Developing countries unlock key industries to safeguard jobs

Some of the tailors at KICOTEC producing surgical masks to curb the spread of COVID 19. The garment factory has been turned into a 24-hour production house for face masks with a daily production of 30,000 pieces. (Philip Muasya, Standard)

From Africa to Asia and Latin America, emerging countries disproportionately bruised by the Covid-19 pandemic are allowing some key industries to start back up in a bid to soften the economic blow.

This tentative unlocking highlights the balancing act for developing nations as they seek to protect their people while averting an economic collapse some fear could do more damage than the disease itself.