views of respondents regarding their own establishments rather than the sectors they are engaged in.