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With timely planning and execution, the government will be able to alleviate the current situation and lead the construction market on the road to recovery. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Puneet Vidyarthi, Brand Leader, CASE India, CASE Construction Equipment,</span> shares more on the market scenario. <p></p> <p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">How is the Covid-19 pandemic impacting the revival of the CE industry?</span><br /> This year started with the announcement of the Budget which was focused on increasing the infrastructure activities in the country. But with the sudden onset of this pandemic, the economies have been plummeting worldwide and all sectors have been disrupted. The reports from ICRA and KPMG suggest a further downfall in the GDP and the vital sectors of the country. However, the government is cognizant of the situation and is taking appropriate measures to contain the pandemic and restart work in certain sectors. The lockdown is one such measure which is extremely essential for the future. There were also some announcements from the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, which assured that the construction and infrastructure sectors will not slow down. We are confident that with timely planning and execution, the government will be able to alleviate the current situation and lead us on the road to recovery.</p> <p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your strategy to overcome this turbulent market conditions?</span><br /> The lockdown has halted multiple businesses right now and filled the world with uncertainty. However, at Case India, we are preparing ourselves for the future. Our plants and people are ready to hit the ground running as soon as the lockdown is lifted. Our employees have been working from home and connecting with our dealers throughout the lockdown. We have conducted online training sessions and imparted product-specific knowledge through e-meetings, all with a view to mitigate any sluggishness when the markets open again. </p> <p>We continue to engage and be in constant touch with prospective customers. For existing customers, we have given extensions on warranties and retail loans to take the pressure off and further strengthen our relationship with them. CNH Capital, our financial arm is making sure there is enough capital available for customers who wish to make purchases. We are hoping that any liquidity crunch is alleviated through their efforts. </p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of policy support do you expect from the government to streamline the market situation?</span><br /> The government is trying its best to secure the lives of the people and at the same time maintain the stability of the market. The lockdown is one such initiative which is essential for the future. The government is already planning how to restart certain markets during the pandemic and recent announcements by the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured that the infrastructure sector will not slow down. They are also working on various measures of sanitising the country. We are confident that the government will take correct measures to bolster the market situation and the economy.</p> <p> <span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you see the recovery of the CE market post lockdown? </span><br /> The current halt in activities has put the market in a slumber and it will take some time to clear. To ensure that some level of economic activity takes place during the lockdown, the government has already issued a notice of re-opening certain sectors in a phased manner. We are connected with our dealers and customers while working from home and we have boosted our capital availability. The recovery will be slow but with the corrective measures taken by the government we are confident it will be a full recovery.</p> <p></p>