Suva Retailers Association President, Jitesh Patel says business activity has started to pick up in the capital city with the festive season and other activities coming up like school awards ceremonies and Back to School.
Patel says retailers in Suva had faced issues like unemployment during the lockdown period and border closures that earlier resulted in garment exports to New Zealand and Australia getting affected.
He says we are blessed in Suva City as most of the workers have continued working and there is still cash flow in the economy.
Patel says they remain positive and the retailers are confident they will bounce back, continue to make sales maybe with lower profits, maintain jobs and continue to look after the welfare of their workers.
Patel says they are also grateful to the government agencies that have ensured that we remain COVID-19 contained which has ensured business continuity.
He also says there is not as much fireworks for Diwali as previous years because the retailers could not plan the orders in advance due to COVID-19.
However people are focused on having a family Diwali and helping the needy.
