Qingjian Group, a Chinese construction and engineering firm based in Qingdao, Shandong province, has taken measures to help its overseas branches resume operations amid the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, according to the company.

“According to our original plan, nearly 100 senior technicians recruited in China would have arrived in the Philippines. But now the country has suspended issuing visas on arrival to Chinese citizens, so we are faced with a shortage of labor,” said Wang Bo, manager of Qingjian Group’s cement plant project in the Philippines.

“The project is in need of scaffolds, production equipment, and other domestic materials valued at nearly 6 million yuan, which will affect the project’s progress.”

Qingjian Group’ s cement plant project in the Philippines [Photo/WeChat account: qdfbwx]

In order to help the project resume production, Wang held several video conferences with the company’s domestic headquarters and implemented a number of new measures.

The group plans to recruit more local workers and increase training. Wang said that there are currently 200 local workers involved in the project, and another 120 will be recruited.

He also said that the branch will take full advantage of Qingjian Group's overseas services and purchase equipment from a third country.

In Algeria, a local affordable housing project being undertaken by Qingjian Group has also taken measures in response to the virus outbreak.

“We have maintained close contact with the local Chinese embassy and resumed production with adequate protection and emergency plans,” said Wang Chao, CEO of Qingjian International Group.

Wang Chao said that in the early stages of the outbreak, some local government departments were harsh due to unpredictable risks.

“We promoted the anti-epidemic measures taken by the Chinese government, which have not caused any panic among the local government or property owners. Our projects are continuing to progress steadily.”

Wang Chao noted that Qingjian Group had encouraged local employees and third-party suppliers in overseas markets to better allocate resources and continue advancing their projects.