COVID 19 In Cambodia: Close Business Now, Prepare Loans Tomorrow

Photo illustration (Adam Jang / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - In order to hold back the pace of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, each country is kept busy with a variety of actions. Some are busy disciplining their citizens to stay at home, some are alert to close all business centers in their country, as has been done by the Cambodian government.

Monday, March 30, the Cambodian government ordered the closure of all gambling centers. This move follows an earlier policy, in which the Cambodian government closed restaurants, bars and other similar business centers. The Cambodian government has also restricted foreigners from entering the country.

As reported by Reuters, Cambodian President Hu Sen said the closure of gambling centers or casinos will begin on April 1. “I want to clarify to gamblers that if you want to gamble, do it tonight. There's still tonight and tomorrow night. "

Interestingly, Hun Sen also said that the Ministry of Finance would work with gambling center owners on tax exemptions. However, there must be adjustments, indeed because these businesses are affected by COVID-19.

The Cambodian government is providing relief in the form of an appeal to banks and microfinance institutions to temporarily suspend installment payments to anyone affected by COVID-19.

No kidding, the Cambodian government also plans to provide loans of around 500 or 600 million US dollars to banks and microfinance institutions with low interest rates for business people. The plans were immediately welcomed.

As of Monday, the number of people who have contracted COVID-19 has reached 107 cases. One of them is a 30-year-old man who works at a casino and karaoke club in the northwestern province of Banteay Meanchey.

In addition, the effort is made because Cambodia itself has been ordained as a gambling paradise for Southeast Asia in recent years. At least, there are more than 125 gambling establishments operating and many of them have been run by Chinese.