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Post-coronavirus era: Iran may lose big chunk of its online businesses

Business Materials 2 June 2020 09:20 (UTC +04:00)
Post-coronavirus era: Iran may lose big chunk of its online businesses

TEHRAN, Iran, June 2

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Online businesses in Iran are gaining momentum during the coronavirus spread, while small businesses and tourism sector are struggling, member of Iran's Association of Online Businesses Reza Olfat Nassab told Trend.

"The online businesses had to adjust, and although COVID-19 created problems, in the long run it would help the online businesses," said the official. "Online businesses have helped those in need of jobs after the pandemic outbreak," he said.

"From now on, a lot of businesses will change, since it's unknown what will happen after the end of the pandemic. It's possible that startups won't be attracting as much investment as before, so it's possible that some 30 percent of online businesses will cease to exist," he said.

He added that due to COVID-19, many businesses have moved online, but the results varied.

"Work of supermarket websites have improved a lot, but tourism-related websites and online taxi services have declined," he said.

"The quarantine has caused people to stay home and use less of internet taxi services, however big online taxis including Snapp and Tabsi have still managed to survive," he added.

Nassab said that online traveling websites were affected a lot, suffering a high drop in income.

Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.

The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.

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