Property360Digest E-MAGAZINE Issue#5 | Page 10

Properly zoned housing areas are crucial in these times. From the perspective of housing and accommodation there will be a need for a properly zoned housing area that can serve as a satellite housing to these industrial zones. If done properly that will be both part of a “resilient” solution during a crisis and become sort after housing. Enter the property investors who want to have good tenants and be in a strategic location. There is much to play for in the post COVID19 property game. In addition, applying the concept of Fly-in Fly-out or FIFO, which is used in the mining and energy sectors to allow workers to be on site for a period of time and then flown out while being replaced by other workers. This would allow the expansion of production beyond the current highly critical food and medical supplies. Can the concept of “Strategic Production Zones” be applied to the current situation considering the country’s current capabilities? The police and armed forces have successfully cordoned off various “red zones” and the different agencies have ensured that those in the affected areas receive food and medical attention. At the same time, several risks have become accepted norms, this includes the movement of cargo overland and air, reduced and registered workforce in critical industries, operation of the banking sector and the controlled movement of the population to purchase food to name a few. These combined factors leave space for the discussion between stakeholders for expanded production during this time. While many SME’s have their heads on the cutting block, some of the larger corporations will not be far behind if supply chains and the related ecosystems grind to a halt. Supply chains are complex and this crisis has been a strict task master in the lessons of interrelatedness of local and international supply chains. While we attempt to flatten the COVID19 infection curve we can’t ignore the steep learning curve has not changed. Corporations that are chomping at the bit to return to partial or full production need to remember that on any level, a sustainable business model requires customers to remain alive to continue to buy goods and services well into the future. On the flipside of that same coin, at this time it’s important to remember that public health is a luxury that is only made possible by a functioning economy. PROPERTY360DIGEST 10