“There are fewer travellings throughout the country due to the Covid-19 crisis. So, it could have affected our sales and purchases dramatically. However, manufacturing activities and distribution channels are running as usual because they are ordering goods online even though people don’t come to the market. We deliver their orders for the products. So, the goods are still on demand as almost usual,” said Secretary U Myo Min Tun of Mandalay Zay Cho Market Committee.

Although the sale and purchase of Mandalay Zay Cho market are affected by Covid-19, the general trading is going on online, according to Mandalay Zay Cho Market Committee.

Although there are rumours that the Zay Cho market will be closed because of Covid-19, the sale and purchase of Mandalay Zay Cho market are near as usual and the market will be closed only during the water festival period.

“The customers in the region don’t come to the market in person. At present, the volume of the sale and purchase of the market has declined slowly. People are scared of the virus. If the online market system is running more smoothly, we can help prevent the virus outbreak and spread. Currently, people turn to a teleworking now. In the Zay Cho market, people are using Viber and WeChat applications. However, selling from online is not highly effective,” said U Ye Naing Swe, the owner of Myoma slipper shop from Zay Cho market.

There are over 3,000 shops in Mandalay Zay Cho market in which there is trading of raw materials and finished products to upper and lower regions of Myanmar. —Htet Htar Naing (Translated by Hay Mar)